ERIC Number: ED319783
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: 1990-Apr
Reference Count: 0
Instructional Leadership, School Goals, and Student Achievement: Exploring the Relationship between Means and Ends.
Bamburg, Jerry D.; Andrews, Richard L.
This study investigated the relationship of an organization's clear and focused mission and the role of the principal as a strong instructional leader to the academic achievement of students. Focus was on extending educators' understanding of the types of goals selected by instructionally effective schools and activities of principals in schools that were successful in promoting the academic achievement of students. The research, initiated in 1983 and completed in June 1986, used results of the California Achievement Test, school means on 18 goal statements generated as local school goals, and school mean scores on a questionnaire that assessed staff perceptions of the principal as a strong instructional leader. Of the original 67 schools involved, 32 had sufficient student achievement data to be included in the study. A total of 1,775 students, of which 712 were white and 597 were black, were included. Results of the study indicate that: (1) there must be fundamental changes in the preservice programs for prospective administrators; (2) candidate administrators must be recruited based on a commitment to the belief that "all children can learn"; (3) in-service programs must be developed by school districts and professional associations that will provide ongoing leadership training and support for practicing administrators; and (4) principals need to recognize the importance of their role as instructional leaders. Survey instruments are included. (TJH)
Publication Type: Reports - Evaluative; Speeches/Meeting Papers; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers: California Achievement Tests
Note: Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (Boston, MA, April 16-20, 1990). The survey instruments in appendix B will not reproduce well due to broken type.