Studying School District Central Offices: Examining Issues of Methods, Research, and Context

Session Type: Symposium

Abstract

The purpose of this session is to examine the limitations of traditional approaches to studying school district central offices and explore three examples of new lines of research on school district central offices. The three presentations are designed to foster a discussion on the collaborative use of multiple research perspectives when studying central offices. The first will focus on the methodological issues of district site selection. The second discusses the importance of design-based research methods to advancing knowledge of central office practice. The third presentation is situated between the first two, discussing the application of social network theory to district reform. Two discussants will then engage the audience in a conversation around the methodological issues of studying district central offices.

Sub Unit

• SIG-Districts in Research & Reform

Chair

• Alex J. Bowers, Teachers College, Columbia University

Papers

• Site Selection in District Research: Comparing Measures of Effectiveness Using Hierarchical Longitudinal Growth Models of Performance - Alex J. Bowers, Teachers College, Columbia University

• How Shall We Study School District Central Offices? Using Design-Based Research to Advance the Theory and Practice of School District Central Office Leadership - Meredith I. Honig, University of Washington; Daniel Novak, University of Washington - Seattle

• The Social Side of Change: District Reform Through the Lens of Social Network Analysis - Alan J. Daly, University of California - San Diego; Kara S. Finnigan, University of Rochester

Discussants

• Richard R. Halverson, University of Wisconsin - Madison

• James P. Spillane, Northwestern University