School Improvement Essays (Examples)

School Finance: Its Economics and Politics

School financing in America

Revenue sources for federal and state governments

Judicial reviews of school finance policy with evolving standards of equality

School-based decision making

Family choice of schooling

Reform of schooling-finance

Providing equality in educational opportunities to all is one of the cornerstones of American democracy. The founding fathers of America were aware of the necessity of having a population, which is educated since it enables an opportunity for all the citizens of the country to be successful. The necessity and the desire to create an environment where all children have equal opportunities for education to achieve success are now creating fundamental challenges in the field of education in America. In the 20th century, the issues which concerned school finance was about dealing with how to overcome fiscal disparities with the use of state and federal resources within a public school system. The…

Bibliography

Alexander, Kern, & Salmon, Richard, G. Public school finance. Mass.: Allyn and Bacon.(1995)

Hertert, Linda, Carolyn Busch, and Allan Odden. "School Financing Inequities Among the States: The Problem from a National Perspective." Journal of Education Finance 19 (Winter 1994), 231-255.

Odden, Allan, R., & Busch, Carolyn, C, "Financing schools for high performance: Strategies for improving the use of educational resources." California: Jossey-Bass, Publishers. (1998)

National Research Council. "Making Money Matter: Financing America's Schools." Committee on Education Finance, Helen F. Ladd and Janet S. Hansen, eds. Washington, DC: National Academy Press. (1999)

school's reforms stay intact after a leader leaves requires that others have been developed within that system to fulfill the void left by the leader. It becomes obvious the importance of professional development, mentoring and solid leadership. The legacy of a leader may be kept going if the values and ethics resonate with the remaining leaders within the school. To ensure this happens leaders need to continually reinforce their ideals on a regular basis in order for it to truly take hold and make a lasting and impressive change that can continue well into the future.

The current beliefs about school improvement within my current environment suggests that there is a great tendency to drag their collective feet when confronted with change. In many cases the need for change is obvious, and many complaints are discussed, but when it comes down to actually improving, the situation, procrastination tends to sink…

From scheduling lunch shifts to arranging for common planning time, my principal has effectively and efficiently managed the set amount of time that we have in a school day. Collaboration between parents and community members is evident as well. We often have parent / child literacy nights. Annually we also hold a rotherhood Dinner that honors community members that have positively influenced the children in our neighborhoods. Throughout New edford, Carney Academy is highly regarded; our reputation precedes us.

Educational Philosophy 6

Knowledge acquired from textbooks and college classes may give me some techniques and standards that effective leaders must know, however they are not going to teach me everything I need to know. Hopefully, my experiences as a successful coach and an employee of an excellent leader will help in building a solid foundation for me to become an effective leader myself.

ibliography

ass, ernard M (1985), Leadership and…

Bibliography

Bass, Bernard M (1985), Leadership and performance beyond expectations, New York: Free Press.

Conger, Jay A. And Rabindra N. Kanungo (1987), Towards a behavioral theory of charismatic leadership in organizational settings. Academy of Management Review 12/4: 637-647.

Burns, John M. (1978), Leadership, New York: Harper and Row

Bernstein, R. Should You Be the Boss? Mar 99, Vol. 108 Issue 6, p33, 3p, 1c

The most notable include:

What is the impact of these strategies on the class?

Is there any kind of immediate changes in the individual attitudes?

Are there any students who are continuing to struggle? Why is this happening? What could they do differently to perform better and become more motivated?

How will potential challenges be dealt with in the future?

How will each student be evaluated?

What is the timeframe when these transformations should be occurring?

How can educators deal with a potential student that is disruptive?

What can teachers do to help increase motivation when the content could be very dry for the individual?

These different questions will focus educators on objectively analyzing these changes. It is at this point when someone can be able to make adjustments that will address any kind of issues while they are small. This is the key when utilizing any of differentiated strategies.…

References

Differenitated Instruction. (2012). U.S. Department of Education. Retrieved from: http://data.ed.gov/grants/investing-in-innovation/applicant/15076

Knowing Fifth Graders. (2011). Responsive Classroom. Retrieved from:  http://www.responsiveclassroom.org/sites/default/files/ET5intro.pdf 

Massillon City Schools. (2012). Massillon Schools. Retrieved from:  http://www.massillonschools.org/Curriculum.aspx 

The Show Me Standards. (2012). DESE. Retrieved from:  http://dese.mo.gov/standards/documents/Show_Me_Standards_Placemat.pdf

School Improvements

Performance Outcomes at Dunn Middle School in Trenton

Inner-city schools today are struggling with a litany of challenges that threaten the quality of education and the opportunities available to students. Issues such as high poverty rates, crime-afflicted neighborhoods, racial disparity and limited parental involvement all threaten to stand in the way of bright futures for such students. This is true for the attendees of the Grace A. Dunn Middle School in Trenton, which is working to overcome the obstacles typical of such resource-strapped urban schools. The discussion here outlines some of the areas of Dunn Middle School that require improvement and offers some suggestions on how to achieve this improvement.

Performance:

Reviewing the Dunn Middle School performance outcomes, all evidence suggests that the school is in need of sweeping improvements. Under the thumb of mandatory state-proficiency tests, Dunn Middle School has struggled to yield any positive outcomes. The…

Works Cited:

Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). (2008). ISLLC Standards. Coe.fgcu.edu.

Jennings, D.A. (2012). Schools in Need of Improvement in New Jersey. Statewide Parents Action Network.

NJ School Performance Report. (2013). Grace A. Dunn Middle School. State of New Jersey.

School Personnel Functions

Personnel functions and their relationship to moving an instructional agenda forward

Ultimately, a school's reputation lies in the hands of its teachers. Hiring, training, and retaining highly effective personnel to give instruction in the classroom must be the cornerstone of any effort to improve education at a school. Without good teachers to impart instruction, the best textbooks, goals, and procedures will not be meaningful. Teaching, however, is a skill as well as a gift, and the administration can strive to support teachers with specific programming efforts.

Hiring and assignments

The first step in creating a more effective educational environment is hiring new teachers that support the mission and values of the school. Given that teachers are likely to be a part of the educational environment for some time, it is essential that teachers are 'on board' with the principal's agenda. ecruiting top candidates from high-quality colleges and…

References

Crowther, F. (1997). Teachers as leaders - an exploratory framework. The International Journal

of Educational Management, 11(1), 6-13. Retrieved from  http://search.proquest.com/docview/229204018?accountid=10901 

Gordon, R., Kane, T.J., & Staiger, D.O. (2006). Identifying effective teachers using performance on the job. The Hamilton Project Policy Brief no. 2006-01. Brookings Institution. Retrieved from  http://search.proquest.com/docview/62008957?accountid=10901 ;

Olsen, B., & Sexton, D. (2009). Threat rigidity, school reform, and how teachers view their work inside current education policy contexts. American Educational Research Journal, 46(1),

Utilization of the data and collection of the data should be one of the main aims of the policy makers. The data can be used by the policymakers in order to develop the policies and implement these in order to make sure that improvement can be ensured (Basch, 2011, p. 9).

3. One of the main roles that can be played by the policy makers includes reviewing the policies that have already been designed for the schools. How these previous policies have played roles in an improvement of academics of the children, their environments and their health are important parts of the review by the policymakers. It is important that funding is collected for the issues that affect health and academics of children.

4. The policymakers should make sure that the importance of school-based health clinics that can play roles in looking after the needs of the students.

Great levels…

References

Basch, C. (2011). Executive Summary: Healthier Students Are Better Learners. Journal of School Health 81, pp. 4-107.

Bruzzese, J., Sheares, B.J., Vincent, E.J., Du, Y., Sadeghi, H., Levison, M.J., Mellins, B.R., and Evans, D. (2011). Effects of a School-based Intervention for Urban Adolescents with Asthma: A Controlled Trial. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. April 15, 2011 183, pp. 998-1006.

Gall, G., Pagano, M.E., Desmond, S., Perrin, J.M., and Murphy, J.M. (2000). Utility of Psychosocial Screening at a School-based Health Center. Journal of School Health 70, pages 292 -- 298.

Geierstanger, P.S., Amaral, G., Mansour, M., and Walters, R.S. (2004). School-Based Health Centers and Academic Performance: Research, Challenges, and Recommendations. Journal of School Health 74, pages 347 -- 352.

Improvement Memo

Mr. J. Carver (School Principle)

From: Ariel Winchester (Student)

Heated Pool Repair

Currently, the pool at our highschool is used only during the summer months. Many students benefit greatly from this in terms of physical exercise, sports prowess, and simply having fun. The pool is situated at a location that can be closed into an indoor environment. During the summer months, the roof of the premises is removed to provide students with an outdoor pool facility. However, the heating system of the swimming pool is broken, which makes it impossible for students to use the facility, even indoors, during the winter months. Since roughly half of the year is too cold for swimming in unheated waters, this creates a situation during which the pool cannot be used and tends to fall into disrepair. If the heating system is fixed, the pool will benefit both students, the staff, and…

Schools and Education

Over the last several years, the field of education has been facing tremendous challenges. This is because of shifts in how they address a host of issues and there are changing demographics of students. These are all signs of broader social implications which are having an effect on individual performance and their ability to adapt with a variety of situations. (Rury, 2013)

Evidence of this can be seen with observations from Rury (2013) who said, "e live in a time of considerable social and political turmoil, marked by economic uncertainty that has directly touched the lives of millions of Americans. Deep divisions and critical problems, as a range of issues are debated fervently, extending from economic policy, to poverty and inequality. If there is anything everyone seems to agree upon it the growing importance of education for the future. ithout expanding our present knowledge and abilities, it…

Works Cited

Ballantine, Jeanne. 2012. Schools and Society. Thousand Oaks: Sage.

Hendrix, L. (2013). Education and Society. (Educational Autobiography).

Morris, Edward. 2012. Learning the Hard Way. New Brunswick, NJ: Rutgers University Press.

Rury, John. 2013. Education and Social Change. New York: Routledge.

Below are the results of the survey:

1. Inadequate number of student spaces - 28,800 (64%)

2. Too many faculty spaces not being used - 7,650 (17%)

3. Inadequate attempts to keep students without decals from occupying spaces - 6,750 (15%)

4. Dim marking lines-1,800 (4%)

As you can see from the above information, a disproportionate amount of individuals attribute the parking inconvenience to simple lack of spaces. The university can easily rectify these results by renovating current parking garages to accommodate more parking, create space to develop more parking, or enhance the public transportation system on campus. Figure 3 below indicate that the latter option may be very viable in regards to cost over the long-term.

Figure 3: Effect of Potential Improvements to Public Transportation

Members of the FID community were asked about their feelings towards public transportation; individuals were able to check more than one category:

Increased perceptions…

Granted, she was fortunate that Goldenberg is a noted school change advocate and author. However, if he had not been at the school, she may have been able to find someone else well versed in reform. The important element is collaboration with others who have a knowledge base.

The other important aspect of this article was the example of how the teachers were involved and the results that came from this change. Based on the increased scores of the students, it is easily recognized that there was a fundamental change in the teachers' instruction. Lastly, this article showed that not all changes end in "happy ever after" results. Unfortunately, the changes were not continued from one generation of teachers to the next.

There are a few elements that are missing in this article. The first is what happened to Sullivan and her involvement with this school change. Did she leave,…

References

Tinsley, R. (2006) Successful School Change. Catholic Education 10(1), 115-117

Improvements in communication technology have caused major differences in American society but such improvements have also served to expand the number of individuals that are affected by American society. Through new communication technology the breadth of influence enjoyed by American society is larger than at any point in history and as the level of such technology increases so likely will American influence.

One of the aspects of American culture that has been disseminated widely by improvements in communication technology and which has proven to be one of the most popular is pop culture. Although incorporating many different elements of American culture the essential ingredients of pop culture include the events, people, fads, and trends that capture the public imagination. It also includes cultural trends of the past that achieved enduring status. Examples of figures in pop culture in the America include different cartoon characters such as Mickey Mouse or Donald…

References

Cantor, P.A. (2003). Gilligan Unbound: Pop Culture in the Age of Globalizatio. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.

Peterson, R.A. (1996). Changing Highbrow Taste: From Snob to Omnivore. American Sociological Review, 900-907.

Popular American Culture

Improvements in Integrity, Financial Accountability, Ethical Conduct and Corporate Responsibilities under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

e passed Sarbanes-Oxley in the wake of the Enron scandal to try to root out financial and accounting irregularities. How could similar irregularities occur at Lehman Brothers? History has a way of constantly repeating itself. -- Joseph Grant 2010

The high-profile corporate shenanigans by Enron and Lehman Brothers have made it clear that tough legislation was needed to compel Americans businesses to clean up their financial acts. Indeed, in response to Enron's late 2001 bankruptcy, Congress enacted the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 but the Lehman Brothers' bankruptcy in late 2008 made it clear that there was still a problem in some sectors of American business. This paper provides a review of the relevant literature to determine how the integrity of corporate finance, ethics, and other responsibilities have improved, what the corporate finance industry culture…

Works Cited

Bierstaker, James, Marshall, Kenneth K. And Greenwald, Jonathan. (2010, December).

"Strengthen Your Core: Are You Getting the Most from Your Compliance, Operations,

Risk, and Enterprise Support Functions?" Strategic Finance 92(6): 35-39.

Carter, Charles C. (2011, May 1). "Freefall: America, Free Markets, and the Sinking of the World Economy." Journal of Real Estate Literature 9(2): 492-499.

The dedication shown by the principal, M. Jett, and the two instructors was truly tremendous, and it is obvious that the high-risk students attending ACE Academy are well served. The cramped environment, however, provides a challenge whose effects cannot really be mitigated while the school remains in the same space.

Though ACE Academy is only in its first year of operation, one way in which it could improve its educational process would be to establish an ongoing collaborative system of course adjustment and development, especially with the other schools in the county from which ACE's students come. This enables faster, more effective, and more directly needs-based instruction and courses to be developed (Lake 2003). The expansion of the school's physical size could also allow for the hiring of more instructors (in addition to the two currently employed by ACE Academy), which would further reduce the current student-teacher ratio and allow…

References

Jett, G. (2010). Personal interview, February 11.

Lake, E. (2003). "Course Development Cycle Time: A Framework for Continuous Process Improvement." Innovative higher education 28(10< pp. 21-33.

The last century has seen an increase in the level of international purchases which has been supported by the developments in transportation and technology. Goods can move faster than before with developments in logistics. The negotiation and forming contracts for purchase with companies and communicate with potential suppliers in distant countries is also easier than in the past with the internet and tools such as video conferencing and emails. This facilitates the use of international suppliers. However, other firms may choose local suppliers believing strategy will best suit their needs. Local suppliers may be able to provide where there is an increase in the transparency of the supply chain, less exposure to risks such as interruption and exchange rate risks and proximity may allow closer collaborative relationships to develop. Both procurement strategies are viable, to assess the advantages associated with each approach the procurement from international and local suppliers can…

REFERENCES

'Automotive and Auto Parts Industry in Turkey.' (2012). Turkish Ministry of Economy. [online] available:  http://blog.tcp.gov.tr/?p=2632 .

"Automotive Industry Trends Affecting Component Suppliers.' (2005). International Labour Review, vol. 144, no. 1, pp. 130-133.

Borrus, M., Ernst, D. & Haggard, S. (2001). International Production Networks in Asia: Rivalry or Riches. London: Routledge.

Burton, S., & Steane, P. (2004). Surviving Your Thesis. New York: Routledge.

Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) of 2004 and the No Child Left Behind Act of 2002 (NCLB) "require that students with disabilities have equal access to general education curricula and contexts," (Simon & Black, 2011, p.160). These two laws provide the fundamental backbone of inclusive education. However, educators need support in order to comply with these two federal regulations. The Differentiated Accountability Program (DAP) serves that function. As a federal program, DAP is "designed to support educators in meeting IDEA and NCLB requirements," regardless of state differentiation (Simon & Black, 2011, p. 160). DAP is, however, "designed to afford states flexibility in aligning improvement efforts with individual schools' specific needs according to each school's AYP status, requires schools in needs improvement status (SINI)," (Simon & Black, 2011, p. 160). Specific components of DAP may include professional development programs designed to help educators upgrade their skills related to teaching…

References

Ethics Extra! Newsletter (2008). Retrieved online:  http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=SINI+Correct+I&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCMQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fethicallc.com%2Fyahoo_site_admin%2Fassets%2Fdocs%2FEthica_Extra_6.132112300.doc&ei=xLZ9T63pNISw8ATe1tGLDQ&usg=AFQjCNG0SPsmdpjSbsdReNiTFpnq7CBC6g 

Florida Department of Education's Bureau of School Improvement (2006). Differentiated accountability. Retrieved online:  http://www.flbsi.org/assistplus/index.htm 

Simon, M. & Black, W.R. (2011). Differentiated accountability policy and school improvement plans: A look at professional development and inclusive practices for exceptional students. International Journal of Special Education 26(2).

Brandt (2003) offers ten ways to determine if a school indeed meets the criteria of a learning organization. The first characteristic of a learning organization is that it encourages adaptive behavior in response to differing circumstances. The second is that the learning organization has challenging, but achievable objectives and goals. The third is that members of the organization can accurately identify the organizations' stages of development (Brandt, 2003).

The learning organization can collect, process, and act upon information that fits their purposes (Brandt, 2003). Learning organizations have the knowledge base for creating new ideas. The learning organization has the ability to grow and adapt. They are dynamic and in a constant process of evolution. Learning organizations frequently exchange information with external sources (Brandt, 2003). This happens in educational workshops, in-services, and conferences.

Another feature of the learning organization is that is seeks feedback on their products and services (Brandt, 2003).…

References

Anderson, J. (2008). Principals' Role and Public Primary Schools' Effectiveness in Four Latin American Cities. The Elementary School Journal. 109 (1): 36-60.

Beasley, E. (2008). New leadership model for business fits schools too. Statesman Journal. August 26, 2008. Retrieved October 18, 2008 at  http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080826/Business01/808260315/1040/Business 

Berenstein, L. (2006). Team Teaching with Academic Core Curricula Teachers: Using Aviation Concepts. Department of Aviation Technologies. Southern Illinois University. 43 (2): 1- 19. Retrieved October 19, 2008 at  http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/ejournals/JITE/v43n2/pdf/berentsen.pdf 

Brandt, R. (2003). Is this school a learning organization? 10 ways to tell. Journal of Staff Development. Winter 2003. 24 (1). Retrieved October 19, 2008 at  http://www.nsdc.org/library/publications/jsd/brandt241.cfm

Dunn School

No public school in the United States is so perfectly administered that is cannot be improved. Dunn School in Trenton, New Jersey, is certainly not close to being perfect but there are signs that the school is improving. A school improvement plan has been approved and enabled and it includes: a) effective instruction; b) promotion of a positive school climate and culture; and c) effective community and family empowerment. The last two goals could become pivotal to the future of the school, if they are approached with solid background thought and good communication between the school leadership, the community, and families.

Promoting a positive school environment & involving the community

According to the ISLLC Standards #1 and #2 emphasize the need to create a "widely shared vision for learning" and to develop a "school culture and instructional program" that promotes learning while helping the staff become more professional.…

Works Cited

ISLLC Standards. (2012). School Leadership Briefing / Ideas, Insights, and Inspiration for Professional Growth. Retrieved November 5, 2013, from http://www.schoolbriefing.com.

U.S. Department of Education. (2011). Social-Emotional Environment. Retrieved November

5, 2013, from http://www.edu.gov.

Total Quality Management Continuous Improvement, properly applied, render BP (Business Process eengineering) unnecessary.' Discuss.

Total Quality Management and Continuous Improvement, when properly applied, render Business Process eengineering unnecessary

The internationalized economic crisis constituted the number one challenge for economic agents across the world, who suddenly found themselves faced with resource constraints, decreasing purchasing power of customers as well as other somber predicaments. While the topic of the crisis is extremely complex and has yet to be exhaustivated, at this level, only one specific feature of the crisis would be addressed -- the fact that it reminded economic agents of the need to remain alert, flexible and to continually develop and improve in order to increase their organizational capabilities.

The specialized literature and the business community have for years communicated the importance of continuous development for business success. Some reasons as to the importance of this lesson include the employees who…

References:

Carter, P., Business Process Reengineering -- an introductory guide, Team Technology,  http://www.teamtechnology.co.uk/business-process-reengineering.html  last accessed on January 28, 2011

Radhakrishnan, Business Process Reengineering: text and cases, PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd., ISBN 8120335678

Sashkin, M., Kiser, K.J., 1993, Putting total quality management to work: what TQM means, how to use it and how to sustain it over the long run, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, ISBN 1881052230

Smylie, M.A., 2009, Continuous school improvement, Corwin Press, ISBN 1412936896

Safe Schools for Lesbian and Gay Students

It is important that all children feel safe in the school environment. The majority of waking hours are spent at school, so it must be ensured that students feel comfortable, safe, secure, and supported while at school. This is especially the case for lesbian and gay students, who face several challenges in regards to discrimination, self-esteem, and fitting in with other students. It is the responsibility of teachers and school administrators to address this issue and devise strategies for ensuring that lesbian and gay students are appropriately supported in the school environment.

Lesbian and gay students often feel isolated, alienated, and left out at school (Youth Pride, 1997). These feelings of isolation result in several troubling outcomes. Suicide rates among lesbian and gay students are high, with studies indicating that gay and lesbian students are up to three times more likely to attempt…

References

Bullying.org (2011). Retrieved 22 October, 2011 from  http://www.bullying.org .

Lambda Legal (2010). Getting down to basics: tools to support LGBTQ youth in care. Retrieved 22 October, 2011 from  http://lambdalegal.org/take-action/tool-kits/getting-down-to-basics .

National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (2011). Public policy and government affairs. Retrieved 22 October, 2011 from  http://www.ngltf.org/our_work/public_policy .

Schwartz, R. (2011). GLSEN lauds bipartisan introduction of safe schools improvement act (S.506) in senate. Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network. Retrieved 22 October, 2011 from  http://www.glsen.org/cgi-bin/iowa/all/library/record/2702.html?state=policy&type=policy .

" Other changes comparing to 2004-2005 F.Y. are: an increase with 0, 7% in general operating revenues, and a 35% increase in student enrollment, but also an increasing expenditure with $115, 6 million, an increase of 2% for salaries. We can argue that the positive results and the positive effects are more numerous than the negative one.

4) for an answer to this question I must mention that the incomes are received and are saved in several funds. Therefore, the money is spending by using also a fund; the General Operating Fund witch shows the main expenditure areas and the occupied percentage. "The General Operating Fund Dollar is spend on: instructional materials 3,56%, utilities, postage, property insurance 3,99%, transportation 0,79%, licensed salaries and benefits 55,87%, other 6,61%, capital outlay 0,6%, debt service 0,2%, contingency 0,27%, police salaries and benefits 0,67%, administration salaries and benefits 6,86%, support salaries and benefits 20,58%."…

Bibliography

Fiscal Year 2005-2006 for Clark Country School District, http://www.ccsd.net/directory/finance/budget/05-06_Budget/Budget_Overview.pdf

Fiscal Year 2005-2006 for Clark Country School District, http://www.ccsd.net/directory/finance/budget/05-06_Budget/Operating_Budget.pdf

Fiscal Year 2005-2006 for Clark Country School District, http://www.ccsd.net/directory/finance/budget/05-06_Budget/Budget_Overview.pdf.Last retrieved on October 12, 2006

Fiscal Year 2005-2006 for Clark Country School District, http://www.ccsd.net/directory/finance/budget/05-06_Budget/Operating_Budget.pdf

Education Scenario

The initial conflict at Lakeside was due to the high suspension rate, and after six years in the principal's chair, Mr. Downey apparently was not competent to rectify the situation. Downey had been in the district 40 years and that is too long for an administrator to be up-to-date with schools, kids, and social dynamics that surround public schools. Hence, one could pin blame on the district for not replacing Mr. Downey earlier with a younger, more energetic, more contemporarily adroit individual. Bottom line: the district was responsible for the conflict.

"Deprivation" is, according to Merriam-Webster, the "state of being deprived," and a "removal from an office, dignity, or benefice." In the case of the existing faculty at Lakeside Elementary, they were certainly deprived of their dignity when Principal Early marched in with high-heeled shoes and began to criticize them. This was an outrageous violation of decorum and…

Leadeship Skills Impact Intenational Education

CHALLENGES OF INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION

Pactical Cicumstances of Intenational schools

THE IMPORTANCE OF LEADERSHIP IN EDUCATION

What is Effective Leadeship fo Today's Schools?

Challenges of Intecultual Communication

Challenges of Diffeing Cultual Values

Impotance of the Team

Leadeship Style

LEADERSHIP THEORIES

Cuent Leadeship Reseach

Tansfomational Leadeship

Skills-Authoity

Contingency Theoies

APPLYING LEADERSHIP IN AN INTERNATIONAL SETTING

Wagne's "Buy-in" vs. Owneship

Undestanding the Ugent Need fo Change

Reseach confims what teaches, students, paents and supeintendents have long known: the individual school is the key unit fo educational impovement, and within the school the pincipal has a stong influence upon the natue of the school, the conditions unde which students lean, and upon what and how much they lean. Despite this ageement about the cental ole of the pincipal, thee is little eseach concening the chaacteistics of pincipals associated with effective leadeship and with pupil accomplishment, and even less insight…

reference:

http://mason.gmu.edu/~lshafer/schoolsetting.html].

Allen, K.E., Bordas, J., Robinson Hickman, G., Matusek, L.R., & Whitmire, K.J. (1998). Leadership in the twenty-first century. Rethinking Leadership Working Papers. Academy of Leadership Press. http://www.academy.umd.edu/scholarship/casl/klspdocs/21stcen.html

Bennis, W.G. (1997). "The secrets of great groups." Leader to Leader, No.3. The Peter F. Drucker Foundation for Nonprofit Management. http://www.pfdf.org/leaderbooks/L2L/winter97/bennis.html

Crowther, F., Kaagan, S., et. al. (2002). Developing Teacher Leaders. Thousand Oaks: Corwin Press.

No Child Left ehind

Letter of Transmittal

Impact of NCL on Maryland School Systems

Request for specified action

Federal and State Restructuring Options

Maryland State School Improvement Grant udget Application,

Allowable and Non-Allowable Expenditures

No Child Left ehind (NCL) is the re-embodiment of President Lyndon Johnson's Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA). The primary purpose was to raise the standard of education and bridge educational boundaries. NEA certainly supports these aims and works solely in order to provide children equally standardized public schools.

The paper discuses impact of NCL on Maryland schools and what effect the state takeover had on the schools present in the district. Several recommendations and strategies are discussed in order to improve the management of the schools and a detailed request to Mr. Delaney has also been made in the paper to further improve and implement the strategies for the improvement of the schools.…

Bibliography

Dee, T.D., Jacob, B., Hoxby, C., & Ladd, H. (2013). The Impact of No Child Left Behind on Students, Teachers and Schools. U.S.: Brookings Institution Press. Retrieved from: http://faculty.smu.edu/millimet/classes/eco4361/readings/dee%20et%20al%202010.pdf

Editorial Projects in Education Research Center. (2011, Septmber 19). Retrieved from Education Week:  http://www.edweek.org/ew/issues/no-child-left-behind/ 

Ellis, C.R. (2007). No Child Left Behind -- A Critical Analysis. Excelsior. Retrieved from:  http://eds.b.ebscohost.com.vlib.excelsior.edu/eds/detail/detail?sid=13942473-32f0-4108-a965-c3a784d24d3d%40sessionmgr112&vid=0&hid=102&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ%3d%3d 

Issues and Actions: No Child Left Behind Act. (2011). Retrieved from National Education Association: http://www.nea.org/home/NoChildLeftBehindAct.html

school context' as discussed in the oyd reference

Schools represent complex organisms having several components. For achieving school improvement, understanding these components' interrelations is essential. Attempts at improving schooling for the at-risk student population necessitate taking the school context into consideration. oyd (n.d.) states that the ecology, which forms the first aspect, encompasses a school's inorganic components (i.e., non-living things that affect individuals within the school setting; e.g., resources at hand, school size, rules, and policies).

Culture constitutes another aspect of a school setting/context. It may be described as an expression aiming to capture social institutions' (including schools') informal side. Schein (1985) outlines numerous culture-related meanings apparent in literature on the subject:

• Perceived behavior regularities in human interactions, including language employed and practices linked to deportment and respect.

• Norms developing within work groups; for instance, the principle "fair day's wage for a fair day's work" developed during the…

Bibliography

Boyd, V. (n.d.). School context: Bridge or barrier to change? Southwest Educational Development Laboratory. Retrieved December 2016 from  http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED370216.pdf 

Purkey, S.C. & Smith, M.S. (1983). Effective schools: A review. The Elementary School Journal, 83(4), pp. 427-452.

Schein, E.H. (1985). Organizational culture and leadership. San Francisco: Jossey Bass.

Sarason, S.B. (1982). Culture of the school and the problem of change, 2nd edition. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

Moseley, chair of the Coalition advisory board and president and CEO of the Academy for Educational Development. "It is not a luxury that can be addressed at some point in the future, but rather it provides people with the tools to survive and improve their lives" (Basic Education Coalition 2004). There is no one magical, quick fix solution to Bermuda's dropout problem. The problem is complex and requires a complex array of solutions. It is the intent of this paper to study the scope of this hidden crisis, the poor dropout and graduation rates of Bermuda's Public High School System, by reviewing the most recent and accurate data on graduation and dropout rates, exploring the reasons that young people drop out of school, and presenting the most promising models for helping high school students graduate with their peers.

CHAPTER TO: LITERATURE REVIE

Introduction.

This chapter provides a review of the…

Winters, K.C.; Rubenstein, M.; and Winters, R.A. An Investigation of Education Options for Youth-at-Risk, Ages 9 to 15: Demographics, Legislation, and Model Programs. Research Report No. 88-10. Washington, DC: National Commission for Employment Policy (DOL), May 1988.

Wood, G.D., & Ellis, R.C. (2003). Risk management practices of leading UK cost consultants. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 10(4), 254-62.

Wood, L.A. "An Unitended Impact of One Grading Practice." Urban Education 29/2 (1994): 188-201.

School Cultural Theory

Any environments where human beings reside, there is an existing culture. The total time that the community members, teachers, and students spend in school environments develop cultural elements have a direct influence on how they act and function in their respective positions.

Developing a system of cultural awareness in schools is critical in activating teachers and school stakeholders to engage in growth promoting activities. Teachers in school settings make up the main components of a school organizational network. It is important noting that schools are forms of organizations that uphold a shared culture. Milner and Browitt (2013) in their study of organizational cultures argue that any organization strives to find a meaningful purpose together as a group that has a shared goal. They further discussed the organizational systems develop individual structures and behavioral patterns with actual means of accomplishing the processes. Organizations create the necessary tools for…

References

Agger, B. (2014). Cultural Studies as Critical Theory. Routledge.

Hudson, K., Ben-Ary, G., Lawson, M., & Hodgetts, S. (2013). The Dynamics of Collaborative Resistance: Negotiating the Methodological Incongruities of Art, Cultural Theory, Science and Design. Proceedings of the 19th International Symposium on Electronic Art, ISEA2013, Sydney.

Milner, A., & Browitt, J. (2013). Contemporary Cultural Theory: An Introduction. Routledge.

Leonard, L. & Leonard, P. (2003, September 17). The continuing trouble with collaboration: Teachers talk. Current Issues in Education, 6 (15).

The researchers explore the perceptions of teachers across one school district with regard to attributes of their teaching context that inhibit or promote the achievement of collaborative teaching. The authors argue that a negative school environment is unlikely to support implementation of teacher collaboration sufficiently robust to positively impact student outcomes.

In a follow up to a previous district-wide survey, the researchers surveyed 56 of the original 238 respondents regarding the nature and extent of collaboration in their schools. The respondents were from all school levels and had been teaching from 3 to 34 years. The qualitative survey contained open-ended questions to invite teachers to reflect on the collaborative aspects of their praxis at their schools and in the district. In particular, respondents were asked about the expectations of…

References

Asking your school board for teacher collaboration time. Small Schools Project.

Retrieved http//:www.smallschoolsproject.org/asking_board_for_collab_time.pdf

Effective use of teacher collaboration time to advance student achievement: A living case study. (2010, October 15). Retrieved  http://www.mass2020.org/files/file/ 

/ncreased%20Learning%20Time%20Partnership/Session%202/S2%20Presentation%20-%20Effective%20Use%20of%20Teacher%20Time.pdf

Abstract
This paper provides a summary of the Illinois Policy Institute’s Bargaining for Better Schools: An Introduction to Collective Bargaining in Illinois Public Education. The policy paper discusses how teachers unions take advantage of the collective bargaining process in Illinois by working with school boards. The school board members are elected thanks in part to the campaign funds provided by the unions. When it comes time to negotiate teachers’ salaries and benefits, the boards are thus in the pockets of the unions, as they feel compelled to reciprocate by giving the unions what they want. Taxpayers are left in the dark about much of this because of the misleading communications provided them by the unions.
Keywords: Illinois public schools, Illinois teacher unions, Illinois collective bargaining
Introduction
This paper examines the Illinois Policy Institute’s (n.d.) Bargaining for Better Schools: An Introduction to Collective Bargaining in Illinois Public Education. It will provide…

school that are related to all the students and have a general effect on the entire organization. The focus of the research pertinent to this investigation deals with the Hispanic female population in my school. Within this group there are some specific issues that could definitely benefit from a widespread application of a thoughtful universal design for learning (UDL) plan. At the heart of the learning problems with this specific demographic is the differing culture and communication methods that come into conflict with the student and her environment. The transition from Spanish to English is dramatic in many cases and the curriculum and school system design does not necessarily align itself with the a path to simple and easy learning. The environment has taken this problem into consideration and has addressed this communication gaps in some ways but there is much room for improvement. English as a second language (ESL)…

References

Sahin, Y (2003). Empowering ESL Students with Universal Design. University of Maryland, Paper 2003. Retrieved from  http://www.edtechpolicy.org/StudentWork/yesmin/www.glue.umd.edu/~ysahin/EDUC477/Empowering%20ESL%20students%20with%20UD.htm 

Strehorn, K. (2001). The Application of Universal Instructional Design to ESL Teaching. The Internet TESL Journal, 7(3), March 2001. Retrieved from  http://iteslj.org/Techniques/Strehorn-UID.html

This is discussed at length by Fusick and ordeau (2004) "...school-based counselors need to be aware of the disturbing inequities that exist in predominantly Afro-American urban school districts, where nearly 40% of Afro-American students attend school in the United States" (Fusick and ordeau, 2004) This again places emphasis on the need for mental health programs in these areas of concern. This is also related to findings from a study by McDavis et al. (1995) Counseling African-Americans, which refers to research that stresses the "...widening achievement gap between Afro-American and Euro-American students." (McDavis, et al. 1995)

An important study Laura a. Nabors, Evaluation of Outcomes for Adolescents Receiving School-ased Mental Health Services (2002) refers to the particular issue and problems experience at inner-city schools. The author states that, "School mental health (SMH) programs are an important setting for providing mental health services to adolescents, especially urban youth who typically face in-…

Bibliography.aspx www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5001042308

Smith, P.B., Buzi, R.S., & Weinman, M.L. (2001). Mental Health Problems and Symptoms among Male Adolescents Attending a Teen Health Clinic. Adolescence, 36(142), 323. Retrieved December 9, 2008, from Questia database:  http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5001042308  www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5001243622

Stern, S.B., Smith, C.A., & Jang, S.J. (1999). Urban Families and Adolescent Mental Health. Social Work Research, 23(1), 15. Retrieved December 9, 2008, from Questia database:  http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5001243622  www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=77001228

Sternberg, R.J., & Dennis, M.J. (1997). Elaborating Cognitive Psychology through Linkages to Psychology as a Helping Profession. Teaching of Psychology, 24(3), 246-249. Retrieved December 9, 2008, from Questia database:  http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=77001228  www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5000581383

Stock, M.R., Morse, E.V., Simon, P.M., Zeanah, P.D., Pratt, J.M., & Sterne, S. (1997). Barriers to School-Based Health Care Programs. Health and Social Work, 22(4), 274+. Retrieved December 9, 2008, from Questia database:  http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5000581383

It is our belief that such integration will provide reciprocal benefits. Learners will more fully understand information technologies in the process of applying them across the curriculum and their understanding of other curriculum areas will be similarly enriched as they work to apply it skills in those contexts. Furthermore, there is a need to ensure that people understand the connections between information technologies and the other skills they attain in school, skills they use in work, and in everyday life.

Findings of the Initial Literature eview Phase of the esearch

There exists a lack of technological integration which is noted at all levels of the educational forum as being one that is detrimental to the future of the student if not adequately addressed. The smaller schools appear to be providing better instruction and 'care' of their students as well as better technological instruction and overall better outcomes in terms of…

References

Digital Transformation: A Framework for ICT Literacy: A Report of the International ICT Literacy Panel educational testing service. Online available at http://www.ets.org/research/ictliteracy/ictreport.pdf

Berkowitz, Bob (2001) Research Study: The Big6 ™ and Student Achievement - Report of an Action Research Study. Online available at http://www.big6.com/showarticle.php?id=11&page=2.

The Importance of Contemporary Literacy in the Digital Age: A Response to Digital Transformation: A Framework for Information Communication Technologies (ICT) Literacy http://www.big6.com/showarticle.php?id=157

Cotton, Kathleen (1996) School Size, School Climate and Student Performance

Circles Model for an Inner City School

"I am shocked by the lack of urgency we are showing for the deplorable situation in our inner-city schools and their neighborhoods…students trapped, going to school in a community devoid of hope or opportunity, should challenge our moral sensibilities" (Brown, 2011, Jersey Journal).

Inner city schools (including those in Trenton, NJ) tend to be plagued by similar and familiar problems. According to a peer-reviewed article in the Journal of Urban Affairs (Glickman, et al., 2008), inner city communities continue to suffer from "disinvestment" (lack of funding sources), "outmigration" (whites moving to suburbs), and "abandoned property" and a sense of gloom that is reflected in schools. Also, the inner city is known for low income citizens, "predominantly minority," and their plight is often reflected in schools (Glickman, 557). And the poor conditions in inner cities -- including those neighborhoods in Trenton, New Jersey --…

Works Cited

Brown, N. (2011). Opinion: N.J. must improve cities to improve schools. Jersey Journal.

Retrieved August 20, 2013, from  http://www.nj.com .

Glickman, N.J., and Scally, C.P. (2008). Can Community and Education Organizing Improve

Inner-City Schools? Journal of Urban Affairs, 30(5), 557-577.

eluctance of Parents to Visit the School

ole of Parents in Children's Education

Education has always been a very important part of human existence and has been an inseparable part of human civilization. There has been a lot of development on the education portal and mankind has learned great deal from the education function (Jeynes, 2005). Every milestone which is achieved and every development which is made in any direction is due to the knowledge provided through education. This function has been researched and is very much detailed in terms of style and method. Several researchers and experts have proposed and devised methods which can make education and knowledge imparting more effective and efficient (Hill & Tyson, 2009). Talking about a student at elementary level, it is all the more important to understand the needs of such young individuals and analyze the education function accordingly (Tschannen-Moran and Hoy, 2007). This…

References

Jeynes, W.H. (2005).A metaanalysis of the relation of parental involvement to urban elementary school student academic achievement. Urban Education. 40(3), 237-269.

Stewart, E.B. (2008). School structural characteristics, student effort, peer associations, and parental involvement: The influence of school and individual level factors on academic achievement. Education and Urban Society, 40(2), 179-204.

Hill, N.E. & Tyson, D.F. (2009). Parental involvement in middle school: a met analytic assessment of the strategies that promote achievement. Developmental Psychology, 49(3), 740-763.

Hill, N., and Taylor, L. (2004). Parental school involvement and children's academic achievement: Pragmatics and issues. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 13(4) 161-164.

It is also helping everyone to see their roles and the way they can make a difference by improving quality. Over the course of time, this motivates educators to do more, as they see that administrators are practicing the same policies. (Boyd, 2002) (Brower, 2005)

Whether your current school leader is conventional, congenial, or collegial?

The school leader is someone who is embracing conventional and collegial techniques. This is because, she gives everyone a certain amount of independence in determining how they will reach out to students and meet various curriculum requirements. Yet, she also has everyone participate in an open discussion about how to improve quality and the techniques they are utilizing. This involves having staff members monitor, observe and critique each other in a friendly -- non-confrontational manner. (Cram, 2000) (Boyd, 2002) (Brower, 2005)

To enhance these ideas, the principle handles herself in a professional manner. This means…

References

Boyd, P. (2002). Educational Leadership. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC CLIO

Brower, R. (2005). Transformational Leadership. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

Cram, H. (2000). Leading and Learning in Schools. New York, NY: Routledge.

Another area that can be discussed in this section is the evidence of improvement in other after-school programs throughout the country. According to a study conducted by the University of California,

A two-year longitudinal Study of Promising After-School Programs examined the effects of participation in quality after school programs among almost 3,000 youth in 35 elementary and middle school after school programs located in 14 cities and 8 states. New findings from that study indicate that elementary and middle school students who participated in high-quality after school programs, alone or in combination with other activities, across two years demonstrated significant gains in standardized math test scores, when compared to their peers who were regularly unsupervised after school. Further, regular participation in after school programs was associated with improvements in work habits and task persistence. (Vandell, 2007)

The final area that investors are particularly interested in is whether their funds are…

Works Cited

Gardener, M., Roth, J., Brooks-Gunn, J. (2009). Can After-school Programs Help Level the Academic Playing Field for Disadvantaged Youth? Columbia University: Campaign for Educational Equity. Available at http://cms.tc.columbia.edu/i/a/document/11242_After-school_report_10-7-09_web.pdf

Vandell, D., Reisner, E., & Pierce, K. (2007). Outcomes linked to high-quality afterschool programs: Longitudinal findings from the study of promising practices. Irvine, CA:

University of California and Washington, DC: Policy Studies Associates. Available at http://www.gse.uci.edu/docs/PASP%20Final%20Report.pdf

ace to the Top-District fa Analysis

School Grant Programs

On May 22, 2012, the Secretary of Education made public the U.S. Department of Education's (ED) intention to build upon recent achievements in education through the ace to the Top-State programs (ED, 2012a) by offering an additional $383 million in grant funding to local school districts in 2012 (ED, 2012b). The goal of the ace to the Top District (TT-D) Competition is to continue advancing bold innovation and educational standards made possible through state ace to the Top grants. This essay examines the requirements and criteria that must be met in order to apply to the TT-D program.

Eligibility equirements

Eligibility for applying to the TT-D is limited to Local Education Agencies (LEAs) or a consortium of LEAs (ED, 2012c). Based on Title IX, Section 9101, subsection 26, an LEA is defined as a public board of education or other public…

References

ED. (2012a). Applications for new awards; Race to the Top -- District. Federal Register, 77(159), 49654-49677. Retrieved 5 Nov. 2012 from  http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2012-08-16/pdf/2012-20037.pdf .

ED. (2012b). Race to the Top District Competition draft. ED.gov. Retrieved 4 Nov. 2012 from  http://www.ed.gov/race-top/district-competition .

ED. (2012c). Race to the Top -- District Competition: Final requirements and criteria. ED.gov. Retrieved 4 Nov. 2012 from  http://www2.ed.gov/programs/racetothetop-district/2012-fast-facts.pdf .

ED. (2012d). Race to the Top -- District guidance and frequently asked questions. ED.gov. Retrieved 4 Nov. 2012 from  http://www2.ed.gov/programs/racetothetop-district/faqs-add-1.pdf .

Currently, auditors must labor over the writing of each section as though it must read perfectly when they submit it for the review by the senior auditors. Many of them have expressed frustration at the fact that they are not good writers. Consequently, they waste considerable amounts of time doing what they are worst at. Meanwhile, the senior auditors have similar problems synthesizing all of the individual sections together to compile a single report draft from the work provided by the auditors. Generally, the most laborious part of that chore for senior auditors is making the necessary changes to each of the individual sections first.

By contrast, the proposed changes to the audit report production process is designed to allow the senior auditors to reconcile any technical audit issues with the individual auditors while largely ignoring the writing of those sections. The senior auditor's primary responsibility is simply to confirm…

References

Cornell University Law School. (2011). U.S. Code Title V. Inspector General Act of

1978. Retrieved July 18, 2011 from the CULS Legal Information Institute website  http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/html/uscode05a/usc_sup_05_5_10_sq2.html 

Edwards, G., Wattenberg, M., and Lineberry, R. (2009). Government in America: People,

Politics, and Policy. New York, NY: Longman.

However, would deductivism be true from a normative perspective?

This is a question that relates with the fundamental question that a principle would be justifiable from a deductivist perspective: if H - hypothesis is the best explanation for the fact or facts that are to be explained, is it reasonable to accept H. As being valid? We will not go into a discussion on what reasonable might mean and what can actually be considered being reasonable. However, in my opinion the answer to such a question could be 'no'. We can accept H. As being reasonable, but I don't think we can accept H. As being valid. On the other hand, deductivism in scientific methodology does not necessarily propose 100% valid statements and hypothesis, but hypothesis that can be worked with.

Is this enough for a scientific hypothesis? Again, this is a difficult question to answer. On a highly likely…

Bibliography

1. Govier (1987). From Godden, David M. Deductivism as an interpretive strategy: a reply to Groarke's recent defense of reconstructive deductivism.

2. Ratzsch, Del the Battle of Beginnings: Why Neither Side is Winning the Creation- Evolution Debate. InterVarsity Press. 1996.

3. The Scientific Method. January 2007. On the Internet at http://barefootbum.blogspot.com/2007/01/scientific-method.html.Last retrieved on July 17, 2008

4. Peter Godfrey-Smith. Theory and Reality. 2003

woman's rights were little recognized. As a creative source of human life, she was confined to the home as a wife and mother. Moreover, she was considered intellectually, emotionally and spiritually inferior to man (Compton's 1995), even wicked, as in the case of mythical Pandora, who let loose plagues and misery in a box. This was the early concept of woman in the West as an adjunct to man, although the woman in the East was not without property and individual rights and freedoms. Just the same, a woman was subject to man and could not own property, could not remarry and boys were preferred to girls. ut when allowed some rights, such as during the Middle Ages, a woman proved what she could achieve. A woman from an aristocratic family or line, for example, possessed power and prestige like a man in her class. England's Queen Elizabeth in the…

Bibliography

Barry, Ursula. Gender Issues and the Irish National Employment Action Plan. Final Report. Women's Education Research and Resource Centre. Dublin:University College, 2000. (accessed 15:05:03). http://www2.umist.ac.uk/management/ewerc/egge/egge_publications/lrl_Napev.pdf

Compton's Interactive Encyclopedia. Women's History in America. News Media, Inc., 1995. (accessed 15:05:03)

 http://www.wic.org/misc/history.htm 

Evans, Karen. Overcome Barriers to Women's Technical Education. The Commonwealth of Learning, 1995. (accessed 15:05:03).  http://www.col.org/barriers.htm

The case snowballed and grew until the nation viewed Zelmanv Simmons-Harris as the test case to try the legal boundary between church and state. It was also looked to for the purpose of redefining the meaning and scope of public education in America.

Enacted by the Ohio legislature in 1995, the Cleveland Scholarship and Tutoring Program allows 4,000 low-income children to attend private religious and secular schools with up to $2,250 in public support (Vitteritti, 2002). Participating schools must cap their tuition at $2,500 a year; the state pays up to 90% of whatever the school charges, depending on family income (Vitteritti, 2002). Following a high-profile legal battle, the program was upheld by the Ohio Supreme Court in 1999, prompting opponents to take their case into federal court (Vitteritti, 2002). On the day before school was to open that year, federal district court judge Solomon Oliver struck down the program,…

References

Text of U.S. Supreme Court decision: Zelman, superintendent of Public Instruction of Ohio, et al. v. Simmons-Harris et al. (Features). Journal of Church and State | Date: June 22, 2002 | More results for: Zelman vs. Simmons-Harris No. 00-1751 536 U.S. -- (2002) Argued February 20, 2002 Decided June 27, 2002

Vouchers on trail: will the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Zelman end the voucher debate? (Feature).(Statistical Data Included) Education Next | Date: June 22, 2002 | Author: Viteritti, Joseph P. | More results for: Zelman vs. Simmons-Harris

Zelman: the court gets it right. (Opinion).(school voucher case)

First Things: A Monthly Journal of Religion and Public Life | Date: January 1, 2003 | Author: Uhlmann, Michael M. | More results for: Zelman vs. Simmons-Harris

(Lance, 2001)

Lance additionally states that "one of the most consistent strands of research on this topic is evidenced by studied that demonstrate the value of" those as follows:

(1) quality collections of books and other materials selected to support the curriculum;

(2) State-of-the-art technology that is integrated into the learning / teaching processes; and (3) Cooperation between school and other types of libraries, especially public libraries. (Lance, 2001)

Stated as a key role of the library media specialist and one that has only been the focus of research for about the last decade is program administration since in today's schools "library media specialists are not only managers of the library media center but also advocates for information literacy with the principal, at faculty meetings, and in standards and curriculum committee meetings." (Lance, 2001) Library media specialists are further stated to be "trainers who provide in-service programs for teachers on…

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Todd, Ross J. (2007) School Administrators' Support for School Libraries: The Impact on Student Academic Achievement. Learning & Media Vol. 35 No. 1 Winter 2007.

Houston, Cynthia R. (2007) Measuring Up: Academic Achievement of 'Beyond Proficiency' Standards in School Library Media Centers Across Kentucky. Kentucky Libraries Vol. 71 No. 3 Summer 2007.

Collier, Jackie (2007) School Librarians Rock: Librarian's Powerful Impact on Literacy Development: Reflections of Teacher Candidates. Ohio Media Spectrum 50 No. 1 Fall 2007.

Lance, Keith Curry (2001) Proof of the Power: Quality Library Media Programs Affect Academic Achievement. MultiMedia Schools September 2001.

Security Options and High Performance
Introduction
As McCrie notes, “the training of employees and the development of their skills and careers is a critical and time-consuming activity within security operations.”[footnoteRef:2] For an organization like a public elementary school, employees are more than likely already stretched to the max in terms of time and ability: their primary focus is on teaching and assessing student achievement. Other stakeholders—i.e., parents—will nonetheless be concerned about safety, as Stowell points out.[footnoteRef:3] To keep stakeholders happy, managers and employees have to find ways to satisfy concerns about security—on top of doing their full-time jobs of administering and educating. That can be daunting, but to help there are security solutions that the Digital Age has helped bring into existence—tools like SIELOX CLASS, which allow teachers to communicate with administrators, access campus cameras, alert authorities, trigger a lockdown, and keep students safe by responding quickly to a potentially…

Abstract
This paper compares and contrasts the school funding approaches of the state of Illinois and the District of Columbia. It shows that in Illinois there is a far greater problem of how to achieve a more equitable distribution of funds, though the state is currently setting a course to try to make this happen with its evidence-based model funding formula recently passed this year. In DC on the other hand, a foundation formula is used to disperse funds equitably throughout the District and private investment is obtained to help develop programs that can assist in closing the achievement gap. DC is thus better structured and its school funding approach better supported to achieve success over the long run.
Keywords: school funding, dc, Illinois, education
School Funding Investigation:
Comparing and Contrasting Illinois and Washington, D.C.
Introduction
Funding for schools is a controversial topic for many mainly because of the lack…

Education leads to better economic opportunities and even if it is not the sole purpose of schooling, we must bear in mind that deeper understanding of the connection between education and economy can lead to formulation and implementation of positive result-oriented school reforms. The paper presents evidence to prove that there exists a deep and significant link between education and economic opportunities.

SCHOOLING AND ECONOMY: EVIDENCE

While most of us want to adorn ourselves with the best education available to us, we do so not exactly to broaden our intellectual horizons but to access better job opportunities once we enter the real world. This shows that schooling is closely connected with better lives or more opportunities. Does that also mean that better education would lead to better jobs in future and poor education would only add to poverty? Unfortunately yes, it does work that way. Education is indeed so intricately…

References

Florida's intellectual infrastructure: http://www.newcornerstoneonline.com/PDFs/FLCor_Brochure_Chap3.pdf

Sherman Dorn, "Schooling, Open Sponsorship and Political choices," 2002

School Name and District

Grades Served:

Current Adequate Yearly Progress Status

Analysis of State Report Card and Other Data:

Does the SIP clearly identify the areas of weakness reflected in district, state, or national assessments or other data?

y

Is it clear from the SIP what problems exist in the school?

y

List and briefly describe the school's weaknesses in complete sentences

Low mathematics achievement in comparison to language arts suggests a major weakness. Another problem deals with a lack of proficiency on the MEAP Science and Social Studies tests.

Are the objectives stated in the SIP directly related to low achievement?

Y

Has the SIP team considered how broad or narrow weaknesses are?

Y

Are the objectives measurable?

Y

Does each area of weakness involve many students or a few? Explain in complete sentences

The weaknesses identified are a school wide problem as proficiency tests represents such metrics.

Key…

School Uniforms

Perhaps the biggest debate of public education over the past decade besides school vouchers has been the debate over whether or not it is legal to require students to wear a uniform to school. Increased crime, gang violence, poor academic performance in public schools has sparked the movement towards mandatory school uniforms. hile school uniforms may seem the perfect solution to the problem, to some its as good as putting a band-aid on a three-inch deep wound. There are many arguments for and against school uniforms in public schools; the main concern has to do with the legality of making uniforms compulsory for public school students. The focus of this paper will be to discuss the issues presented by those both for and against school uniforms. Additionally, the legality of such a policy if implemented will also be presented. Finally, facts and figures on those schools that have…

Works Cited

Brunsma, David and Kerry A. Rockquemore. "The Effects of Student Uniforms on Attendance, Behavior Problems, Substance Use, and Academic Achievement." 92(1): 53-62. The Journal of Educational Research (1998).

Court Orders School to Enroll Honors Student Who Protested Mandatory Uniform Policy. Retrieved on November 17, 2002 from web site  http://www.aclu.org/StudentsRights/StudentsRights.cfm?ID=8077&c=156 

Emert Suggests Mandatory School Uniforms. Retrieved on November 16, 2002 from web site  http://www.morningsun.net/stories/092099/kan_0920990017.shtml 

Holmquist, Micah. "Uniformed Public Schools." Retrieved on November 15, 2002 from web site  http://www.stormpages.com/micahth/youth/su.html

School Lunch

If it is true that you are what you eat, many people do not know themselves very well. Nutritional value of any food is of extreme importance due to the fact of its contribution to the maintenance and overall health of the individual. No one could be expected to operate and learn at a high level if the sources of energy using to fuel this process are of low quality. High quality foods coupled with positive healthy attitudes towards eating and consuming are necessities in today's fast-paced society. The future of the world lies within the next generation and their education. The importance of treating children with respect and honesty cannot be overvalued in today's society. The precious resources that children provide in terms of hope and optimism require educators in today's world to do the best for the betterment of the entire society.

Nutritional policies reflect social…

Bibliography

Dahl, M. & Scholz, J. (2011). The national school lunch program and school breakfast program: evidence on participation and non-compliance. Retrieved from  http://www.ssc.wisc.edu/~scholz/Research/Lunch.pdfhttp://www.ssc.wisc.edu/~scholz/R  esearch/Lunch.pdf

Eisler, P. et al. ( 2009). Fast food standards for meat top those for school lunches. USA Today 9 December 2009. Retrieved from  http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2009-12 - 08 school-lunch-standards_N.htm

Kaplan, K. (2011) . Is national school lunch program to blame (in part) for the rise in childhood obesity? Los Angeles Times, 6 April 2011. Retrieved from  http://articles.latimes.com/2011/apr/06/news/la-heb-school-lunch-program-obesity - 20110406

School Lunch Program. (2011). British Columbia website 15 April 2011. Retrieved from  http://www.gov.bc.ca/fortherecord/lunch/lu_k12.html?src=/k12/lu_k12.html

School Observation: Springfield Gardens Middle School

The focus of this school observation is PS 59, Springfield Gardens Middle School in New York City. The observation was conducted in three separate settings: a math class, the cafeteria, and the school's main office. The goal of the observation was to gain insight on the relationships between different stakeholders in the school community, including teachers, students, staff, administration, and parents, and how these relationships influence the connectedness of the school environment. The assumption is that school connectedness as summarized by Blum (2004), can be measured by the presence or absence of factors such as positive student-faculty rapport, high academic expectations, and publically displayed efforts to strengthen school culture and safety. The observations of the school, thus, considered school connectedness as evidenced by student-teacher rapport, exhibition of student work, teaching methods, and classroom comportment, and interaction between staff members. In addition, student body and…

References

Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. (2004). School "Connectedness: Improving Student's Lives." Baltimore, Maryland. Blum, R.

New York City Department of Education. (2010) "I.S. 059 Springfield Gardens: Progress Report, 2009-2010." NYC Department of Education, New York, New York. Retrieved from  http://schools.nyc.gov/OA/SchoolReports/2009-10/Progress_Report_Overview_2010_EMS_Q059.pdf . 24, Feb. 2011.

New York City Department of Education. (2010) "I.S. 059 Springfield Gardens: Learning Environment Survey Report: 2009-2010." NYC Department of Education, New York, New York. Retrieved from  http://schools.nyc.gov/OA/SchoolReports/2009-10/Survey_2010_Q059.pdf . 24,Feb. 2011.

School Choice Program

This study aimed to determine the impact of school choice through a comparative study of two private schools, which serve primarily, or exclusively African-American students, and a public school.

Data in student achievement in math and reading and data on student attendance were used to determine the impact of choosing a school. Qualitative data derived from interviews with administrators and faculty as well as classroom observation were used to provide additional insight regarding the intellectual climate of the two private schools and the public school.

The focus of this study was on mathematics and reading in middle school students in both public and private schools in Milwaukee, as well as the focus of reform in the state -- reading in Michigan, writing in Vermont and California. This approach enabled me to adequately address my research questions and prove or disprove my hypotheses.

To begin, I conducted structured…

Bibliography

Brown, Andrew (1995). Organizational Culture. London: Pitman Publishing.

Dianda, Marcella. Corwin, Ronald. (February 1993). What a Voucher Could Buy: A Survey of California's Private Schools. Far West Lab for Educational Research and Development, San Francisco, California and Southwest Regional Lab Survey Results.

Fuller, Bruce. (1995). Who Gains, Who Loses from School Choice: A Research Summary. ERIC Document Reproduction Services No. ED385928.

Greene, Jay. Peterson, Paul. Du, Jiangtao. (1997). Effectiveness of School Choice: The Milwaukee Experiment. Occasional Paper 97, Program in Education Policy and Governance Center for American Political Studies, Department of Government, Harvard University.

SCHOOL ADVISORY PROGRAMS: Annotated Bibliography

Van Ryzin, M. (2010). Secondary school advisors as mentors and secondary attachment figures. Journal of Community Psychology, 38(2), 131-154.

his study assessed if students in two tiny secondary schools would actually nominate their advisor as part of their attachment hierarchy. he forty percent which nominated their advisor to be a secondary figure of attachment testified even more involvement in school and showed better gains in terms of adjustment and achievement in than those that did not. In accordance to the author, this particular finding could help in the development and refining of new theories regarding the factors which contribute to the success of mentoring relationships, together with the processes that aid in the growth and development of these relationships.

Johnson, B. (2013.) Linchpins or lost time: Creating effective advisories. Horace, 25 (2-3)

his study tested the theory that secondary school advisories are somewhat insidious around…

This article investigates the effect of a universal social-emotional program of learning, the Fast Track PATHS (Promoting Alternative Thinking Strategies) program and teacher consultation, incorporated within the Fast Track selective prevention model. Measures examined educator and peer reports of violence, hyperactive-disruptive conducts, as well as social skills. Starting in the first grade and all through three consecutive years, teachers acquired training and support, and incorporated the PATHS program in their classrooms. The study investigated the major impacts of intervention and ways in which the child's traits and the environment in the school influenced results. The study concluded that properly-implemented multiyear social-emotional programs of learning could actually have important preventive impacts on the population-level aggression rates, social competency, as well as academic involvement in the elementary school years.

10. Durlak, J.A., Weissberg, R.P., Dymnicki, A.B., Taylor, R.D. & Schellinger, K.B. (2011). The impact of enhancing students' social and emotional learning: a meta-analysis of school-based universal interventions. Child Dev. 82(1): 405-32. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-8624.2010.01564.x.

This particular article presents results from a meta-analysis of 213 school-based, worldwide social and economic learning (SEL) programs entailing 270,034 kindergartens through high school learners. In comparison to controls, social and economic learning participants illustrated considerably better social and emotional skills, outlooks, manners, as well as academic performance which reflected an eleven percent point gain in success. School teaching personnel successfully carried out SEL programs. The utilization of four suggested practices for developing skills together with the presence of execution issues moderated the outcomes of the program. The findings of this study actually add to the growing experimental evidence-based outcome on the positive impact of social and emotional learning programs. Teachers, policy makers, and the general public are capable of contributing to healthy development of kids by encouraging the integration of evidence-based social and economic learning (SEL) programming into the standard educational practice.

Burlington School Comm. V. Mass. Dept. Of Ed. (1985)

Compensation for learners with extraordinary requirements that is not provided in the states education laws bring costs to parents and the laws do not provide for compensation of this. Termed 'compensatory education' courts have exercised their jurisdiction in awarding costs to claimants and the courts have been relying on sec.20 USC 1415(2) (B) (ii) for students. The Burlington School Committee V Massachusetts Dept. Of Education 1984 heralded the change in the definition and eligibility for the compensatory education. The salient awards pertain to the recognition of the power of courts to grant reimbursement to the applicants from private school education that was not included in the 'Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act' -- IDEA.

Following this judgment, courts held that where the parent was able to afford the private school education, the reimbursement was shown to be the remedy. Further, for…

References

Luker, Tricia; Calvin. B. (2011) "Compensatory Education" Retrieved 14 February, 2012

fromhttp://www.bridges4kids.org/pdf/Luker/CompensatoryEd.pdf

Rothstein, Laura F. (2002) "Disability law: cases, materials, problems"

LexisNexis.

Internet and K-12 Schools

The history and effects of internet

The History and Effects of the Internet on Instruction in K-12 Schools

The History and Effects of the Internet on Instruction in K-12 Schools

History of the Internet in K-12 Schools

Interactive Websites and Games as Computer-Aided Instruction

The History and Effects of the Internet on Instruction in K-12 Schools

Creating and sustaining a literate nation capable of democracy, self-government and continuous improvement of quality of life has been a dominant and critical aspect of public education throughout America's history (Ferguson & Huebner, 1996). The amount of information available to students has grown exponentially in recent years. The Internet is a broad and vast territory of information that many children are not equipped to navigate. Now more than ever students need the skills to wade through the waters of information. The current essay is aimed at exploring the history and…

References

Chapman, C. (2009). The history of the Internet in a nutshell. Retrieved from  http://sixrevisions.com/resources/the-history-of-the-internet-in-a-nutshell/ 

Chapman, G. (2000). Federal support for technology in K -- 12 education. Brookings Papers on Education Policy, pp. 307 -- 343. Retrieved from  http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/brookings_papers_on_education_policy/v2000/2000.1chapman.html 

Koster, R. (2005). A theory of fun for game design. Scottsdale, AZ: Paraglyph Press.

Moore, R. (2006). Cybercrime: Investigation high-technology computer crime. Cincinnati, OH: Anderson.