Leadership Folio Series: Guiding Comprehensive School Reform

Author: Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning
Publication Date: 2000
Full text available online at: http://www.mcrel.org/topics/Leadership/products/130/

Abstract (written by WestEd)

This folio series addresses the design and implementation topics that are necessary for undertaking a comprehensive school reform program as mandated by the federally funded Comprehensive School Reform Demonstration Project. Specific folios cover:

1. Research-based innovations
   
2. Comprehensive design
   
3. Resource allocation
   
4. Evaluation
   
5. Professional development
   
6. Staff support
   
7. Family and community involvement
   
8. External support and assistance

For each topic, the authors provide an introduction, guidelines for school and district leaders, a key challenge and recommendations, and recommended resources.

Schools will need to select an instruction or comprehensive school reform model that is proven to be highly effective and then adapt the model to fit the local conditions while not losing the essence of what made the model so effective.

The follow-up folio, Leadership Folio Series: Sustaining School Improvement, addresses the equally daunting and important issues of sustaining the change.


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Bo De Long-Cotty, Senior Program Associate, remarks: "This comprehensible, comprehensive resource looks at the research about school change and innovation, and even includes lessons learned for what does and doesn't work. It is very useful for all stakeholders, particularly administrators."