After two decades of steady growth and financial stability in the Rio Rancho Public Schools, New Mexico's fastest-growing school district found itself face to face with a $3.8 million budget deficit going into the 2008-09 school year. Because people in the district hesitated to change anything that would cut into student programming, and nobody…

Even in the best of times, budget development in a school community poses an enormous challenge. However, these times are hardly normal. Global markets are shaken badly. The nation's economy is in recession. State legislatures are seeking sharp reductions in the current fiscal year. Months of financial turmoil likely will make 2009 the ugliest…

This article discusses the inspiring achievements of Zavala and Ortega Elementary Schools. These two schools are examples of "smart money," public dollars that are invested and generate a high societal return, measurable in real, quantifiable results for workers, businesses and society. The author explores ways in improving school…

Describes how the whole-school approach to educational restructuring can achieve quality inclusive education that meets the requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Includes list of characteristics of inclusive schools. (PKP)

Briefly describes how school boards and superintendents can work together as a team to improve the quality of education. References "Team Leadership for Student Achievement," a new book developed through the collaborative efforts of the American Association of School Administrators and the National School Boards Association. (PKP)

Online education recently has been receiving a lot of attention at the K-12 level. Some may see it as a remedy for school budgets that are overstretched. Others view it as another means for reaching and teaching students and teachers, and some view online course delivery as an alternative educational choice. In fact, online education is simply…

In this article, the author discusses his contention that even the best of the best of American schools are not quality schools. He also observes that the curriculum that has been in place since 1892 was the main reason why schools cannot offer the best in quality education. He cites the ten problems that have plagued the American educational…

The intensifying attention to college and career readiness of late poses many challenges for public education, but it also presents opportunities for innovative changes in the quality and type of education provided to students. To take full advantage, educators must have a clear answer to this question: What does college and career readiness mean…

Schools everywhere vary little with regard to the subjects they teach, the classrooms where students learn, and the students' opinions about school. They do differ significantly in one area, however: the way they address the inequalities and diversity their students bring to school. For the small, agrarian, and relatively poor nation of Finland,…

Describes positive and negative qualities in candidates that boards of education identified when searching for a new superintendent. Based on Illinois study of 180 superintendent vacancies during recent 3-year period. (PKP)

A 1997 report by Public Agenda, a nonpartisan public-opinion research firm, confirmed that educators deplore the quality of press coverage of public education. While questioning journalistic effectiveness and credibility, the study offers objective insights about citizens' expectations. Superintendents must communicate concerns to editors and…

The Jenks School District applies a continuous improvement approach that focuses on academics, arts, activities, athletics and attitude, weaving in leadership, professional development, technology and data-based decision making to prepare all learners to be productive, responsible citizens. Since 1998, the Jenks School District has embraced a…

Virtual schooling is a rapidly growing and, to many, an increasingly troubling phenomenon. In a decade, online education has grown from being a novelty act to an established mode of education, consisting of asynchronous, computer-mediated interaction between a teacher and students over the Internet. Although exact figures are hard to come by,…

In their popular explanation of No Child Left Behind, journalists and other public voices claim that unruly and inefficient public schools are being brought under the control of effective central authorities by scientific, test-driven accountability. Other popular themes of reform in media include mayoral control of schools, non-educators as…

Ash Solar had just wrapped up his first two years of classroom teaching when he found himself standing on the campus of Stanford University one fall day six years ago. By then, he knew he wanted to carve out a career in school leadership and was contemplating graduate school. The next day, Solar jumped on the Internet and came across a joint…