The introduction of the Principal Quality Practice Guideline (PQPG) in 2007 by Alberta Education brought forth the question of whether or not school based leaders in Alberta School Division #1 (ASD#1) felt confident to meet the demands as presented by the dimension in the PQPG. Once confidence levels were determined I was also interested in determining how to most effectively build the professional capacity of these leaders as informed by the PQPG. Researched-based key characteristics of highly effective school leadership program design and delivery were examined and compared to perceived priorities of ASD#1 school based leaders. A literature review was completed to determine the key characteristics of effective school leadership development program design and delivery. These program elements were then offered to ASD#1 school based leaders to prioritize and evaluate. The study employed both qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection. A quantitative survey was developed and distributed to 57 ASD#1 principals and vice principals which was then supported by a qualitative interview conducted with eight ASD#1 school based leaders. ASD#1 school based leaders indicated they were highly confident in meeting the demands of the PQPG. The study highlighted the strong support ASD#1 school based leaders have for the key characteristics of leadership program design elements for building capacity. These effective elements included: researched-based curriculum, coherence between curriculum goals and shared values and beliefs, field-based internships supported by expert practitioners, extensive use of problem-based learning strategies, use of collaboration in practice-oriented situations, use of mentoring and coaching, a strong partnerships between school districts and post-secondary institutions, vigorous recruitment of highly qualified candidates and v instructors, and a adoption and promotion of the philosophy of career long learning . ASD#1 school based leaders also strongly supported the research in their perception that the most effective method of delivering this program would be a balance of the practical and the theoretical through a partnership between the local school division and a postsecondary institution. A major outcome of this study was a recommendation for adoption of these key characteristics of effective school leadership program design and delivery to the ASD#1 school board and senior administration through the development of a school based leadership development program. / xii, 190 leaves ; 29 cm

Principals are the main evaluators of beginning teachers. This study examines principals' perceptions of the policies, procedures, processes and instruments they employ in evaluating the competencies of first-year teachers. The study is based on data collected from interviews with 11 high school principals in two Canadian prairie urban school divisions. Results indicate that the principals in the sample are satisfied with the overall efficacy of the evaluation process, as well as the detailed evaluation instruments and timelines for evaluation used in their school divisions. One of the two divisions provides a mentoring program for new teachers, and the principals in that division view the program very favorably. On the other hand, the principals in this study also expressed concerns about several aspects of evaluation. Principals' concerns focused primarily on having too little time to spend observing and subsequently meeting with new teachers as part of the evaluation process. / x, 103 leaves ; 29 cm

This qualitative study employed various qualitative data collection procedures to report on leadership and program evaluation practices being utilized and explored witin the framework of the Alberta Initiative for School Improvement (AISI). The intent of this research was to highlight practices of teachers as leaders while determining the manner in which programs and initiatives are evaluated. Document review, a written questionnaire, and personl interviews were conducted to focus on the perspectives of school administrators and teachers involved in AISI projects. Patterns and themes were identified that illustrated the attitudes and opinions fo Alberta teachers and administrators with regard to the leadership strategies employed. These included ensuring the development of vision, mission, and improvement planning at the school level; emphasizing the importance of collaboration and teamwork; and promoting valuable organizational learning through the development of professional learning communities (PLCs). The evidence strongly suggests that Alberta teachers and administrators advocate the continuance of AISI in the province. There is some indication that both teachers and administrators are excited, although somewhat overwhelmed, by the protocol put in place through AISI. The study reveals various strategies that administrators employ to affect the sustainability of school improvement projects. / x, 182 leaves ; 29 cm.

The primary purpose of this study was to examine how leadership strategies and practices contribute to student retention and sustained improvement in student graduation rates. The issue of students' success and graduation is important because educational attainment is positively correlated with every single important life outcome, and high school completion is widely regarded as the minimum education qualification needed to be able to earn an adequate income in the labour market (Levin, 2006). The conceptual framework of the study was built on Leithwood's transformational leadership model: setting direction (visions, goals and higher expectations), developing people (individualized support, intellectual stimulation and modeling), and redesigning the organization (culture, structure, policy and community relationships). Nine principals, were interviewed from four zone six Alberta school jurisdictions with significantly larger than provincial average three and five-year completion data, to determine how these formal leaders relate or support leadership strategies and Leithwood's Leadership practices to positively effect retention and graduation. Although many of the factors that impact on educational outcomes lie entirely outside the scope and responsibility of the school system, school leaders can utilize Leithwood's transformational leadership practices to increase the commitment of teachers to boost graduation rates. Leaders can and should seek to engage the support of teachers for this vision for the school and to enhance their capacities to contribute to achieving this goal. In general, leaders need to recognize the multi-faceted nature of the concept of at-risk and its affect on retention and graduation rates, and need to develop broad, multi-faceted prevention strategies and practices. / x, 160 leaves ; 29 cm.

This study is an exploration of current school leadership and classroom assessment practices in Alberta, Canada. Specifically explored are school principals’ beliefs about classroom assessment practices and how the beliefs influence leadership practices. Qualitative research was conducted through interviews with ten principals from ten different Alberta school jurisdictions. Findings include detailed descriptions and analysis of principals’ beliefs about classroom assessment practices, the origin of their beliefs, ways that assessment data are used, the roles of tradition and isolation in the change process, teacher supervision and evaluation practices, and professional development. Assessment for learning, assessment of learning, and, to a lesser degree, assessment as learning are in the educational spotlight. Professional relationships within schools are being altered through shared and distributed leadership practices and capacity-building. Professional learning communities, AISI (Alberta Initiative for School Improvement) projects, Alberta’s Commission on Learning, and the Alberta Assessment Consortium are contributing in powerful ways to the change process and to teaching and learning practices in Alberta schools. At the same time, gaps between theory and practice, resistance to change, and inconsistent learning conditions for students, teachers, and school leaders are potentially reducing sustainability. The study calls for supportive, coherent professional learning—for teachers and school leaders—that fosters deeper understandings of classroom assessment as well as for student learning to be aligned with current research-based understandings of student motivation and assessment. Findings are linked to educational research on both assessment and leadership. The study concludes by identifying potential future research and outlining professional and political suggestions for increased organizational coherence and sustainable change. / x, 133 leaves ; 29 cm.

This research sought to add to a body of knowledge that is severely underrepresented in the scientific literature, reading comprehension in secondary students. Chapter 1 examines the current state of literacy in the nation’s public schools and the consequences that arise if students leave high school with inadequate reading skills. It discusses the neurological processes involved with reading and posits that independent silent reading (ISR) combined with scaffolding techniques may prove to be an effective method for addressing reading comprehension. The review also analyzes the components believed to be essential to reading, including vocabulary development, prior knowledge and background information, inferencing and prediction, and cognitive and metacognitive strategies. It argues that technological tools may have the potential to address these components within the framework of ISR. Chapter 2 details the experiment that tested these hypotheses. The study implemented an ISR program across a 5-month semester in a public high school and included 145 participants from nine 10th grade literature classes. The control group took part in no ISR, one treatment group participated in weekly ISR read from a textbook, and another treatment group participated in weekly ISR read from a computer module designed to address the components of reading comprehension. Students were measured on multiple achievement and motivational assessments. Results indicated that students from the ISR groups made greater gains than the control group in total reading ability, reading comprehension, end-of-course reading scores, and success/ability attribution, but no differences emerged on the vocabulary assessment. The computer module ISR group performed similarly in most respects to the textbook ISR group, but students in the computer module ISR group increased in their reading motivation and scored better on the individual reading assignments, suggesting the cognitive tools assisted them in understanding specific material at hand. This research offers much needed data on secondary students’ reading achievement and motivation, and provides evidence for one method, ISR, that has the potential to address development in these areas.

ABSTRACT EFFECT OF RESPONSE CARDS ON ACADEMIC OUTCOMES FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WITHOUT DISABILITIES AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES WHO EXHIBIT CHALLENGING BEHAVIORS by Ellen L. Duchaine Response cards (RC) support effective teaching strategies such as maintaining a brisk pace of instruction, increased opportunities to respond, immediate and frequent corrective feedback, and high rates of behavior specific praise statements; all of which have been effective in increasing student engagement for students with and without emotional and behavioral disorders (E/BD) (Emmer & Stough, 2001; Simonsen et al., 2008; Sutherland, Wehby, & Copeland, 2000). RC during academic instruction are successful in decreasing disruptive behavior, increasing student participation, and increasing academic achievement from the elementary school level to the university level. This study examined teacher implementation of RC at the high school level for students without disabilities and students with disabilities with a history of challenging behaviors (i.e., students with a disability and a behavior intervention plan) in general education classes required for high school graduation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of RC compared to hand raising (HR) in inclusive general education classrooms. An alternating treatment design was implemented to examine the potential functional relation between the use of RC, student engagement, and academic achievement. RC (i.e., 8” x 11” laminated write -on cards) were randomly alternated with the more traditional method of HR which allows one student to respond to each question asked by the teacher. Intervals of time on-task, attempted responses, next day quiz scores, and bi-weekly probe scores were measured and analyzed for target students without disabilities and target students with disabilities. In addition, individual scores of all students in the class were calculated to provide a class mean, allowing further analysis. All sessions were conducted by classroom teachers during daily reviews of academic content. The findings from this study support prior research indicating RC increases student engagement by increasing intervals of time on-task and attempted responses for the majority of students. In one class, three of four target students increased daily quiz scores by 10% or more using RC; and in the second class the mean for daily quiz scores was higher using RC. Although results on next-day quizzes were inconsistent, bi-weekly probes indicate RC increased retention of material learned over time.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (2007), 27% of the nation’s 8th grade population scored below the basic reading level in 2006-2007. Reading fluency strategies are a viable practice for improving reading achievement yet seldom are they incorporated into the 8th grade curriculum. To be effective, passages used in reading fluency strategies should be at the students’ instructional reading level (Daly, Persampieri, et al., 2005; Welsch, 2007). However, if increased oral reading fluency gained at the instructional reading level fails to generalize to content-area text that a student is required to read, the gain is not clinically significant, as it does not allow the student access to required reading. Stahl and Heubach (2006) recommended providing instruction in more difficult material while providing a strong degree of support. In this study, four middle school students reading one to two years below grade level received strong support for increasing reading fluency while using their social studies textbook. The intervention package consisted of listening passage preview, repeated reading, phrase-drill error correction, and performance feedback with student charting. Two research questions guided this study: (a) What are the effects of a comprehensive treatment package consisting of commonly utilized strategies for improving oral reading fluency on middle school students’ oral reading fluency using their required grade-level social studies textbooks? and (b) to what extent does performance generalize to required literature textbook passages and passages from CRCT Coach in Science (2002) and CRCT Coach in Social Studies (2002)? A multiple probe across participants design was used to answer these questions. Visual analysis of graphically displayed single-case data revealed that the multicomponent reading intervention positively affected student performance on intervention and generalization passages. The results of this study are promising, and given that reading content-area text is the core of education in middle school, further research is necessary.

Change is critical in most organizations. International schools attempting to redefine 21st century education for their students are innovating pedagogies and schools’ structures. However, the leader of an organization or school may be the most influential advocate for or barrier to change. International schools’ leaders continue to play a role in the diffusion of distance education. This study identified the knowledge and experience of international school leaders and identified themes that are related to the likelihood distance education would or would not be adopted by the schools they lead. This applied dissertation describes international school leaders’ knowledge and use of innovation diffusion theory in adopting distance education into kindergarten-Grade 12 East Asia Regional Council of Schools (EARCOS). International schools are a unique niche in the global educational environment. Triangulating data from EARCOS school leaders collected through individual innovativeness surveys and coding open-ended interview transcripts provided insight to school leaders’ knowledge and use of innovation diffusion theory when applied to adopting or rejecting the use of distance education within their schools. Data collected in this study indicated that EARCOS school leaders’ use of formalized planning when diffusing innovations, including distance education, within their schools varied depending on the scale of the innovation and the stakeholders involved. EARCOS school leaders rated themselves higher on average in individual innovativeness when compared to other innovativeness survey normative groups. Several other key themes emerged from the data including the following: Opinion leadership and change agents play a vital role in diffusing innovations in EARCOS schools. School leaders need to be adaptable and recognize opinion leadership within their schools to diffuse innovations efficiently. EARCOS school leaders rated themselves as highly innovative but were reluctant to explore innovative ways of delivering instruction, including distance education. Distance education was not seen as relevant in EARCOS schools, even though school leaders recognized their students would be exposed to online learning upon matriculation. Barriers to the diffusion of distance education exist in EARCOS schools including cost to develop distance education programs and courses, existing school structures, and the perceived absence of need.

Preloading student satisfaction and success factors into an online program orientation course can strengthen the potential for student retention and success. A 100% online graduate nursing orientation and guidance program was developed. Access to peer support, faculty advisor, and university resources were provided within the course using the same learning management system as the program. Students were taught the basic structure of courses (including discussions, quizzes, and dropbox) to ease the stress of the first few weeks of class. Graduate study requirements and expectations were explained along with the differences between online and face-to-face study. Guidance was provided to assist students in balancing work, life, and study. Students report decreased anxiety and increased comfort with graduate online education, increased self confidence, and feelings of support.