Download or read book Key High School Reform Strategies written by Mary G. Visher and published by . This book was released on 1999 with total page 104 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book New Schools for a New Century written by Tewel and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 1995-02-28 with total page 258 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Combining both the theory as well as the practice of the education reform process, this unique breakthrough volume focuses on every aspect of the change process in high school education today. Short- and long-term strategies for each phase of the process-provoking, creating, managing, supporting, and sustaining reform-are covered. Based on the real-life experiences of the author and others, this book recognizes that most high school reform is short-lived. It stresses the ways to create and maintain positive change, making the process a long-lasting, worthwhile mission for the school's leadership and ultimately the students. Short, useful summaries of high school reform provide true-life pictures of what really happens in the midst of changing the way educational institutions operate. These stories cover school-based management, collaborative or shared leadership, school-within-a-school groupings, interdisciplinary instruction, school-based budgeting, new models for professional development, and others. Through these examples, readers can understand how reform strategies work and how to apply and adapt them to their own situations. As an added feature, this book provides the names and locations of schools attempting each reform as well as the names and addresses of school reform networks that readers can contact in their own efforts.
Download or read book Big City School Reforms written by Michael Fullan and published by Teachers College Press. This book was released on 2014 with total page 193 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Big cities have struggled to improve public school systems. This book shows why—and offers a framework for achieving future success. Fullan and Boyle, internationally renowned thinkers on school change, demonstrate that while the educational challenges of big cities may be overwhelming, they are not insurmountable. They draw on ten years’ of research to identify six essential “push” and “pull” actions that enable big school systems to improve student achievement. Leaders must push to challenge the status quo, convey a high sense of urgency, and have the courage needed to intervene. But they need to also pull together to create a commonly-owned strategy, develop professional power, and attend to sustainability. Examining three major cities—New York, Toronto, and London—through the decade of 2002–2012, this book weaves case studies with careful analysis and recommendations to hone in on which policies and strategies work best to raise the bar for all students and reduce the gap for the disadvantaged. Big-City School Reforms offers invaluable advice to those leading the next phase of school reform in cities around the world. This is an eminently practical book that focuses on big problems and big solutions. “This encouraging book draws on the recent experiences of New York, London, and Toronto to identify what it takes to transform big-city school systems. It recognises their complexities without being overawed by them. By concentrating on the factors that seem to matter most, it offers real hope that we can now tackle some of the key issues that have frustrated reform efforts in the past.” —Geoff Whitty, director emeritus, Institute of Education, University of London, UK "Fullan and Boyle present a compelling framework for motivating and sustaining improvement in large urban school districts. The authors’ premise that system leaders must optimally balance push and pull strategies serves as an important lesson to school-level leaders as well.” —Sandra J. Stein, education and leadership consultant “In this important new book, Fullan and Boyle answer the most important question facing the leaders of the world's major cities: what will it take to significantly improve the quality of public education? Through a sophisticated analysis of the policies pursued in New York, Toronto, and London, the authors make it possible for us to see why some cities are making more progress than others. Their clear and compelling insights couldn't be more relevant and timely.” —Pedro A. Noguera, Peter L. Agnew Professor of Education, Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Development, Executive Director, Metropolitan Center for Urban Education, New York University Michael Fullan, Order of Canada, is professor emeritus of the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto. Alan Boyle is director of Leannta Education Associates where he designs professional learning for education leaders.
Download or read book Charter School City written by Douglas N. Harris and published by University of Chicago Press. This book was released on 2020-07-15 with total page 320 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the wake of the tragedy and destruction that came with Hurricane Katrina in 2005, public schools in New Orleans became part of an almost unthinkable experiment—eliminating the traditional public education system and completely replacing it with charter schools and school choice. Fifteen years later, the results have been remarkable, and the complex lessons learned should alter the way we think about American education. New Orleans became the first US city ever to adopt a school system based on the principles of markets and economics. When the state took over all of the city’s public schools, it turned them over to non-profit charter school managers accountable under performance-based contracts. Students were no longer obligated to attend a specific school based upon their address, allowing families to act like consumers and choose schools in any neighborhood. The teacher union contract, tenure, and certification rules were eliminated, giving schools autonomy and control to hire and fire as they pleased. In Charter School City, Douglas N. Harris provides an inside look at how and why these reform decisions were made and offers many surprising findings from one of the most extensive and rigorous evaluations of a district school reform ever conducted. Through close examination of the results, Harris finds that this unprecedented experiment was a noteworthy success on almost every measurable student outcome. But, as Harris shows, New Orleans was uniquely situated for these reforms to work well and that this market-based reform still required some specific and active roles for government. Letting free markets rule on their own without government involvement will not generate the kinds of changes their advocates suggest. Combining the evidence from New Orleans with that from other cities, Harris draws out the broader lessons of this unprecedented reform effort. At a time when charter school debates are more based on ideology than data, this book is a powerful, evidence-based, and in-depth look at how we can rethink the roles for governments, markets, and nonprofit organizations in education to ensure that America’s schools fulfill their potential for all students.
Download or read book Cultural Matters written by William T. Pink and published by Hampton Press (NJ). This book was released on 2005 with total page 240 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "In this book the authors explore the position that systemic reform requires addressing the culture of individual schools, and that various reform efforts address school culture in different ways. The chapters advocate that the key to success is the match between the strategy in use and the setting. In the chapters, reforms and their interactions with particular school cultures are explored through fieldwork." "The reader can learn from the cases what it takes to mount and sustain a systemic reform initiative at the school level. The book is intended for teachers, principals, parents, and others as a window into how to think about reform in schools, even as they must comply with the demands of accountability policy."--Jacket.
Download or read book Race to the Bottom written by Michael V. McGill and published by Teachers College Press. This book was released on 2015-04-03 with total page 193 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: How did the country that invented the moderm public school end up embracing policies that weaken it? What alternatives are there to current corporate reform policies? How can we give America's children an education that will truly prepare them and our nation for the challenges of tomorrow? In Race to the Bottom McGill successfully traces the emergence of corporate reform and describes how its tenets run counter to what he believes are the key elements of a high-quality education. McGill draws from a wealth of experience as a school superintendent for over 40 years, including his tenure in Scarsdale during the 2001 district-wide boycott of New York State standardized tests. Showing how strong leaders working with teachers and the community have been able to strengthen schools, the author offers a model of school reform that will prepare students for the 21st Century.
Download or read book Strategies for School Equity written by Marilyn Gittell and published by . This book was released on 1998 with total page 257 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the pursuit of a first-rate education for all students, America's public schools have struggled to achieve fuller racial integration and higher academic standards. Yet sharp inequities between prosperous school districts and poorer districts remain, reinforced by traditional ways of funding and administering public education. This book brings together cutting-edge ideas and strategies of prominent advocates of school equity reform. Discussing their first-hand experiences in forming coalitions, framing court cases, and dealing with state politics in New Jersey, Texas, Illinois, Michigan, Alabama, Kentucky, and Washington, the contributors consider what succeeded, and what failed, in the search for financial and legal remedies to educational inequity. The varied case studies of this book underscore the importance of a comprehensive approach -- combining finance, restructuring, and governance reforms -- for the success of a city, or state school reform effort. The authors investigate how state constitutions have been used to challenge a state's financial distribution of school aid, how business and community organizations have engaged in reform efforts, and how others have negotiated legislation to achieve change. This discussion of reform strategies will interest not only those who are concerned with excellence and equity. in education but also those who wish to form successful coalitions and challenge existing state policies. "This group of authors shares an important common vision of education reform. Their concrete, down-to-earth orientation and up-to-date information on key reform efforts give this book broad appeal". -- Jeffrey R. Henig, author of Rethinking School Choice
Download or read book Fixing Urban Schools written by Paul T. Hill and published by Brookings Institution Press. This book was released on 2010-12-01 with total page 132 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Every year, in one out of three big cities, the school superintendent leaves his or her job, sending local community leaders back to square one. Cleveland, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C., are struggling to recreate their failed school systems, and many more cities are likely to follow. City leaders need more than new superintendents. They need stable reform strategies strong enough to move an entrenched system. Unfortunately, it is not clear where they can turn for help. Education experts are deeply divided about whether teacher retraining or new standards are enough to reform a struggling city system, or whether more fundamental changes, such as family choice and family-run schools, are needed. Based on new research, this book identifies the essential elements of reform strategies that can transform school performance in big cities beset by poverty, social instability, racial isolation, and labor unrest. It also suggests ways that local leaders can assemble the necessary funding and political support to make such strategies work.
Download or read book Urgent Message written by Anne Chambers Lewis and published by . This book was released on 1997 with total page 140 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This report contends that the school reform movement--seemingly well-constructed from a distance--is failing to change in a significant way what and how students learn. This is because it lacks a solid foundation built from the ground up and an informed and active school community, including parents. Using case studies the report examines various reform strategies and presents ways to include parents in change. The key ways parents and families are engaged in school reform are: 1) pushing the system, e.g., pressing for higher standards and an effective system of accountability, insisting on high quality public schools, and creating alternative public schools if the local schools fail; 2) helping design local school improvement, e.g., sitting on school improvement committees, monitoring results, and checking student work to ensure it reflects both high standards and high performance; and 3) taking part in the parent involvement opportunities created by the reforms, e.g., participating in school governance councils that set policy, helping more parents to become actively engaged in the school, and attending staff development sessions. Appendices include research and reference material, and a table of parent-involvement provisions. (RJM)
Download or read book School Based Reform written by Edys S. Quellmalz and published by . This book was released on 1995 with total page 88 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This guidebook was designed to be used as a resource by teachers and school administrators interested in implementing school-based reforms. It provides examples of promising reform strategies and lessons learned from a national study of school-based reform. The congressionally mandated study of Effective Schools Programs was conducted by an independent firm for the United States Department of Education during the 1991-92 school year. Data were obtained through a mail survey of 1,550 school districts, mail and telephone surveys of administrators at all state education agencies, and case studies of reform efforts in 32 schools in 5 states. The states included California, Connecticut, Kentucky, South Dakota, and Washington. Following the introduction, the second section describes the lessons learned from the case studies. The successful examples of school-based reform shared a core set of characteristics: a clear focus on creating more challenging learning experiences for all students; a school culture in which teachers worked collaboratively and had a voice in decisions that directly affected their ability to improve classroom practice; and opportunities for teachers and administrators to gain knowledge and build their professional capacity. The third section provides more detailed examples of schools involved in promising reforms. The fourth section discusses what district staff can do to support school-based reform: (1) serve as an initial stimulus; (2) assemble resources; and (3) offer a broader professional forum. Contains an annotated list of research and how-to resources. (LMI)
Download or read book Engaging Schools written by Institute of Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2003-12-21 with total page 303 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: When it comes to motivating people to learn, disadvantaged urban adolescents are usually perceived as a hard sell. Yet, in a recent MetLife survey, 89 percent of the low-income students claimed "I really want to learn" applied to them. What is it about the school environmentâ€"pedagogy, curriculum, climate, organizationâ€"that encourages or discourages engagement in school activities? How do peers, family, and community affect adolescents' attitudes towards learning? Engaging Schools reviews current research on what shapes adolescents' school engagement and motivation to learnâ€"including new findings on students' sense of belongingâ€"and looks at ways these can be used to reform urban high schools. This book discusses what changes hold the greatest promise for increasing students' motivation to learn in these schools. It looks at various approaches to reform through different methods of instruction and assessment, adjustments in school size, vocational teaching, and other key areas. Examples of innovative schools, classrooms, and out-of-school programs that have proved successful in getting high school kids excited about learning are also included.
Download or read book Big Buildings Small Schools written by Lili Allen and published by . This book was released on 2004 with total page 21 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Leading High Performance School Systems written by Marc Tucker and published by ASCD. This book was released on 2019-01-15 with total page 250 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: WITH A FOREWORD BY LINDA DARLING-HAMMOND Did you know that close to half of today's jobs in the U.S. could be done by robots and that proportion is rapidly increasing? It is quite possible that about half of today's high school graduates will not have the knowledge or skills needed to get a decent job when they graduate. Tomorrow's high school graduates will be able to thrive in this environment, but only if school superintendents, central office executives, and principals use the strategies employed by the world's top-performing education systems to build the high-performance education systems today's students will need to succeed tomorrow. In Leading High-Performance School Systems: Lessons from the World's Best, Marc Tucker, a leading expert on top-performing school systems with more than 30 years of experience studying the global economy and education systems worldwide, details how top-performing school systems have met head-on the challenges facing school leaders today. You'll learn why our current system is obsolete, explore the knowledge and skills needed to design and build first-rate education systems, and gain a solid understanding of the key elements of high-performance school systems, including the following: A powerful, coherent instructional system with school-leaving certifications that mean much more than today's high school diploma. Partnerships with first-rate universities to ensure a steady supply of highly capable, well-educated, and well-trained teachers. Schools reorganized around highly qualified professional teachers with a career ladder they can climb. High expectations and personalized support to ensure that children arrive at each grade level ready to learn. An equitable system that closes the gaps in student performance. Vocational education for talented youth seeking an applied, academically rigorous education. Leading High-Performance School Systems is an invaluable resource for school leaders preparing today's students for tomorrow's world. This book is a copublication of ASCD and NCEE.
Download or read book Toward Ensuring a Smooth Transition Into High School Issue Brief written by Corinne Herlihy and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page 13 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This best practices piece is based on key research into high school transition strategies. It draws on two studies of high school reform models conducted by MDRC, a nonpartisan, nonprofit research organization, which shed light on promising strategies to support ninth-grade students. Increasing the capacity of high schools to provide extra help for ninth-grade students to catch up, to learn to read well, and to earn credits in English and algebra is critical, as these academic achievements are key predictors of whether students are likely to graduate on time (Quint, 2006). Transitions into high school can be eased when both structural and specialized curricula reforms are in place. This brief offers several take-aways at the state, district, and school levels. A list of additional resources is provided. (Contains 3 endnotes.) [This publication was produced by the National High School Center. For related document, see ED501073.].
Download or read book Battling the Hamster Wheel TM written by Grace Sammon and published by Corwin Press. This book was released on 2005-10-19 with total page 137 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Looking for effective strategies and best practices to break the cycle of ineffective school reform implementation? The author takes a sobering look at the state of high school reform and identifies the elements that keep us "running in place", rather than making progress on a road to success. This research-based resource-with built-in book study and facilitator’s guide-arms readers with the skills to establish and sustain the critical elements for schools' success: Demonstrating high expectations and a vision that matches it Building capacity for ultimate success Thinking small, dreaming big Engaging in legitimate community support Strong, sustained, and shared leadership
Download or read book Inside High School Reform written by Jordan E. Horowitz and published by WestEd. This book was released on 2005 with total page 91 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What happens when some of the lowest-performing high schools in the state of California make a commitment to reform themselves? This book goes inside the reform efforts of 28 high schools where educators collaborated to fundamentally change expectations for students -- in effect, to prepare all students for postsecondary education. By challenging the status quo, teachers and administrators set out to strengthen their delivery of services so that all students, especially those traditionally denied access to college, would leave their care with more options for college and for life. Reported here are the conclusions from formal evaluations over the past ten years of high school reform shepherded by the California Academic Partnership Program (CAPP). CAPP schools are each funded for three to five years, with grants of about $100,000 a year, to make fundamental changes for their students. As these schools discovered, not all changes are equally valuable, but some are simply essential. In the words of the educators themselves and through the perspectives of CAPP advisors who monitored the programs,Inside High School Reformlays out some of the apparently universal lessons of making the reform changes that matter.
Download or read book Leading Effective Secondary School Reform written by Mikie Loughridge and published by Corwin Press. This book was released on 2004-12-07 with total page 169 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "The strength of the book lies in its format and in its use of sophisticated sources and allusions to those sources . . . I am impressed with the clarity of focus within each chapter." Frank Kawtoski, Educational Consultant Frank Kawtoski and Associates "Very comprehensive! A great addition to the body of knowledge." J. Victor McGuire, Education Professor University of Nevada, Las Vegas Meet the challenge of change with successful leadership! What is the best way to share leadership duties while creating successful learning communities? What is the best way to help teachers improve their practice while also tracking student achievement? With this resource for effective leadership, you′ll find answers to these tough questions for every member of your school team. Leading Effective Secondary School Reform takes a practical approach to effecting school change by offering case studies, CBAM materials, and sample agendas to help the change process run smoothly for every teacher and administrator. Loughridge and Tarantino demonstrate how to successfully implement state and federal mandates by building learning communities based on leadership attributes including: Developing a strong school culture to bond teachers, students, and administrators Establishing action plans to ensure readiness Assessing progress to maintain accountability Using action research to improve schools, teachers, and students Effectively observing classrooms to focus on instructional leadership The challenges that accompany any change process can strain even the strongest organization. Learn to lead effective school change and become a more effective school leader.
