Converging Reform "Theories" in Urban Middle Schools: District-Guided Instructional Improvement in Small Schools of Choice

Autor/inn/en	Gallucci, Chrysan; Knapp, Michael S.; Markholt, Anneke; Ort, Suzanne
Titel	Converging Reform "Theories" in Urban Middle Schools: District-Guided Instructional Improvement in Small Schools of Choice
Quelle	In: Teachers College Record, 109 (2007) 12, S.2601-2641 (41 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1467-9620
Schlagwörter	Urban Schools; Research Design; Middle Schools; Community Schools; Instructional Improvement; Educational Change; Teaching Methods; Educational Theories; Case Studies; Data Collection; New York + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Urban area; Urban areas; School; Schools; Stadtregion; Stadt; Schule; Forschungsdesign; Middle school; Mittelschule; Mittelstufenschule; Community school; ; Gemeindeschule; Gemeinschaftsschule; Unterrichtsqualität; Bildungsreform; Teaching method; Lehrmethode; Unterrichtsmethode; Educational theory; Theory of education; Bildungstheorie; Case study; Fallstudie; Case Study; Data capture; Datensammlung
Abstract	Purpose/Objective/Research Question/Focus of Study: The purpose of the paper is to explore an instructive case in which two potentially opposed reform theories converge on schools, in order to understand how productively or unproductively the two theories coexist. We attempt to answer the following questions: Can these two reform theories coexist, or do they get in each other's way? In what ways, if any, do the two complement each other? Separately, or together, how do they affect instructional practice and the school-level conditions that support teaching and learning? Finally, can policies and leadership, in this case reflecting two such different reform theories, provide mutually supporting conditions for teaching and learning in urban schools? Setting: The theories are analyzed as they occurred over the 1990s and into this century in four middle schools in one New York City Community School District. Research Design: The study utilized a qualitative multiple case study design. Four small middle schools within one district were sampled using criteria related to student population, school structure, and configuration of resources such as time and staff. Data were collected over three years during three site visits per year and included extensive interviews, observations, and analysis of pertinent documents. Conclusions/Recommendations: We argue that the reform theories primarily complemented one another in this case. In the schools, differences in steps taken by school leaders and staff to realize the first reform theory enabled schools to respond productively to, rather than resist, district initiatives based on the second theory. The sophistication of the district's vision for teaching and learning (both for students and adults), combined with a flexible approach to implementing the second reform theory, reduced the likelihood of conflicting reform messages. (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	Teachers College, Columbia University. P.O. Box 103, 525 West 120th Street, New York, NY 10027. Tel: 212-678-3774; Fax: 212-678-6619; e-mail: tcr@tc.edu; Web site: http://www.tcrecord.org
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10