Describes a typical "good" school in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, that was transformed into an exceptional learning environment by a highly motivated principal and her staff. Audubon School's principal succeeded because she created a climate of high expectations; exposed teachers to professional growth activities; encouraged faculty…

A case study of a teacher committee collaborating on development of school policy illuminates such barriers to teacher collaboration and school-based management as time constraints and lack of inservice support. A major difficulty is that the culture of teaching is based on privacy and individualism. (SK)

Summarizes a study of 30 headteachers that examined how British primary schools collaborated and how changes associated with local school management affected their relations with each other. Identifies competition for pupils as the main reason for deteriorating relations. The local education authority's declining role should spur principals to…

Seven competing and complementary explanations of the widespread movement toward educational restructuring are reviewed. Critiques from various political perspectives (far left, left, middle, and right) are also presented. Unless value conflicts are resolved, restructuring may lead to a further decline, rather than renewed success, for public…

School support centers have been established to facilitate the Queensland (Australia) State Education Department's restructuring efforts. Although these centers are supposed to assist schools as they define their own needs, they must also ensure that schools accomplish system imperatives and centrally determined priorities. Interviews with one…

William Clune's adequacy agenda, to improve student performance standards through combining larger compensatory expenditures with increased site-based management in disadvantaged schools, illuminates the problem of productivity in educational spending. A mere infusion of money will not improve matters. Research is needed that considers how base…

Principals, familiar with school personnel, goals, and operations, are a logical leadership choice for establishing an effective decision-making process. School-based management offers potential for organizational change geared toward teacher empowerment. Principals must first encourage open communication and trust and help staff develop…

The first education reform wave stressed top-down state initiatives identifying educators as the problem and prescribed greater accountability, closer supervision, tighter regulation, better teacher screening, tougher graduation standards, and a longer school year. The second reform wave saw educators as the solution and advocated bottom-up…

As more school systems adopt site-based management, local decision makers need greater access to all kinds of information. Microcomputer-based networks can help with classroom management, scheduling, student program design, counselor recommendations, and financial reporting operations. Administrators are provided with planning tips and a sample…

School-based management is rapidly becoming the centerpiece of the current school reform movement. Discusses the new roles of the school business official. (21 references) (MLF)

Under school-based management, principals are there to help staff members make the best possible decisions. The principal's job involves six discernable roles: (1) facilitator; (2) trainer; (3) expert adviser; (4) resource coordinator; (5) communicator; and (6) advocate. (MLF)

Paul Norton Elementary School in Bettendorf, Iowa, was one of 27 schools chosen to participate in the NEA's Mastery in Learning Network project to empower teachers through site-based management. This article describes the school's ongoing progress at pursuing community-school partnerships, creative fund raising, and time management. (MLH)

Reviews existing literature on school-based management (SBM) policy and research, highlighting methods to increase SBM's effectiveness. Offers new research directions, based on current knowledge and knowledge deficiencies. Future policy and research should look beyond delegation of budget, personnel, and curriculum decisions to schools and view…

Questionnaires returned from 290 headteachers, school governors, and teacher union representatives in 100 British autonomous schools found desire for independence an important motivation for choosing local autonomy and high satisfaction with this status. Teacher union representatives and teacher governors were less satisfied than others. (SK)

Presents observations, advice, and strategies for facilitating participative decision making in schools. Information is based on interviews with principals, group input from school staffs, and researcher observations in a study of 10 "participative schools." Also includes strategies for enhancing cooperative teaching. (KS)