Brief: A Matter of Definition: Is There Truly a Shortage of School Principals?
This research brief relates to a CRPE report that finds, despite widespread publicity about a shortage of school principals, there are far more candidates certified to be principals than there are principal vacancies to fill.
Big City School Boards: Problems and Options
This report summarizes the functions of school boards, identifies some of the problems with big city school boards, and suggests options for reorienting boards around the trusteeship of the children they serve.
Closing the Achievement Gap in Washington State: Holding Schools Accountable for Equity
Prepared for the Washington State Academic Achievement and Accountability Commission in 2002, this report attempts to take a fresh look at the data from the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) in order to provide practical information for both educators and policymakers.
Philanthropic Due Diligence: Exploratory Case Studies to Improve Investments in Urban Schools
Many foundations have put funds into urban school reform. The paper suggests that foundation giving needs to be backed up by a clear theory of change and that foundation officials need to know whether the districts in which they plan to work or are already working match the foundation’s interests.
A New Look at Inequities in School Funding: A Presentation on the Resource Variations Within Districts
This paper presents the first results of a series of studies on within-district spending patterns. It provides an overview of some early analysis of variations in spending among schools within three districts.
The New Schools Handbook: Strategic Advice for Successful School Start-Up in Partnership With School District Officials, Staff, and Community Members
This guide provides an overview of the school development process in three sections and includes an appendix of additional resources. It should be helpful for anyone starting a new school, whether it is a private school, a charter public school, or a district magnet school.
The Future of School Facilities: Getting Ahead of the Curve
This paper looks at five trends in education and what they imply about the kinds of buildings and spaces districts will need for tomorrow’s schools.
Making Standards Meaningful: High School Reform Efforts in Washington State
This report marks the third year of CRPE’s exploration into the way fast-improving schools in Washington State work, with a focus on high schools. The other reports in the series are: Making Standards Work (1999) and Making Standards Stick (2000).
Washington State Elementary Schools on the Slow Track Under Standards-Based Reform
This study examines the experiences of fifteen elementary schools in Washington State demonstrating relatively slow improvement on the reading and math sections of the WASL.
Are Charter Schools Getting More Money into the Classroom? A Micro-Financial Analysis of First Year Charter Schools in Massachusetts
This report examines the first-year finances of Massachusetts charter schools.