Leading Dynamic Schools

Sharon F. Rallis is Dwight W. Allen Distinguished Professor of Education Policy and Reform at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Previously, she was professor of education at the University of Connecticut; lecturer on education at Harvard; and associate professor of educational leadership at Peabody College, Vanderbilt University. Her doctorate is from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She has coauthored numerous books, including several on leadership: Principals of Dynamic Schools: Taking Charge of Change (with Ellen Goldring); Dynamic Teachers: Leaders of Change (with Gretchen Rossman); Leading Dynamic Schools: How to Create and Implement Ethical Policies (with Gretchen Rossman and others); and Leading With Inquiry and Action: How Principals Improve Teaching and Learning (with Matthew Militello and Ellen Goldring). Her numerous articles, book chapters, edited volumes, and technical reports address issues of research and evaluation methodology, ethical practice in research and evaluation, education policy and leadership, and school reform.

A practical guide for creating, implementing, and evaluating school policy.This invaluable resource brings to life the process of making and enacting educational policy. The authors present a conceptual framework for developing effective and ethical school policies and help educational leaders evaluate, interpret, and analyze the regulations that govern their schools. Organized by key topics such as English Language Learners, inclusion, and bullying, the text incorporates vignettes, research, and relevant theories to illustrate how readers can: Create a dialogue that represents the needs of all stakeholdersDefine relevant policies that are ethically soundIntegrate legally mandated policies with schoolwide resolutions

Foreword by Gene V. GlassPreface1. The Many Ps of Policy What Are Dynamic Schools? Policy, Program, Procedure, or Practice? What Do School Leaders Say About Policy? Policy as Local Deliberative Process2. The Choice to Act: Shaping the Dialogue Reasoning Acting Evaluating The Framework in Practice3. Inclusion: From Dilemma to Imperative Reasoning Acting Evaluating Reviewing the Inquiry Process of This Dynamic School4. Immigrants and the Schools: Opening or Closing Doors Reasoning Acting Evaluating5. Meeting the Needs of English Language Learners: More Than One Way Reasoning Acting Evaluating6. Asset Building and 'No Pass, No Play': Considering the Whole Child Justice in Learning The Scenario: Part II Reasoning: Justice in Policy Acting and Evaluating The Scenario: Part III7. School Climate: Preventing Acts of Bullying Reasoning Moral Reasoning Acting Evaluation8. Putting the Framework Into Practice A Dialogue Among Principals Final ThoughtsReferencesIndex