Making Schools Smarter : Leading with Evidence

by Kenneth Leithwood

• ISBN13: 9781412917636
• ISBN10: 1412917638
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-01-06
• Publisher: Corwin Pr

Summary

Proven tools for data-driven school improvement! From strategic planning and accountability to restructuring goals, school leaders face a myriad of organizational tasks, each one vying for immediate action. Where to begin and where best to allocate resources become critical questions as the issue of organization becomes more prevalent. The third edition of a powerful bestseller, Making Schools Smarter provides the refined and updated tools to create a workable model for reshaping todaya??s school districts for positive outcomes. This practical guide addresses and helps resolve significant issues in district and school leadership, including: Determining a comprehensive and real image of future schools and districts as professional learning communities Highlighting critical changes for achieving missions and goals Providing school leaders with much-needed tools to demonstrate and improve accountability With No Child Left Behind and increased accountability as powerful reminders of whata??s at stake, Making Schools Smarter gets to the heart of the argument that smarter schools mean enhanced learning for all.

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
Acknowledgments	xi
About the Authors	xiii
Introduction	1	(14)
A First Pass at Purposes	1	(2)
The Big Picture	3	(2)
We Had Our Reasons	5	(8)
Summary	13	(2)
PART I: BASIC ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT SCHOOLS AND DISTRICTS	15	(22)
Clarifying Assumptions: Three Perspectives	17	(9)
Three Perspectives on School District Organizations: A First Glimpse	19	(1)
Three Perspectives on School and District Organizations: A Deeper Look	20	(4)
Summary	24	(2)
What Is a Professional Learning Community?	26	(11)
The Meaning of Organizational Learning	27	(1)
Organizational Learning Processes	28	(2)
Conditions That Foster Organizational Learning	30	(4)
Summary	34	(3)
PART II. EDUCATIONAL INPUTS AND OUTCOMES	37	(20)
What Are Schools Given to Work With?	39	(7)
Overview	39	(1)
Rationale for the Monitoring System's Inputs	40	(4)
Input Variables, Indicators, and Measures: A Summary	44	(1)
Summary	45	(1)
What Ought to Be Accomplished?	46	(11)
Overview	47	(1)
Rationale for the Monitoring System's Immediate Outcomes	48	(4)
Rationale for the Monitoring System's Long-Term Outcomes	52	(1)
Outcome Variables, Indicators, and Measures: A Summary	53	(2)
Summary	55	(2)
PART III. CRITICAL PROCESSES AND CONDITIONS: A SYSTEMS ORIENTATION TO THE CORE TECHNOLOGY OF SCHOOLING	57	(46)
Leadership and Management	59	(8)
Leadership: The Catalyst for Making Schools Smarter	59	(4)
Managing the Instructional Program	63	(4)
Mission and Goals, Culture and Community	67	(10)
District and School Mission and Goals	68	(2)
Organizational Culture and Professional Learning Community	70	(6)
Summary	76	(1)
Planning and Instructional Services	77	(10)
District and School Planning	77	(3)
District and School Instructional Services	80	(1)
District Instructional Services	81	(5)
Summary	86	(1)
Structure and Organization, and Data-Driven Decision Making	87	(7)
Structure and Organization	87	(4)
Data-Driven Decision Making	91	(2)
Summary	93	(1)
Policies and Procedures, and Community Partnerships	94	(9)
Policies and Procedures	94	(5)
District and School-Community Partnerships	99	(3)
Summary	102	(1)
PART IV. GATHERING AND USING SCHOOL AND DISTRICT MONITORING INFORMATION	103	(26)
Collecting, Analyzing, and Interpreting Monitoring Information	105	(16)
Collecting	106	(5)
Analyzing and Reporting	111	(3)
Interpreting	114	(1)
Summary	114	(7)
Using School and District Monitoring Information	121	(8)
The Meanings of ``Use''	122	(1)
Explaining Variations in Use of Monitoring System Results	123	(2)
Conclusion: Guidelines for Fostering Use of Monitoring System Information	125	(4)
Appendix A: The School Surveys	129	(35)
School Leadership and Management	130	(4)
School Mission and Goals	134	(3)
School Culture and Community	137	(4)
School Planning	141	(3)
School Instructional Services	144	(3)
School Structure and Organization	147	(3)
School Data-Driven Decision Making	150	(3)
School Policies and Procedures	153	(3)
School-Community Partnerships	156	(3)
Student Participation and Engagement: Family Educational Culture	159	(5)
Appendix B: The District Surveys	164	(26)
District Leadership and Management	165	(5)
District Mission and Goals	170	(2)
District Culture and Community	172	(2)
District Planning	174	(3)
District Instructional Services	177	(3)
District Structure and Organization	180	(3)
District Data-Driven Decision Making	183	(2)
District Policies and Procedures	185	(3)
District-Community Partnerships	188	(2)
References	190	(7)
Index	197