Joining the Dots: The Challenge of Creating Coherent School Reform

• In Event: Roundtable Session 26
  In Roundtable Session: International Perspectives on School Improvement

Abstract

Successful school improvement requires tight coordination between the elements of the improvement effort. Drawing on organizational theory, five coordination mechanisms were used to describe and explain the degree to which a common improvement project was well coordinated in five urban high schools. Multiple data sources were used to complete individual case studies and an independent cross case analysis. Two schools were assessed as low on all five coordination mechanisms, three as moderately well-coordinated and one school as highly coordinated. While level of coordination was associated with improved student achievement on the less advanced achievement indicators, there was no relationship between coordination and achievement for the higher level qualifications. Implications for school improvement and for leadership development are discussed.

Authors

• Viviane M. Robinson, University of Auckland

• Linda Margaret Bendikson, The University of Auckland

• Stuart Mcnaughton, The University of Auckland

• Aaron Wilson, University of Auckland