EFFECTIVE SCHOOLS

RESEARCH FINDING:

The  most  important  characteristics of  effective  schools  are 
strong  instructional  leadership,  a safe and  orderly  climate, 
school-wide emphasis on basic skills,  high teacher  expectations 
for student achievement,  and continuous assessment of pupil pro-
gress.

COMMENT:

One  of the most important achievements of education research  in 
the  last 20 years has been identifying the factors that  charac-
terize  effective  schools,  in particular the schools that  have 
been  especially successful in teaching basic skills to  children 
from low-income families.  Analysts first uncovered these charac-
teristics  when comparing the achievement levels of students from 
different  urban  schools.   They labeled the  schools  with  the 
highest achievement as "effective schools."

Schools  with  high student achievement and morale  show  certain 
characteristics:

   . vigorous instructional leadership,

   . a principal who makes clear, consistent, and fair de-
     cisions,

   . an emphasis on discipline and a safe and orderly environ-
     ment, 
			
   . instructional practices that focus on basic skills and
     academic achievement,

   . collegiality among teaches in support of student
     achievement,

   . teachers with high expectations that all their students
     can and will learn, and

   . frequent review of student progress.

Effective  schools are places where  principals,  teachers,  stu-
dents,  and parents agree on the goals,  methods,  and content of 
schooling.   They  are united in recognizing the importance of  a 
coherent curriculum, public recognition for students who succeed, 
promoting a sense of school pride, and protecting school 
time for learning. 


Bossert,  S.  (May l985).  "Effective Elementary Schools."  In R. 
Kyle  (Ed.),  Reaching  for  Excellence:   An  Effective  Schools 
Sourcebook,  (pp.  39-53).  Washington,  D.C.:   U.S.  Government 
Printing Office.

Corcoran,  T.  (May l985).  "Effective Secondary Schools."  In R. 
Kyle  (Ed.),  Reaching  for  Excellence:   An  Effective  Schools 
Sourcebook,  (pp.  7l-97).   Washington,  D.C.:   U.S. Government 
Printing Office.

Doyle,  W.  (May l985).   "Effective Secondary School Practices."  
In R.  Kyle (Ed.), Reaching for Excellence:  An Effective Schools 
Sourcebook,  (pp.  55-70).   Washington,  D.C.:   U.S. Government 
Printing Office.

Finn, Jr. C. E. (April 1984).  "Toward Strategic Independence:  Nine
Commandments for Enhancing School Effectiveness."  Phi Delta Kappan,  Vol. 65, 
No. 8, pp. 5l3-524.

Purkey,  S.  C.,  and  Smith,  M.  S.  (March l983).   "Effective 
Schools:  A Review."  The Elementary School Journal, Vol. 83, No. 4, pp. 427-452.