As budget belts tighten in the public schools today, more and more schools are moving toward participation in federal Schoolwide Title I Programs to most effectively meet the needs of struggling students. This study seeks to inform school administrators how best to approach this yearlong change initiative by both meeting the needs of the rigorous federal standards and facilitating a positive school climate for staff, students, and community. Using a Problem-Based Learning method, the purpose of this study was to research, develop, and validate a handbook for shaping school culture during a major school change project while creating or maintaining a positive school culture. The handbook was developed as a resource for principals, and will ultimately be disseminated to Oregon school leaders with the goal of improving the transition process from a Targeted-Assistance Program (TAP) to a Schoolwide Title I Program (SWP). Research and development (R&D) methodology (Borg & Gall, 1989) was used to develop and validate Moving to a Schoolwide Title I Program: The Path Principals Should Follow to Maintain a Healthy School Culture. The literature review and the researcher's experience in Title I schools provided the necessary information to build the preliminary product (prototype). Field-test reviewers used an evaluation rubric to measure efficacy, practicality, effectiveness, and impact on school climate for each section of the handbook. The handbook was reviewed by three groups: principals of Title I schools, Title I directors and coordinators, and Title I compliance officials. The handbook was then piloted by the principal of an elementary school that is currently making the transition from a TAP to a SWP. Changes in the school's curriculum and innovations in the classroom, even if they are beneficial to student learning, can be challenging to the health of the school culture. Research suggests that school culture is defined by rituals, expectations, relationships, curricular focus, co-curricular activities, decision-making processes, school requirements, and a sense of the "way we do things here" (Bower, 1966, p. 22). School culture directly impacts a school's social, emotional, and academic end results. Through conversations with educators across the state, it is evident that the transition is not always sustainable or fully implemented by all staff, and many times the efforts for change are overcome by resistance, and the momentum toward change is abandoned. The handbook promotes the idea that though collaboration, shared leadership, data driven instruction, and staff buy-in, the yearlong transition process is not only possible, but it can also positively impact a variety of aspects which make up the school culture in hopes of creating a sustainable change.

Thesis (M.ED.) --University of Limpopo, 2008

Thesis (Ed. D.)--Washington State University, December 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 125-134).

This study aimed at investigating the effectiveness of induction program applied to candidate teachers. The effectiveness of the program was evaluated by focusing on the perceptions of the stakeholders of the induction program / the managers, the implementers of the program / candidate teachers to whom the program implemented / and the mentor teachers, implementers of the practical training. To this end, the CIPP evaluation model was utilized. Through in-depth interviews, the data were collected from 14 candidate teachers, 4 program managers and 4 mentor teachers from 6 public schools. The challenges and/or problems in implementation of the Teacher Induction Program perceived by the stakeholders of the Teacher Induction Program were revealed as the discrepancy between the needs of the program participants and aims of the program / lack of effective methods, materials and equipment / unnecessary courses in the program / unreliable and invalid exams and inefficient program instructors.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether administrator preparation programs effectively prepared administrators for work in schools with increasing Aboriginal populations. The study facilitated the reflections of eleven Aboriginal administrators; six non-Aboriginal administrators; and five Aboriginal teachers concerning the preparation of administrators for work in increasingly diverse schools. The reflections explored the specific skills and knowledge necessary for work in schools with high Aboriginal enrollments.<p> Data was collected with the aim of informing praxis. Participants volunteered to take part in focus groups, and where necessary the researcher implemented additional means of collecting data. Volunteers were asked to reflect on (a) The effectiveness of their preparation for administration in schools with high Aboriginal enrollments; (b) the necessity for changes to existing preparation programs; (c) the skills and knowledge necessary for work in increasingly diverse schools; and (d) proposed changes to the preparation of administrators. Research data formed the foundation for ascertaining changes to the preparation of administrators for the sake of education equity.<p> Research findings suggested that administrator preparation programs have not adequately prepared administrators for work in schools with increasing Aboriginal populations. Participants concluded that there was a need for changes to occur in the preparation of administrators. As well, they also identified the specific skills and knowledge, and the personal qualities that were essential for work in increasingly diverse schools. Finally, the research study suggested ways of informing praxis that included examining both the personal and institutional commitments and responsibilities required for changes to occur in the preparation of administrators for education equity. These commitments and responsibilities included undertaking reflective practices on individual cultural frames; and strategic planning with a diverse stakeholders group to ascertain changes to existing programs that would facilitate the inclusion of an education equity focus in the core of administrator preparation.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether administrator preparation programs effectively prepared administrators for work in schools with increasing Aboriginal populations. The study facilitated the reflections of eleven Aboriginal administrators; six non-Aboriginal administrators; and five Aboriginal teachers concerning the preparation of administrators for work in increasingly diverse schools. The reflections explored the specific skills and knowledge necessary for work in schools with high Aboriginal enrollments.<p> Data was collected with the aim of informing praxis. Participants volunteered to take part in focus groups, and where necessary the researcher implemented additional means of collecting data. Volunteers were asked to reflect on (a) The effectiveness of their preparation for administration in schools with high Aboriginal enrollments; (b) the necessity for changes to existing preparation programs; (c) the skills and knowledge necessary for work in increasingly diverse schools; and (d) proposed changes to the preparation of administrators. Research data formed the foundation for ascertaining changes to the preparation of administrators for the sake of education equity.<p> Research findings suggested that administrator preparation programs have not adequately prepared administrators for work in schools with increasing Aboriginal populations. Participants concluded that there was a need for changes to occur in the preparation of administrators. As well, they also identified the specific skills and knowledge, and the personal qualities that were essential for work in increasingly diverse schools. Finally, the research study suggested ways of informing praxis that included examining both the personal and institutional commitments and responsibilities required for changes to occur in the preparation of administrators for education equity. These commitments and responsibilities included undertaking reflective practices on individual cultural frames; and strategic planning with a diverse stakeholders group to ascertain changes to existing programs that would facilitate the inclusion of an education equity focus in the core of administrator preparation.

Recent anti-evolution legislation, in the form of Academic Freedom bills, has been introduced in many state legislatures over the last three years. The language in the proposed Academic Freedom bills may allow different interpretations of what can be taught in the science classrooms, and possibly spur parents to take advantage of their perceived parental rights to request their child be opted-out of class when the scientific theory of evolution is taught. Five research questions guided the analysis of participant responses to questions and perception statements focusing on secondary school administrators' actions, perceptions, and awareness as they relate to their decision to allow or not allow a student to opt out of academics, specifically evolution, through the collection of data using a web-based survey. Opt out policies are typically invoked to excuse students from activities to which they or their parents may have religious objections (Scott & Branch, 2008). Florida statutes allow parents to opt out their child from human sexuality and animal dissection. The population consisted of 281 Florida public secondary school administrators, who were divided into two subgroups based on whether they have allowed or would allow a student to opt out of evolution, or have not allowed or would not allow a student to opt out of class when the scientific theory of evolution is taught. Results found that over 70% of the administrators who completed the survey have allowed or would allow parents to opt out their child from learning about the scientific theory of evolution. There was a significant relationship between the decision to allow opt out and the following variables: (a) Free and Reduced Lunch population, (b) grade level served, (c) support for teaching evolution and alternative theories, and (d) the perception that parent rights supersede state statute requiring students to learn evolution. In Florida, any scientific concept that is based on empirical evidence is included in the state-mandated curriculum. If administrators are influenced to believe teachers have the academic freedom to teach alternative ideas that are not scientifically valid, they may be intentionally or unintentionaly allowing subject matter relevant to a student's academic success t to be suppressed or distorted, which is also a violation of state statute. The implications from this study indicated that many participants would allow a student to opt out of class when evolution is taught, including assigning an alternative assignment. Since the scientific theory of evolution is infused into the biological sciences, and therefore, the Florida State Standards for science, evolution concepts are assessed on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) and the Biology End-of-Course exam. Allowing students to opt out of class when evolution is taught may have a negative impact on student success on state mandated assessments, which can directly impact school grades and state and federal funding that is tied to Adequate Yearly Progress.

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This study was aimed at addressing the adolescent learners’ writing needs by assessing teachers’ needs on writing instruction across the disciplines in Grades 9 and 10 in one school in Southwestern Ontario. The research employed a mixed-methods approach using qualitative data from focus group and one-on-one interviews, and quantitative data collected through document analysis. The data revealed that there is a range of beliefs about writing instruction and that participating teachers offer many valuable writing opportunities to their students; however, there is a reluctance to provide more instructional time on writing according to the content area. The findings also pointed to the influence school administrators have in leading the instructional program. These findings concur with existing literature on writing instruction and the role principals play in literacy instruction.

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.