Teaching, Bearing the Torch 2/e   Pamela J. Farris
	For the Student

When you are hired by a school district, or even when you are choosing which districts to apply to, it is important to be aware of the chain of command, the manner in which decisions are made and actions are taken, and what types of state and federal programs are providing aid to the district. Chapter 9 diagrams the chain of command in local, state, and federal educational agencies and departments and delineates the following major points:

• the administration of schools within a school district is overseen by the local board of education
• school districts are defined geographical areas administered by a central administrative structure
• The superintendent of schools is the chief executive officer of a school district
• the amount of input that teachers are allowed to provide concerning the governance of schools is increasing
• state statutes, federal laws, and outside special interest groups all may impact a school district's policies and procedures

After reading Chapter 9, you should be able to:

• Identify and describe the duties of local school officials and administrators.
• Idenfity and describe the duties of state education officials.
• Name and explain the roles of federal education officials.
• Tell who is responsible for state teacher certification.
• Identify key federally funded education programs.
• Explain the roles played in our educational system by professional organizations, businesses, and special interest groups.

Quiz Questions for Chapter 9

Quiz Help! Check here for related page references and feedback.

SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES

1. Visit the Teacher Policy Institute Website chat room (see Other Sites to Explore) to find out more about the current issues.

2. Look up site-based management on the web to find articles relating to the successes and challenges of bottom-up decision making.

3. Research trends in school expenditures by visiting the site of Financial & Personnel Services: Statistical Research and Data Center (see Other Sites to Explore).

4. Find current federal issues in the administration and governance of schools by visiting the U.S. Department of Education website.

5. Email your legislative leaders to ask for their voting record on educational reform issues.

OTHER SITES TO EXPLORE (also see p.260!)

http://edreform.com/
The Center for Education Reform
The Center for Education Reform is a national, non-profit education advocacy group and an active broker in providing resources, support and guidance for school reform to communities across the United States.
Textbook links: see pages 248-250.

http://www.ofps.dpi.state.nc.us/OFPS/sb/sr/srdc.htm
Financial & Personnel Services: Statistical Research and Data Center
(State of North Carolina) This site provides more information on student expenditures.
Textbook links: see page 241.

http://www.nasire.org/ss/index.html
National Association of State Information Resource Executives
StateSearch is a service of the National Association of State Information Resource Executives and is designed to serve as a topical clearinghouse to state government information on the Internet. This site provides information on state expenditures per student.
Textbook links: see page 241.

http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/pathwayg.htm
Pathways to School Improvement
The North Central Regional Educational Laboratory, in cooperation with the Regional Educational Laboratory network created this website to present information on issues in school improvement.
Textbook links: see pages 248-250.

http://www.ilt.columbia.edu/k12/tpi/
Teacher Policy Institute
The Teacher Policy Institute Website was created for the online discussion of policy issues in public education and teacher empowerment, and the capacity of online communications media to support serious exchange among teachers about their role in affecting educational policy.
Textbook links: see pages 249-250.

http://www.feminist.org/other/sports.html
Women and Girls in Sports
This WWWomen WebRing site is owned by the Feminist Majority Foundation and provides current information regarding Title IX issues.
Textbook links: see page 257.

OTHER RESOURCES

Aronstein, L.W., M. Marlow, and B. Desilets, 1990. Detours on the road to site- based management. Educational Leadership 47 (&): 61-63.

Michener, O.H., K.E. Underwood, and J.C. Fortune, 1993. Incision decisions. The American School Board Journal 180 (1): 28-33.

Natale, J.A. 1993. Kooks, crooks, and kids. The American School Board Journal 180 (1): 18-23.

Odden, E.R. and P. Wohlstetter. 1995. Making school-based management work. Educational Leadership 52 (5): 32-36.