School Improvement Research Articles

Charting the evolving landscape of digital leadership in education: A systematic literature review

The increasing domains of digital technology in educational settings urgently require digital leadership (DL) to ensure the sustainability of school improvement initiatives in the digital era and to facilitate the digital transformation of educational institutions. DL emerges as an urgent and evolving topic of significant public interest. However, there is a notable lack of consensus persists regarding its definition and constructs within educational settings, hindering the advancement of DL theory. To address this gap, a systematic literature review was conceived, employing the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology. The primary aim was to enhance comprehension of the geographical and temporal distribution of relevant publications, as well as to elucidate prevalent definitions and constructs of digital leadership in educational contexts. This article endeavors to synthesize the extant scientific literature on DL, focusing on studies published between 2019 and 2024. Inclusion criteria encompassed scientific research publications sourced from Scopus and the Web of Science (WoS) databases, available in English, and centered on educational settings. Initial database queries yielded 578 papers, subsequently refined to 35 studies through meticulous screening for duplicity and adherence to inclusion criteria. Notably, the reviewed publications predominantly characterize DL as a multifaceted process, amalgamation, or integration, with a predominant emphasis on functional aspects of leadership. Noteworthy constructs frequently encountered include digital age learning culture, visionary leadership, excellence in professional practice, systemic improvement, and digital citizenship. This review contributes to the enrichment of theoretical conceptualizations surrounding DL. It underscores the imperative for future research to explore into the measurement of DL, thereby presenting promising avenues for evaluating principal DL within educational institutions.

Adaptive responses to contextualised and differentiated school improvement. Identifying institutional profiles of secondary schools

ABSTRACT This paper reports a qualitative multiple case study of secondary schools that experienced sustained processes of quality improvement. We aimed to analyse the heterogeneity in school improvement processes and identify the factors and conditions contributing to this variation. We identified six dimensions to characterize different approaches to high school improvement: curriculum comprehensiveness, student selection/inclusion, student participation and youth cultures, leadership distribution, community openness, and market situation. Based on our cross-case analysis, we proposed an empirically grounded typology composed by four high school profiles: i) traditional academically oriented public high schools; ii) comprehensive high schools from small communities; iii) restrictive metropolitan popular high schools; and iv) vocational high schools. We show the implications of this typology for understanding how high schools actively relate to both their contexts and educational policy, and ‘translated’ these external pressures into idiosyncratic responses. We found that key educational decisions such as curricular approaches and the various emphases placed on learning by high schools, the type of organisational leadership or degree of openness to youth participation, were linked to more structural decisions made by schools regarding their position in the local educational market, their degree of selectivity, and the type of relationships established with their environment.

External facilitators’ practical work for school improvement: de-professionalising or developing improvement capacity?

AbstractThis article explores external facilitation for school improvement; more specifically, it examines the practical work of external facilitators. It is based on a Swedish case in which facilitators at the Swedish National Agency for Education support low-performing schools. The article aims to develop knowledge about how external facilitators in their practical work both promote and prevent developed understanding and improvement capacity. Based on observations and documents, facilitators’ endeavours and critical situations in their work to support school improvement are identified. The findings show five different endeavours to promote development of understanding and improvement capacity. However, they also show how taking ownership, simplification, and model focus, three of five identified recurring critical situations, prevent such development. The conclusion is that there are several aspects for external facilitators to balance to promote school improvement and turn around low-performing schools. When planning for external facilitation, it is important to consider how the facilitators’ practical work can be adapted to the local contexts of those who are facilitated in order to promote their ownership of the processes. Without balance and adaptation, external facilitation can lead to deprofessionalisation instead of development of improvement capacity.

Analysis of Extracurricular Programs That Affect College Students' Writing and Speaking Skills

Communication skills such as writing and speaking contribute to learners' satisfaction with school life, academic achievement, and improvement of adaptability. In particular, the extracurricular activities experienced during college affect the acquisition of key qualities necessary for social life. The purpose of this study is to identify the extracurricular programs that affect the writing and speaking ability of college students. To confirm the purpose of this study, data were collected through an online survey conducted from April to May 2022 for current students at 4-year E-University located in Gyeonggi-do. The measurement tool is the Korea-National Survey of Student Engagement (K-NSSE). The Undergraduate Education Satisfaction Survey is a diagnostic tool that can obtain objective information on the quality and performance of undergraduate education by diagnosing undergraduate students' learning participation, learner psychology, high-efficiency program participation, and student performance. For the analysis method, frequency analysis and descriptive statistical analysis were performed. In addition, correlation analysis was performed to examine the validity between variables and to confirm multicollinearity. Finally, multiple regression analysis was performed to verify the influence of the non-examination program on the writing and speaking ability of college students. Results showed that the extracurricular program on the writing ability of college students had an influence in the order of learning mentoring, freshman orientation, professor's research project, and learning community activity. Moreover, the extracurricular program that affected the speaking ability of college students had an influence in the order of learning mentoring, professor's research project, freshman orientation, and learning community activity.

Bridging K-12 Student Mental Health Policy to Practice Gaps with a Multi-Component Framework

K-12 schools are a major sector for efforts to prevent and treat student mental health problems. In the United States, these efforts have led to the emergence of the MultiTiered System of Supports (MTSS) universal prevention, early intervention, and treatment policy framework. With a major focus on behavioral and mental health, MTSS has been adopted by all fifty state education departments. However, multi-level complexities of addressing student mental health within and across organizational structures complicate MTSS and broader policy development, implementation, and evaluation; disconnects between policy writers and practitioners obstruct progress, limiting positive outcomes. To bridge these policy-to-practice gaps, a multi-component solution is needed. The authors propose integrating the following elements: the Massachusetts School Mental Health Consortium’s Five Guiding Principles for Building a Coordinated School Mental Health System, the comprehensive school improvement methodology Evolutionary Systems Improvement (ESI); and the ontological framework of BioPsychoSocioTechnical Systems Theory (BPST). Individual application of these components has already yielded systems-level improvements outperforming compliance-driven procedures. Used together, these components offer a multi-level solution for establishing conceptually-guided, measurement-based loops that transcend the restrictions of uninformed policy, supporting stakeholders as they work to systematically eliminate barriers and improve student mental health.

Federal and State Funding Initiatives in School Improvement: A Texas Focus

This article explores the impact of federal and state funding initiatives on school improvement, focusing on the Texas Education Agency (TEA). It examines the evolution of the Texas Tech University principal preparation residency program, emphasizing the importance of partnerships, research, and continuous improvement in principal preparation. Key TEA initiatives include the Texas Incentive Allotment, Grow-Your-Own Grant, and Principal Residency Grant. These initiatives support teacher retention, recruitment, and leadership development, contributing to the success of instructional leaders across Texas. The program's design integrates practical experience with theoretical knowledge, preparing residents for effective school leadership.

Action research communities as a whole-of-school teaching improvement initiative: a multi-method multi-informant study

AbstractProfessional learning communities (PLCs) actioned through collaborative action research (CAR) have been found in the literature to be beneficial for both teachers and students. However, previous studies mainly examined teachers’ perceived effectiveness of CAR-based PLCs, as well as identified steps and elements involved in such PLCs, either self-initiated by teachers themselves or by university researchers in a school-university partnership model. Few have focused on a whole-of-school teaching improvement initiative based entirely on PLCs through CAR. In this study, we provide preliminary evaluation of a 3-year whole-of-school teaching improvement initiative (the SETaRI), based on PLCs through CAR at a regional primary school in NSW, Australia. Analysis of students’ various assessment measures (N = 206), teachers’ survey (N = 44), observation of professional learning team meetings, and various types of student artefacts revealed that students showed general and consistent improvement in both their reading and maths performance over time following the implementation of the SETaRI model, with greater progressive learning effects for those whose initial learning outcomes were lower than their peers. The findings also highlighted data-driven decision making, teacher collaboration, and school leadership as potent elements underlying teachers’ positive attitudes toward the implementation of the model as well as student learning outcomes and improvement. This study provides useful implications for a school improvement agenda focused on action research communities.

PRINCIPAL'S CLINICAL SUPERVISION: TEACHERS' PERSPECTIVES ON INSTRUCTIONAL FEEDBACK

The purpose of this study was to investigate the instructional feedback given by Principals during classroom observations. A qualitative approach was used, with semi-structured interviews conducted to gather data. Content analysis was employed to analyze the data. The participants were 20 elementary school teachers from Surabaya city in the 2023-2024 academic year, selected through purposive sampling. The findings revealed that Principals showed insufficient competence in supervision, conducting classroom observations only once a year as a formal procedure. Compared to educational supervisors, Principals were found to need greater proficiency in managing instructional issues faced by teachers due to their familiarity with teachers and knowledge of school activities. The study highlighted that teachers did not find the feedback provided by Principals beneficial, as it was seen as general advice. Therefore, it is essential for administrators to learn effective supervision methods to support instructional improvements in schools. Principals should understand how their role in the supervision system impacts the feedback they provide to teachers.

Психосоциальный портрет успешного директора школы российского мегаполиса

<p style="text-align: justify;">Researchers all over the world are studying principals from different perspectives attempting to draw a successful school principal psychosocial profile. The authors used a qualitative approach which comprised focus groups with principals and deputies to unveil leadership practices and their perceptions of key characteristics essential for “a successful leader”. The study revealed five domains of the psychosocial profile of a Metropolis principal (building relationships, leading the organization, behaving in urgent or uncertain situations, school management, and school improvement). The authors highlighted similarities and differences in characteristics of a Russian Metropolis principal driven by specificity of the context while comparing with international profiles. “Successful principal” is expected to be an effective communicator and possess such personal traits as honesty, fairness, and empathy in Russia as well as in other countries. The peculiarity of the Russian Metropolis school principal profile is a focus on administering skills (operational-visionary, procedural, delegation competence) which were not identified in the international bulk of studies. Moreover, solving conflicts and being assertive are also key characteristics of the Metropolis principal.</p>

What are the perceptions of faculty and academic leaders regarding the impact of accreditation on the continuous quality improvement process of undergraduate medical education programs at Caribbean medical schools?

BackgroundAccreditation and regulation are meant for quality assurance in higher education. However, there is no guarantee that accreditation ensures quality improvement. The accreditation for Caribbean medical schools varies from island to island, and it could be mandatory or voluntary, depending on local government requirements. Caribbean medical schools recently attained accreditation status to meet the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) requirements by 2024. Literature suggests that accreditation impacts ECFMG certification rates and medical schools’ educational processes. However, no such study has examined accreditation’s impact on continuous quality improvement (CQI) in medical schools. This study aims to gather the perceptions and experiences of faculty members and academic leaders regarding the impact of accreditation on CQI across Caribbean medical schools.MethodsThis qualitative phenomenological study inquiries about the perceptions and experiences of faculty and academic leaders regarding accreditation’s impact on CQI. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used. Participants were interviewed using a semi-structured interview method. Fifteen participants were interviewed across ten Caribbean medical schools representing accredited medical schools, accreditation denied medical schools, and schools that never applied for accreditation. Interviews were audio recorded, and thematic data analysis was conducted.ResultsThematic analysis yielded six themes, including accreditation and CQI, CQI irrespective of accreditation, faculty engagement and faculty empowerment in the CQI process, collecting and sharing data, ECFMG 2024 requirements, and organizational structure of CQI.ConclusionsThere is ongoing quality improvement at Caribbean medical schools, as perceived by faculty members and academic leaders. However, most of the change process is happening because of accreditation, and the quality improvement is due to external push such as accreditation rather than internal motivation. It is recommended that Caribbean medical schools promote internal quality improvement irrespective of accreditation and embrace the culture of CQI.

Academic Culture: Its Meaning, Measure and Contribution to Student Learning

This study had two objectives. One objective was to assess the psychometric properties of a survey instrument measuring a new latent variable, Academic Culture (AC), combining three observed variables academic press, disciplinary climate and teachers’ uses of instructional time. The second objective was to replicate the results of an earlier study identifying AC as a significant mediator of school leadership’s influence on student learning. Data for the study were provided from 2068 teachers located in 49 schools in 14 Texas school districts, as well as student achievement data from the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) and student socioeconomic (SES) data available from school websites. Second order Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Many-Facet Rasch (MFR) models were used to examine the survey instrument’s construct validity and its measurement invariance. Structural Equation Modeling was used to identify the extent to which AC mediated the effects of school leadership on student achievement controlling for student SES. Rasch analysis and CFA confirmed the measurement invariance and several forms of validity of the survey instrument. Replicating the results of an earlier study, results of structural equation modeling demonstrated significant effects of AC on student achievement and identified AC as a significant mediator of school leadership effects on student achievement. The study contributes to the quality of instruments available to school leaders for their school improvement work and to researchers inquiring about the most promising variables mediating the indirect effects of school leadership on student success.

The Effect of the Relationship between Principals and School Governing Bodies on Grade 12 Learner Performance

This case study explores the effect of the relationship between the principal of a secondary school within a poor community and the school governing body (SGB) on Grade 12 learner performance. The paper challenges the negative stereotype of the relationship between school principals and SGBs in lower-quintile schools. Much of the literature reports on allegations by principals that SGBs do not contribute to the improvement of schools; rather, they interfere negatively with the management thereof. This paper is couched in the collegial model. Using a single case study, the findings are based on qualitative data collected during interviews conducted with the principal and the chair of the SGB as well as observations in the classrooms and on the school grounds. The study found that there was a good relationship between the principal and the SGB chair. The paper concludes that a harmonious relationship between the principal and the SGB allows the SGB to support the school, resulting in enhanced Grade 12 academic performance in mathematics. A harmonious relationship between the principal and SGB forms the foundation for the academic performance of learners, as the majority of the SGB is represented by parents of the school. The data collected during the research study suggests that the greater school community must ensure that the chair of the SGB and the school principal have a good relationship and that the SGB is supportive of the school in advancing its educational activities.

Young people as co-researchers in schools: a collaborative research methodology which benefits young people and school culture

ABSTRACT The voice of young people in schools is often tokenistic. They are asked to contribute to surveys for OFSTED or are part of an adult-led school council. Rarely are they asked to work with adults to create new knowledge for school improvement. Returning to my previous school to conduct research resulted in developing an inclusive and collaborative methodology. Whilst initially intending to use a participative action research (PAR) process, I synthesised this with Critical Communicative Methodology (CCM) to create Youth Participative Dialogic Action Research (YPDAR). This approach created a research power dynamic where responsibility was shared more equally between the young people and the researcher. The results of this approach were unexpected. As the process developed, the young people’s confidence grew, their trust in the school developed, and they felt empowered to act. This paper explores the processes involved and how YPDAR could be used as a school improvement model with the potential not only to transform young people’s lives, but also the culture of the school.

Response to intervention: The effects of tier 1 and tier 2 occupational therapy intervention on sensory processing for fifth-grade children

ABSTRACT Sensory processing impacts a student’s ability to participate in the classroom, yet there is a lack of studies analyzing the effect of occupational therapy (OT) services under the Response to Intervention (RtI) model on students’ sensory processing. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of a manualized OT intervention, using the RtI model, on sensory processing in general education fifth-grade students and teachers’ understanding of sensory processing. This pretest-posttest quasi-experimental study included an experimental group that received OT RtI (n = 17) and a control group that did not receive OT RtI but teachers attended a workshop on sensory processing (n = 27). Pretest and posttest results from the Sensory Processing Measure-2 (SPM-2) School Form and an online survey of teachers’ understanding of sensory processing were collected. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to analyze pre- and post-intervention SPM-2 results for each participant. In the experimental group, one subcategory approached significance, a slight decline approaching significance in the planning subcategory, and no significant changes in the remaining subcategories. In the control group, one subcategory demonstrated significance. Teacher understanding and use of sensory processing strategies showed an overall improvement in both schools. Preliminary evidence suggests teacher workshops have the potential to improve teacher understanding of sensory processing.

Education Without Failure: Some Practical Proposals

Abstract A description is given of the present discipline of School Effectiveness and Improvement, together with a detailed description of the characteristics of effective schools. It is argued that our educational system still retains some unreliability, in spite of the use of this knowledge. It is further argued that we should learn from the process and characteristics of Highly Reliable Organisations, who emerge in society when failure is not an option. It is also argued that present unreliability is costly, as evidenced in the volume of cascading errors such as Bhopal. We are now as strong as the weakest link in our populations both as people and in terms of materials because we are all connected together. Enhanced professional development and focus, and a concentration upon the potential of cognitive neuroscience, are argued to be of further possible use. Education shows what can be transformative educational effects, with numerous empirical examples. Development of failure free schools makes it possible to further transform societies through their schools. The 2013 Kneller Lecture delivered to the Comparative and International Education Society in Washington DC, February 2023.

The obstacle race to educational improvement: governance, policies, and practices in disadvantaged schools

Contemporary educational reforms emphasise school autonomy, performance-based management, and accountability as necessary policies for attaining improvement goals. Despite their widespread adoption, the configuration and enactment of these policies are discretionary and contingent, deeply influenced by the interaction of local contexts, organisational features, and teachers’ beliefs about policy and pedagogy. Apart from these challenges, schools serving disadvantaged students, often targeted for educational improvement, also struggle with significant organisational constraints and policy overload. This study explores how disadvantaged urban schools make sense of their policy environment and engage with the school improvement mandate through different logics and practices. The analytical framework stresses the policy filtering and adaptation processes that school actors undergo when tasked with multiple implementation demands, and how these interact with school contexts to produce diverse responses. This research is conducted in Catalonia, Spain, and adopts a sequential mixed-methods strategy, relying on interviews with principals and teachers, as well as survey and administrative data. The findings are organised in four ideal types of school responses to the improvement mandate, showing the diverging ways schools engage with policy. Disadvantaged schools exhibit diverse improvement approaches despite sharing structural characteristics, explained by the interaction of contextual factors and organisational characteristics. Each ideal type prioritises different aspects, such as performance, innovation, or inclusive practices. The heterogeneity of school responses highlights the necessity for targeted, context-sensitive support to ensure equitable educational practices.

The dynamic approach to school improvement: investigating duration and sustainability effects on student achievement in mathematics

ABSTRACT This paper argues for establishing stronger links between educational effectiveness research and school improvement. It presents the results of a 3-year study investigating the impact of the dynamic approach (DA) to school improvement on promoting student achievement in mathematics. It explores duration (offering the DA for more than 1 year) and sustainability effects of the DA. A sample of 18 secondary schools in Cyprus participated in this study. Two experimental groups used the DA to develop their school improvement strategies. The first group employed the DA for the first 2 intervention years and was more effective than the control group in promoting mathematics achievement at the end of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd year. Schools that made use of the DA for all 3 years were found to be the most effective at the end of the 3rd year. Implications for research, policy, and practice are discussed.

Manajemen Pendidikan Dasar dan Pengembangannya di SD Negeri 015 Muara Kaman

Management of basic education Improving the quality of administration in basic education institutions is crucial for the growth of elementary schools. One of the most important parts of education that contributes to better education is development. Institutional advancement is greatly aided by the improvement of basic education administration. Furthermore, the administration of basic education, which is integral to the school improvement procedure, is the purview of school development. Methods for gathering information in this descriptive qualitative study include interviews, observations, and written records. Findings from the study on basic education management now underway at SDN 015 Muara Kaman with the aim of raising the standard of education there, namely in two areas: first, the creation of curricula, and second, the implementation of those curricula.

Does Accreditation Lead to School Improvement? Perceptions of Educators in K-12 Settings

Does Accreditation Lead to School Improvement? Perceptions of Educators in K-12 Settings

Examining the Trends, Themes and Social Structure of Teacher Leadership Literature: A Bibliometric Review

Over the past decade, teacher leadership has garnered significant attention, playing a pivotal role in educational reform and enhancement. This bibliometric analysis explores teacher leadership research within the Scopus database from 2014 to 2023. The study aims to identify emerging trends, research gaps, and future implications for educational practice. By reviewing diverse studies, it examines the impact of leadership styles on teacher morale, student achievement, and school improvement. Additionally, it investigates educators' roles in fostering positive school climates, driving change, and promoting collaboration within the educational community. The data collection involved retrieving 1048 articles using the keyword "teacher leadership." Tools such as Microsoft Excel for frequency analysis, data visualization, and Harzing's Publish or Perish for citation metrics were employed to analyze the data. This analysis aims to deepen our understanding of the multifaceted dimensions of teacher leadership, providing valuable insights for researchers and practitioners. The study evaluates various bibliometric indicators, including language, subject area, publication trends, contributing countries, influential institutions, active source titles, citation patterns, authorship characteristics, and keyword distributions. The results highlight a significant increase in teacher leadership literature from 2014 to 2023, with the United States leading in contributions, followed by Turkey. In conclusion, this bibliometric analysis offers a comprehensive overview of teacher leadership research over the past decade. The identified trends and research gaps provide valuable insights for researchers, educators, and policymakers, supporting the advancement of teacher leadership as a critical tool for enhancing educational outcomes and professional development in the 21st century.