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Instructional leadership: Principals making a difference with high-poverty and minority populations to improve instruction and increase student achievement
Title
Instructional leadership: Principals making a difference with high-poverty and minority populations to improve instruction and increase student achievement.
Creator
Hopkins, Julie., Florida Atlantic University, Maslin-Ostrowski, Patricia
Abstract/Description
The purpose of the study was to examine instructional leadership through an in-depth multi-case study of three high poverty and high minority elementary school sites where the principals had been identified as instructional leaders. The study identified how schools with unique populations practiced instructional leadership and compared the methods used to the six standards described by the NAESP. In addition, the research identified actions of instructional leaders used to enhance school...
Show moreThe purpose of the study was to examine instructional leadership through an in-depth multi-case study of three high poverty and high minority elementary school sites where the principals had been identified as instructional leaders. The study identified how schools with unique populations practiced instructional leadership and compared the methods used to the six standards described by the NAESP. In addition, the research identified actions of instructional leaders used to enhance school improvement efforts in schools serving high poverty and high minority populations while contributing to the understanding of the principal's role as an instructional leader. The three findings were: that the elementary school principals leading high minority and high poverty schools each incorporated the six standards set by the NAESP to improve instruction and student achievement; each of the principals implemented the NAESP standards based on the specific needs of their schools by using a reframing process to assess the context and identify which standards to focus on; and principals were reflective and responded to the needs of the environment by shifting leadership roles. The findings in this study were based on interviews of teachers and principals, observations of both formal and informal meetings, and review of school documents. Based upon the three findings, the following three conclusions resulted from the study. First, the six NAESP Standards provide a foundation of practice for what principals need to know and be able to implement in order to become effective instructional leaders. Second, instructional leadership is a flexible, not a stagnant model. Third, the use of reflective practice is essential for providing the flexibility in the thinking that is needed to reframe the six NAESP Standards to fit the unique context and lead a school toward continued improvement. Building an effective foundation using the six NAESP Standards is contingent upon the principal applying a focus on the standards that will contribute the most to student achievement and being able to be a reflective practitioner demonstrating flexibility in both thinking and leadership roles.
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Date Issued
2006
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/12190
Subject Headings
Educational leadership--United States, School improvement programs--United States, Elementary school principals--United States, Poor children--Education--United States
Format
Document (PDF)
Investigation of the value of teacher leadership capacity-building: Implementation of an intervention framework to raise student achievement
Title
Investigation of the value of teacher leadership capacity-building: Implementation of an intervention framework to raise student achievement.
Creator
Nowocien, Darlene J., Florida Atlantic University, Guglielmino, Lucy M., Acker-Hocevar, Michele A.
Abstract/Description
The purpose of this study was to determine if changes could be detected in teachers' approaches to their professional practice and in the achievement of their students following the implementation of a teacher leadership capacity-building intervention framework. Specific aspects examined were (a) teachers' perceptions of changes in their classroom environments, instructional practices, planning, assessment, and confidence in instructing diverse learners; (b) observer ratings of teachers'...
Show moreThe purpose of this study was to determine if changes could be detected in teachers' approaches to their professional practice and in the achievement of their students following the implementation of a teacher leadership capacity-building intervention framework. Specific aspects examined were (a) teachers' perceptions of changes in their classroom environments, instructional practices, planning, assessment, and confidence in instructing diverse learners; (b) observer ratings of teachers' classroom practices; (c) teachers' readiness for self-directed learning; and (d) student achievement. The study addressed four research questions and three hypotheses. Following the professional development intervention, teachers' perceived changes in their professional practices were documented on a self-report survey, with the greatest positive change reported in types and variety of instructional practices. Significant gains were found in teachers' observed effective behaviors (Florida Performance Measurement System scores), teachers' Self-directed Learning Readiness Scale scores and student achievement in reading. The outcomes, while they cannot, of course, be solely attributed to the intervention, support the concept that teacher leadership capacity is built from within when teachers are encouraged to take a greater responsibility for the design and implementation of their professional development and to share their strengths with their colleagues in a true learning community. The intervention was implemented in an at-risk school, but it provides a framework that can be replicated elsewhere. This project required a commitment of resources for observations, peer coaching, modeling instructional strategies, team meetings, reflective team planning, team data analysis, and a variety of professional development sessions chosen and designed by staff that took place both within and outside of the regularly scheduled workday. The school district, an outside private foundation, and additional grants provided funding for most expenses, including an on-site professional development facilitator. Further follow-up research is warranted given the brevity of this study and the time needed for systemic change.
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Date Issued
2005
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/12163
Subject Headings
Academic achievement--Measurement, Educational leadership--United States, Teacher participation in administration--United States, School improvement programs--United States, Educational change--United States
Format
Document (PDF)
Socio-Cultural Leadership: An Innovative Model For School Leadership
Title
Socio-Cultural Leadership: An Innovative Model For School Leadership.
Creator
Blackburn, Desmond K., Bogotch, Ira, Florida Atlantic University
Abstract/Description
The conceptual framework of this study suggested that Socio-Cultural Leadership was composed of the following four factors: Instructional Domain, Emotional Domain, Community Domain, and Cultural Domain. Furthermore, it was posed that these factors, collectively and independently, directly impacted student achievement in schools ofhigh poverty. From this framework, the Socio-Cultural Leadership Questionnaire was developed (SCLQ). The research questions that guided this study were: 1. Do the...
Show moreThe conceptual framework of this study suggested that Socio-Cultural Leadership was composed of the following four factors: Instructional Domain, Emotional Domain, Community Domain, and Cultural Domain. Furthermore, it was posed that these factors, collectively and independently, directly impacted student achievement in schools ofhigh poverty. From this framework, the Socio-Cultural Leadership Questionnaire was developed (SCLQ). The research questions that guided this study were: 1. Do the items of the survey instrument divide into the four domains as described? 2. What is the relationship, collectively and independently, between SocioCultural Leadership and student achievement in high-poverty schools? 3. Is the frequency in observed principal behaviors different between lowperforming and high-performing schools? Therefore, the purpose of this study was to, via exploratory factor analysis; verify that these four factors existed as described and to, via regression analysis, find the direct relationship between the resulting factors and student achievement in high poverty schools. High poverty schools were defined as schools where 50 percent ( 40 percent for high schools) or more of the student population participated the federally funded Free and/or Reduced Price Lunch Program. This study also sought to differentiate these findings according to the performance levels of the schools sampled. The pilot study, the descriptive statistics, the principal components analysis, and the measures of internal consistency, all provided the researcher with empirical evidence to establish the reliability and validity of specific SCLQ items along with the significance of the resulting factors. Two of the five SCLQ subscales that resulted from the factor analysis, OP (outreach to parents) and MIPD (management of instructional process detractors), positively correlated with student achievement in the total sample (n = 903). There is a less than 5 percent chance that these findings were due to a Type I sampling error. Finally, principals in high-performing schools exhibited behaviors indicated by subscales OP (outreach to parents) and MIPD (management of instructional process detractors) significantly more than principals in low-performing schools.
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Date Issued
2006
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00000650
Subject Headings
Academic achievement--Cross-cultural studies, Minority students--Social conditions, Motivation in education
Format
Document (PDF)
Effects of the four pillars on statewide high school graduation rates
Title
Effects of the four pillars on statewide high school graduation rates.
Creator
Daniel, Harry M., Pisapia, John, Florida Atlantic University, College of Education, Department of Educational Leadership and Research Methodology
Abstract/Description
This study investigated the relationship of statewide high school graduation rates of student ethnic groups from 2002 to 2006 to the four policy pillars of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001: Accountability for Results; Expanded Flexibility and Local Control; Expanded Options for Parents, Strengthening Teacher Quality. The quantitative, non-experimental, multivariate, correlational design addressed four research questions and six hypotheses. The research population was composed of...
Show moreThis study investigated the relationship of statewide high school graduation rates of student ethnic groups from 2002 to 2006 to the four policy pillars of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001: Accountability for Results; Expanded Flexibility and Local Control; Expanded Options for Parents, Strengthening Teacher Quality. The quantitative, non-experimental, multivariate, correlational design addressed four research questions and six hypotheses. The research population was composed of high school students in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The predictor variables were the four policy pillars themselves. Data were collected through archival reports from the Education Commission of the States (ECS) and State Accountability Report Workbooks provided by state departments of education to create an index of implementation to determine the extent to which the four policy pillars were implemented. The criterion variable was high school graduation rate split across student ethnic groups. Graduation rates of subgroup student populations were collected from the Average Freshman Graduation Rates archives for the ninth grade cohort entering in 2001 and exiting in 2006. Data were analyzed both by a one-factor correlational analysis of covariance with one covariate to determine the impact of each NCLB policy pillar, and by a four-factor analysis of covariance with one covariate to determine the impact of all NCLB policy pillars together. The study found that no significant relationships existed between any of the four NCLB policy pillars, singularly or between all four of the policy pillars together, and statewide high school graduation rates among any student racial or ethnic subgroups for the academic years covered in the study. Reasons for the lack of significant relationships are a source for further study. It is recommended that such studies examine the effect of policy implementation that currently allows: (a) each state to set its own test and measurement standards or its own criteria for teacher certification; (b) parents to keep their children in failing schools even if those children are also failing; and (c) each state to underfund mandates.
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Date Issued
2014
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004099, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004099
Subject Headings
Academic achievement -- United States, Education and state -- United States, Educational accountability -- United States, Educational equalization -- United States, School improvement programs -- United States, United States -- No Child Left Behind Act of 2001
Format
Document (PDF)
State planning strategies to implement the Scientific Based Research components of the NCLB Act
Title
State planning strategies to implement the Scientific Based Research components of the NCLB Act.
Creator
Mohammed, Shereeza F., Florida Atlantic University, Pisapia, John
Abstract/Description
The recent shift toward favoring the scientific paradigm and evidence-based practice has resulted in the comprehensive use of the term Scientific Based Research (SBR) in the No Child Left Behind Act. This shift to economically introduce scientifically based interventions to nationally raise student achievement has taken on greater significance. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationships among a state's capacity to implement the SBR components, its contextual environment, its...
Show moreThe recent shift toward favoring the scientific paradigm and evidence-based practice has resulted in the comprehensive use of the term Scientific Based Research (SBR) in the No Child Left Behind Act. This shift to economically introduce scientifically based interventions to nationally raise student achievement has taken on greater significance. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationships among a state's capacity to implement the SBR components, its contextual environment, its implementation strategy and the comprehensiveness of its planned policy implementation. The data for Capacity to implement, Context and Strategy were gathered through a 66-item survey sent to State Program Directors for the Title IA, Comprehensive School Reform, and Reading First programs in each of the fifty states. The response rate was 70%. The data for Comprehensiveness came from content analysis of the SBR components found in federally approved state plans. Correlational analysis and multiple regressions were used to elucidate the nature of the relationships among the variables. The study resulted in three major conclusions. First, based on the assumptions of the evaluative literature, the study expected to find that the presence of certain Capacity, Contextual or Strategic factors would favor higher Comprehensiveness of implementation in state plans. However, this study found that some factors: Horizontal Linkages, Amount of Knowledge, Internal and External Technical Assistance, Partnership and Coordination, and Political Support were less useful than expected in producing a comprehensive state plan. Second, policy makers and implementation planners can allocate resources to the following practically significant factors to plan implementation of federal mandates more efficiently: Cross Functional Linkage, Finances, and Negotiation. They can also minimize efforts to utilize Partnerships, Coordination and Horizontal Linkages which though statistically and practically significant, were negatively related factors. Finally, if extra resources are available, the following strategies, all statistically significant but of low practical significance, can used to support the establishment of effective and efficient planning decisions: the Amount and Knowledge of Personnel; Internal Technical Assistance; Political support; and Technical Assistance from External Agencies. Therefore, careful calculation and prioritization of resources by state planners along these guidelines can be used to optimize implementation planning.
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Date Issued
2005
PURL
http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/12175
Subject Headings
School improvement programs--United States, United States --No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, Federal aid to education--United States, Education--Standards--United States, Education and state--United States
Format
Document (PDF)