This study outlines the perceptions of school leaders regarding the New Senior Secondary Curriculum in Hong Kong. It illustrates the diversity of perceptions and responses of school leaders in terms of the purposes of the reforms, challenges to be faced, and strategies for implementing the reform. The findings suggest that school leaders'…

The purpose of this qualitative, narrative study was to investigate the role of the superintendent in leading the district to be more culturally proficient, resulting in the narrowing of the achievement gap in culturally diverse small districts. Eight superintendents of small school districts were purposefully selected based on their district size…

Within the context of continual dissatisfaction with American public schools, charter school proponents view charter schools as a viable reform mechanism. Here, Garrison and Holifield compare the perceptions of charter school principals regarding the extent to which the effective school correlates have been implemented in their respective schools…

Alignment means that in order to improve student achievement and learning, school districts need to have clear standards of attainment with which their curriculum and accountability measures must align. At the state level, this notion of alignment or coherence refers to the state-developed policies that comprise its accountability system. In the…

The rapid transformation of a secondary school from a bureaucratically regimented institution to a student-centered learning environment advocating democratic practices merits review. Here, Dorfman shares his observations of what he has come to regard as the luckiest little high school, its achievements, contradictions, challenges, and promises.…

Testing and accountability programs can lead to some positive changes towards student performance. Here, Jones and Egley explore on whether Florida administrators thought that there was anything that could be done to improve the country's testing program in order to reduce or eliminate the types of concerns raised in George's study by conducting a…

Eckman examines the similarities and differences between how males and females experience the role of being a high school principal. He also provides insights into the high school principalship that can be useful to both males and females who might consider the position as a career choice.

Examines Oregon and Arizona elementary and middle school principals' views about the barriers to evaluating low-performing teachers. Principals in both states identified teacher-tenure laws and procedures, time constraints, and problems with the teacher union and collective-bargaining agreement as the major barriers to effective evaluation of…

Examines relationship between principal leadership styles and attitudes toward sharing decision-making with teachers within the context of state-mandated site-based decision-making in Texas. Finds among other things that a principal's collaborative leadership style increases with experience and adaptability. (Contains 34 references.) (PKP)

Survey of principal evaluation of administrator preparation program. Data were collected from 180 certified principals using a four-part survey instrument designed by the investigators. Finds, for example, that principals rated mentoring most valuable experience during coursework phase of program. Draws implications for further study. (Contains 25…

Although they were not traditional in their general orientations and they tended to favor equalization with respect to class assignments, political action, and social etiquette, the educators studied did not favor equalization when considering affirmative action or changing language usuage. (Author/IRT)

Of the groups surveyed (faculty, students, and administrators/professional staff), tenured faculty tended to be the least supportive of innovative programs. (Author/IRT)

Explores teachers' and administrators' preferences for the content of and methods of presentation in staff development programs. A strong collaborative effort with teachers in addressing and identifying mutually agreed on priorities, needs, and weaknesses is recommended. (Author/IRT)

Interviews with 19 elementary and secondary school principals provided information about the principals' most difficult administrative decisions. Analysis of the factors affecting their decisions revealed three types of values underlying the decisions--personalistic, organizational, and transcendant--with distinctly different potentials for…

A total of 942 (59 percent of the national sample) school board members, administrators, and teachers responded to a merit pay opinion survey. Factor analysis revealed six factors; as hypothesized, school board members tended to be in greater agreement with the issues than either administrators or teachers. (MLF)