This is an explanatory research investigation on the role of principals as instructional leaders which has been highlighted over the past two to three decades. The emergence of this concept in the leadership field and the rigorous research attention that it has received is a result of mounting pressure faced by principals as a result of the year-on-year poor performance of learners in the matriculation examinations. Parents, politicians and other organs of civil society expect principals to be accountable for what happens in the classroom (teaching and learning), including the performance of learners. The poor performance of learners in the matriculation examinations is the central focus of this study, growing out of the discussions and arguments which have dominated the media, social and political groupings, government, as well as the business sector. All these groupings and institutions are perturbed about the decline of learner performance in the matriculation examinations and seek possible solutions to this problem. I was therefore intrigued by the above concerns, which motivated me to engage in this study. This study set out to investigate the variables related to instructional leadership and the contribution of these variables to learner performance. The study was guided by the following research question: What are the variables related to instructional leadership practices of secondary school principals and what is their effect on the pass rate in the matriculation examinations? In order to respond to the above question, the following subsidiary questions were examined: a. How can instructional leadership possibly contribute to the improvement of learner performance? b. How do heads of department (HODs) and deputy principals perceive the role of their principals regarding instructional leadership? c. How are principals prepared with regard to their role as instructional leaders? This study followed an explanatory, mixed method research approach, utilising two sets of questionnaires (one for principals and another for HODs and deputy principals), semi-structured interviews, and focus group interviews. Seventy eight principals completed questionnaires regarding the performance of their learners. One hundred and thirty-seven deputy principals and HODs completed questionnaires regarding their principals‟ roles in instructional leadership and contribution to learner performance. The interviewing process took place in two stages / phases. During the first phase, a group of sixty principals was exposed to the four variables which underpin this study, namely: a. The principals’ role in promoting frequent and appropriate school-wide teacher development activities; b. Defining and communicating shared vision and goals; c. Monitoring and providing feedback on the teaching and learning process; and d. Managing the curriculum and instruction. In fifteen groups of four, the respondents brainstormed the strength of each variable and prioritised or arranged them in order of their importance and contribution to learner achievement. The outcome of this first phase of the interview process and the findings from the analysis of the questionnaires informed the formulation of questions for the face-to-face interviews with five principals who were randomly selected from the seventy eight principals who participated in the completion of the questionnaires for the quantitative part of this study. The key insights and contributions drawn from this study make it unique in the sense that it: <ul><li> has an impact on the preparation of principals for their role as instructional leaders; </li><li> informs the support that principals need with regard to their practice as instructional leaders; </li><li> assists principals to identify appropriate variables to help align their own visions for their schools with the national, provincial and regional visions for the improvement of learner achievement; </li><li> adds value to the existing body of knowledge on instructional leadership and the central role that it plays in improving the achievement levels of learners in the National Senior Certificate; and </li><li> clarifies the fact that "leadership" is not a semantic substitute for "management and administration", but rather an independent construct which is capable of interacting with the latter in the practice of education. </li></ul> / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2011. / Education Management and Policy Studies / unrestricted

The purpose of this investigation was to describe the behavior of effective teachers working within the context of an effective school. The study focused on both the content and techniques of instruction utilized by the teachers. In addition, the research examined teacher behaviors that were external to the classroom setting, including teacher-to-teacher relationships, teacher-to-parent relationships, and teacher-to-principal relationships. A qualitative research design was selected for this study. The site was an inner city elementary campus. Data were collected from eleven K-3 teachers using participant observation and interviews over a seven-month period. Documents were also used as a source of data. The analysis of data was ongoing and cyclical based on the constant comparative method. The final analysis of data resulted in nine themes based on recurring patterns of teacher behavior. The findings suggest that a caring school culture plays an important role in a school's success and the effectiveness of its teachers. Furthermore, there does not appear to be a universal description that fits all effective teachers. Instead, effective teachers in an effective school function as autonomous decision makers in their classrooms, choosing the curriculum and techniques that work best for them and their students. They tend to focus on basic skills, especially reading and mathematics, using explicit direct instruction methods. However, these teachers frequently digress from their planned lessons to teach life skills and test-taking strategies. Findings for this study also support the creation of structured school and classroom environments for low-income inner city students. Student self-esteem and parental support are not negatively impacted when firm discipline is administered fairly in a caring, supportive school climate. The conclusions of this investigation have implications for teacher staff development and campus administrator training. The findings also suggest further research in the areas of school culture, direct instruction, student discipline, and classroom management.

This study aimed at exploring the school effectiveness characteristics of two high schools, one with high (School A) and one with low (School B) levels of placement ratio in &Ouml / SS for their graduates, to observe their characteristics as perceived by their stakeholders (students, teachers, parents, school administrative staff and managers). In this study, a comparative pre-structured case study method was employed. The study was conducted in two private high schools in the province of Ankara, Turkey. The participants were 10 students, 10 teachers, 10 parents, 2 non-academic staff and 3 administrators from School A, and 10 students, 10 teachers, 7 parents, 3 non-academic staff and 2 administrators from School B. A framework drawn by the researcher as a result of review of relevant literature was used to conceptualize the study and to guide the interview schedules to collect data. According to this framework, six general areas in effective school literature were explored. These areas were academic emphasis, organization and administration, school climate, home-school relations, teaching staff, and physical and financial resources. The data collected through semi-structured interviews were analyzed using content analysis technique. The findings revealed that two case schools had major differences almost in all areas explored. The only major similarity between two schools was in the leadership and leader qualities under organization and administration area. The effective school characteristics of the school with high levels of placement ratio in &Ouml / SS, in all six areas explored were added to the conceptual framework drawn at the beginning of the study.

Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2016-04-18T14:07:43Z No. of bitstreams: 1 catarinadearrudacortez.pdf: 1191116 bytes, checksum: 9e3ec18615ca6c12b876aad444026c64 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2016-04-24T03:11:53Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 catarinadearrudacortez.pdf: 1191116 bytes, checksum: 9e3ec18615ca6c12b876aad444026c64 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-24T03:11:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 catarinadearrudacortez.pdf: 1191116 bytes, checksum: 9e3ec18615ca6c12b876aad444026c64 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-01-20 / Esta dissertação é caracterizada pelo estudo de caso realizado em duas escolas estaduais urbanas, no município de Querência – MT, com o objetivo de analisar as ações da equipe gestora, a partir de preceitos definidos na Lei de Gestão Democrática nº 7.040/98 do Estado de Mato Grosso. A pesquisa foi executada para responder a seguinte questão: de que maneira as ações da equipe gestora das duas escolas urbanas do município de Querência, embasadas nos princípios da gestão democrática participativa, podem ou não contribuir para a efetividade da educação escolar? Para responder a essa questão, foi feita a coleta de dados através de entrevistas semiestruturadas com membros do Conselho Deliberativo da Comunidade Escolar (CDCE), observação não participante e análise documental de registros das escolas. A análise dos dados constituiu-se em um conjunto de informações que, à luz das legislações vigentes e das concepções teóricas revisitadas em Paro, Lück e Machado, apontaram avanços e desafios para a efetividade da gestão democrática participativa nas escolas. No Capítulo I, são apresentadas a estrutura organizacional da Secretaria de Estado de Educação do Mato Grosso (SEDUC/MT) e das escolas, bem como dados que as caracterizam, inclusive os das aprendizagens dos alunos. O Capítulo II traz a fundamentação teórica que subsidia o modelo de gestão escolar democrática e participativa. O Capítulo III apresenta um Plano de Ação Educacional voltado para a consolidação de práticas participativas na gestão das escolas, com ação conjunta SEDUC a fim de integrar colaborativamente os atores educativos internos e externos do Órgão Central e Escolas e desta com a comunidade escolar. A efetividade da gestão democrática participativa contribui significativamente para a melhoria da qualidade da educação, sendo esta o resultado de uma escola considerada eficaz. / This work is characterized by case study in two urban public schools in the municipality of Querencia-MT, in order to analyze the actions of the management team, from precepts defined in the Democratic Management Law No. 7,040 / 98 of the State of Mato Grosso. The research was performed to answer the following question: how the actions of the management team of two urban schools in the municipality of Querencia, based in the principles of participatory democratic management, may or may not contribute to the effectiveness of school education? To answer this question was asked to collect data through semi-structured interviews with members of the Board of the School Community (DCEC), non-participant observation and document analysis of records of the schools. The data analysis consisted of a set of information that the light of current laws and theoretical concepts revisited in Paro, Lück and Machado, showed progress and challenges to the effectiveness of participatory democratic management in schools. In Chapter I, are presented the organizational structure of SEDUC and schools, as well as data that characterize them, including student learning. Chapter II provides the theoretical foundation that gives subsidize the model of democratic and participatory school management. Chapter III presents an Educational Action Plan aimed at the consolidation of participatory practices in the management of schools, with joint action SEDUC in order to integrate collaboratively internal and external educational actors in the Central and Schools Authority and this with the school community. The effectiveness of participatory democratic management contributes significantly to improving the quality of education, which is the result of a considered effective school.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationships between effective school characteristics and norm referenced standardized test scores in American-style international schools. In contrast to schools in traditional effective schools research, international schools typically have middle to high SES families, and display average to above average achievement. Eleven effective school characteristics were identified and correlated with standardized test scores for grades 4, 6, and 8 and high school SAT scores. Data was gathered from an online teacher questionnaire designed for this study. All eleven characteristics were present in high performing international schools while frequent analysis of student progress, high academic expectations and positive school environment were more prominent. Positive school environment, high academic expectations, strong instructional leadership and cultural diversity were chosen as important characteristics of an effective international school. Learning time is maximized was the only characteristic that was significantly correlated with achievement and only in grades 4, 6 and 8. There was no statistically significant relationship found between norm referenced test scores and the aggregate effective school characteristics score.

Globally, there are numerous debates on what constitutes an effective school. Parents strive to choose what they regard as the best school for the education of their children. Historically, school effectiveness is a phenomenon associated with learner attainment. Yet, school effectiveness is measured and conceptualized differently throughout the world. The aim of this research was to determine and define the factors contributing to the effectiveness of secondary schools in the Free State Province of South Africa. A case study was conducted on six schools selected in the Free State Province. Data were collected qualitatively by means of semi-structured and focus-group interviews with principals, SMTs, teachers, SGBs, learning facilitators and school-management and -governance developers. A documentary analysis was carried out to triangulate data from interviews. The data collected were triangulated and supported by an extensive literature review on school effectiveness and improvement. In particular, the literature review encompassed the policy context of school effectiveness in South Africa, definitions of the concept of school effectiveness, models of school effectiveness, methods of evaluating school effectiveness, the relationship between school effectiveness and school improvement, change and school improvement, approaches to school improvement and the characteristics of effective schools. The legislative framework for both teacher and school evaluations is highlighted and their effectiveness critically reviewed with reference to current investigations in the field. These empirical investigations, which, form part of this larger qualitative research project, show that effective schools exhibited high learner attainment, effective teaching and learning, as well as a highly effective leadership and management. Management, leadership and administration, curriculum, school governance and VI school support structures were confirmed as very instrumental as far as school effectiveness and improvement are concerned. Furthermore the study indicates that the current policies are not enhancing school effectiveness and improvement, thus the study recommends the index of school effectiveness and improvement (ISE&I). The Index of School Effectiveness and Improvement, which is a document that schools can use to review and enhance their effectiveness, is a model developed in the course of this study to assist schools in improving their effectiveness. Unlike the WSE review, which takes place every five years, the index suggests a continuous and regular review process by schools carried out by all stakeholders. In conclusion, an overview of the challenges identified by this research project, as well as the aspects in need of further research, is highlighted. / Educational Leadership and Management / D. Ed. (Education Management)

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-04T18:33:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 EDIVALDO CESAR CAMAROTTI MARTINS.pdf: 3064380 bytes, checksum: a86a04b8ed1862453c505b582a7f37f4 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-02-26 / The research project was developed in the strict sensu post-graduate course, master's degree in Education at the Catholic University of Campinas. It is framed in the field of Social Sciences, specifically in the area of Education, in the line of research: Public Policy in Education. It aimed to study the good school practices and high performance factors in schools located in high social vulnerability regions. In order to achieve the proposed objectives a review of the literature was carried out, establishing the so-called the State of the Question. Then there was a field survey to collect empirical data through semi-structured interviews and focus groups with principals, teachers, staff, students and parents in two schools in the municipal schools in Ferraz de Vasconcelos, selected according to the results of the Basic Education Development Index 2011 and based in S?o Paulo Social Vulnerability Index, of the State System of Data Analysis Foundation. Among these schools, one had high performance in 2011, and the other one, low performance. Both school units are located in highly vulnerable regions. In terms of methodology we adopted Durkheimian and Weberian principles, classics of Sociology of Education, to support the theoretical foundations of the research. We identified fourteen good school practices and fifteen high performance factors in the school of high social vulnerability. It was evident that good practice and school factors related to pedagogical practices were what most influenced the outcomes of high social vulnerability school, followed by school resources, management and school climate / O projeto de pesquisa foi desenvolvido no curso de p?s-gradua??o scricto sensu, mestrado em educa??o da Pontif?cia Universidade Cat?lica de Campinas. Est? enquadrado no campo das ci?ncias sociais, especificamente na ?rea da Educa??o, na linha de pesquisa: Pol?ticas P?blicas em Educa??o. Teve como objetivo estudar as boas pr?ticas escolares e os fatores de alto desempenho em escolas localizadas em regi?es de alta vulnerabilidade social. Para atingir os objetivos propostos foi realizada a revis?o da literatura especializada, estabelecendo-se o chamado Estado da Quest?o. Em seguida, realizou-se uma pesquisa de campo para coleta de dados emp?ricos, por meio de entrevistas semiestruturadas e grupos focais com diretores, professores, funcion?rios, alunos e pais, em duas escolas da rede municipal de ensino, em Ferraz de Vasconcelos, selecionadas de acordo com os resultados do ?ndice de Desenvolvimento da Educa??o B?sica de 2011 e com base no ?ndice Paulista de Vulnerabilidade Social, da Funda??o Sistema Estadual de An?lise de Dados. Dentre essas escolas, uma apresentou alto desempenho em 2011, outra, baixo desempenho. Ambas as unidades escolares est?o localizadas em regi?es de alta vulnerabilidade social. Em termos metodol?gicos, adotaram-se princ?pios durkheinianos e weberianos, cl?ssicos da sociologia da educa??o, para fundamentar os alicerces te?ricos da pesquisa. Identificaram-se quatorze boas pr?ticas escolares e quinze fatores de alto desempenho na escola de alta vulnerabilidade social. Evidenciou-se que as boas pr?ticas e fatores escolares relacionados com as pr?ticas pedag?gicas, s?o os que mais influenciam os resultados da escola de alta vulnerabilidade social, seguido dos recursos escolares, da gest?o e do clima escolar.

In 1999, Texas Legislature mandated the Student Success Initiative to ensure all eighth grade students are on grade level in reading and mathematics. Although progress is evident, the achievement gap for English language learners remains. The purpose of this case study was to explore effective school practices that lead to closing the achievement gap. This qualitative study applies the two core functions of leadership for exercising influence and providing direction to answer the research question: How do the core functions of school leadership practices for implementing the Student Success Initiative requirements vary between English language learners and non-English language learners in high and low-performing middle schools? The comparison between the high-performing school and low-performing school brought forth key findings and identifies school practices for supporting secondary English language learners. The key findings for exercising influence on teachers were: 1) Effective school practices that influence teacher knowledge on how to identify students and their needs include: a) conducts a needs assessment.; b) analyze data; c) create differentiated ESL programs, d) place diverse groups of ELLs in differentiated ESL programs. 2) Effective school practices to influence teachers how to intervene include: a) accept teacher input and follow through on requests when planning interventions, b) target intervention needs; c) create differentiated interventions. 3) Effective school practices to influence teachers how to monitor include: a) analyze multiple types of data, b) measure student reading growth; c) measure student language proficiency, d) conduct walkthroughs to observe students. The key findings for providing direction to teachers established the following practices: 4) Effective school practices to provide direction to identify students and their needs include, a) develop and implement a school wide intervention plan, b) create a master schedule to implement differentiated ESL programs; c) model how to disaggregate data, d) develop and implement an individual plan for ELLs. 5) Effective school practices to provide direction to intervene include: a) assign ESL teacher to intervention groups, b) use data to drive intervention planning, c) measure growth in language and literacy, d) provide daily interventions, e) integrate language and literacy interventions in lessons. 6) Effective school practices to provide direction to teachers for monitoring include: a) measure growth of literacy and language development, b) triangulate multiple types of data, c) review intervention lessons during walkthroughs, e) provide daily interventions specific to student needs. / text

Globally, there are numerous debates on what constitutes an effective school. Parents strive to choose what they regard as the best school for the education of their children. Historically, school effectiveness is a phenomenon associated with learner attainment. Yet, school effectiveness is measured and conceptualized differently throughout the world. The aim of this research was to determine and define the factors contributing to the effectiveness of secondary schools in the Free State Province of South Africa. A case study was conducted on six schools selected in the Free State Province. Data were collected qualitatively by means of semi-structured and focus-group interviews with principals, SMTs, teachers, SGBs, learning facilitators and school-management and -governance developers. A documentary analysis was carried out to triangulate data from interviews. The data collected were triangulated and supported by an extensive literature review on school effectiveness and improvement. In particular, the literature review encompassed the policy context of school effectiveness in South Africa, definitions of the concept of school effectiveness, models of school effectiveness, methods of evaluating school effectiveness, the relationship between school effectiveness and school improvement, change and school improvement, approaches to school improvement and the characteristics of effective schools. The legislative framework for both teacher and school evaluations is highlighted and their effectiveness critically reviewed with reference to current investigations in the field. These empirical investigations, which, form part of this larger qualitative research project, show that effective schools exhibited high learner attainment, effective teaching and learning, as well as a highly effective leadership and management. Management, leadership and administration, curriculum, school governance and VI school support structures were confirmed as very instrumental as far as school effectiveness and improvement are concerned. Furthermore the study indicates that the current policies are not enhancing school effectiveness and improvement, thus the study recommends the index of school effectiveness and improvement (ISE&I). The Index of School Effectiveness and Improvement, which is a document that schools can use to review and enhance their effectiveness, is a model developed in the course of this study to assist schools in improving their effectiveness. Unlike the WSE review, which takes place every five years, the index suggests a continuous and regular review process by schools carried out by all stakeholders. In conclusion, an overview of the challenges identified by this research project, as well as the aspects in need of further research, is highlighted. / Educational Leadership and Management / D. Ed. (Education Management)

DEd (Educational Management) / Department of Educational Management / This study focuses on safety and security in public schools. School violence is a sad reality encountered by whoever takes up the responsibility for the safety of learners and teachers. Both teachers and learners have the right to feel safe and secure at school. The aim of the study was to investigate how school management teams and school governing bodies take reasonable measures to ensure the safety and security of learners at schools. A mixed-methods research design was used in this study. The quantitative data, collected through questionnaires, were analysed through Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 23, while the qualitative data, gathered through semi-structured interviews, were thematically analysed. The study revealed that successful school leaders have the potential to tremendously reduce safety and security challenges when necessary support is provided. Establishing partnerships with other sectors not only manage and improve the learners' behaviour and lessen learning difficulties but also create a more supportive climate within the school, home and society. Unavailability of school psychologists and/or social workers who would join forces with teachers, parents, and other professionals to create safe and supportive learning environments increase the manifestations of school safety and security challenges.