DOCUMENT RESUME

ED 221 534 SP 021 100

AUTHOR Purkey, Stewart C.; Smith, Marshall S.

TITLE _Effective Schools--A Review.
INSTITUTION Wisconsin Centei for Education Research, Madison,
SPONS AGENCY National Inst. of Education (ED), Washington, DC.
Teaching and Learning Program.
PUB DATE Jun 82
GRANT NIE-G=81-0009
NOTE 70p.; Paper presented ai the National Invitational
Conference, "Research on Teaching: Implications for
Practice" (Warrenton, VA, February 25-27, 1982). For
related documents, see SP 021 097-107 and ED 218
257.

EDRS PRICE MF01/PC03 Plus Postage.

DESCRIPTORS Cese Studies; *Change Strategies; *Educational
Change; *Educational Environment; Educationai
Improvement; *Educational Research; Elementary
Secondary Education; Evaluation Methods;
*Institutional Characteristics; Program Evaluation;
*School Effectiveness

ABSTRACT
A review of school effectiveness literature is
presented in this paper. Research studies and other literature on
this topic are examined, including case studies, surveys and
evaluations, studies of program:implementations, and organizational
theories of schools and other institutions. Emphasis is given to
organizatiOnal theories and findings concerning small organizations
and program implementation, which suggest ways of approaching and
understanding efforts to change'schools. Attention is also given to
identifiable characteristics Of schools and school personnel and the
way that schools actually operate and change. Effective schools are
seen to be characterized by order, structure, purposefulness, a
humane atmosphere, and the usesof appropriate instructional
techniques. It is noted that what appears to be lacking from the
literature are suggestions on Wow to develop these characteristics in
the schools. A different approach to schoolimprovement is offered,
involving the concept of a school cultural perspective in which-
schools are viewed as dynamic social systems made up of interrelated
faCtors. In a portrait of an effective school, a description is given
of the sustaining characteristics of such a school, including
collaborative planning and collegial relationships, sense of
community, clear goals and high expectations commonly shared, and
order and discipline. A proposed strategy for change is outlined.
(JD)

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4

rFFECTIVE SCHOOLS --A REVIEW*

Stewart C. Purkey and Marshall S. Smith U S. DEPARTMENT

OF EDUCATION
OF EDUCATION
TIONAL INSTITUTE
INFORMATION
TIONAL RESOURCES
Wisconsin Center for Education Research CENTER (ERIC1
been reproduced as
School of Education This document has
received from the person or organization
University of Wisconsin at Madiaon oronanng it.
have been made to improve
'3 Minor changes
reproduction quality.
stated in this docu.
Points of vrew or opinions
represent official NIE
ment do not necessarily
position or policy.

June, 1982

Institute of
*This material is based upon work supported by the National
NIE-G-81-0009 to the Wisconsin Center for
Education under Grant No.
conclusions or recommenda-
Education Research. Any opinions, findings, and
authors and do not
tions expressed in this publication are thos'e of the
necessarily reflect the vieWs-of the Jnstitute or the Department of
Education.

implications
This paper was prepared for presentation at a conference on the of
of'research on teaching for practice, sponsored by the National Institute
25-27,
Education, and held at Airlie House, Warrenton, Virginia, February
upcoming, edition of the Elementary School
1982. It will be published in an
orearlier drafts of this
Journal. We have benefitted from aiscussions
paper with a large number of people. We particularly want to thank
Cohen, James Keefe, Tom Tomlinson, Bill Clune,
Sam Musk, Marilyr Rauth, Mike
Hinkel, Bobbie Conlan,
Fred Newmann, Matthew, Miles, David Berliner, Gail
We also want to thank all of
Gary Wehlage, Myron Filene and Tom McKenna.
take their time to send us their studies,
the people gracious enough to
drafts &al thought6--somo of whiuh wc vete ungracious enough to later
overgeneralizations
criticize. the incompleteness, misunderstandings,
and other inaccuracies of the paper are completely of our own construction.

2
 ' EFFECTIVE scHop-s - -A REVIEW

'

e
INTRODUCTION

A literature on school effectiveness has emerged that challenges

the assunption that differences among schools have little impact on

student academic achievement. In this paper we Critically review the

new school effectiveness literature. We find it weak in many respects,

most notably in its tendency.to present narrow, oft times simplistic

recipes for ',chool improvement derived from non-experimenial data.

Theory and common sense, however, do support many.of the findings of

school effectiveness research-. Building on that we attempt to integrate

this research with recent theories of organizational change and

implementation in order to gain a richer, more complex notion of

academically effectiye schools. Finally, we present a speculative

'portrait of an effective school and proiose aiptrategy for change.

I. An orientation toward studying the school

of
The quest to discover how to increase the academic achievement

studenis Leom all walks of life has not been overwhelmingly successful.

Many factors shown to have a dramatic influence on student

1966; Jencks
learning--family background and related variables (Coleman
short run.
et al. 1972)--are not easy to manipulate, at least not in the

Other variables which can be measured and, in theory, changed relatively

asilyr, usually by spending money, have been found to bear little

relationship to achievement: decreasing class size, raising teacher

salaries, buying more library books, changing the'reading series

constructing new school buildings, or adding coutpensatOry education

EFFECTIVE SCHOOLS --A REVIEW

programs (Coleman 1966; Jencks et,al. 1972; Stephens 1967; Averch et al

1972; and more recently Hanushek 1981; Murnane 1980; Mullin and Summers

1981).

In contrast, the new literature on the determinants of achievement

has been concerned with variables relating to (1) the way that schools

and-school districts are structured and iake decisions; (2) the process

of,change in schools and sehool districts; and (3) the way in which

classrooms and schools can be changed to increase the time that is spent

on productive instruction. Although these variables are less

susceptible to mechanical changes in policy, they are alterable (Bloom

1981).,generally with difficulty, but often for little money. Vhile the

research is more suggestive than conclusive, there is evidence that

certain'of these variables have a consistent relationship to student

achievement. Variables which influence achievement can be found-at ali

levels_ of local ichooling: the classroom,- the school, and the district.

learning
Examples at each level include increasing classroom "academic

time" (Fisher et al. 1980), creating a school atmosphere conducive to

learning (Weber 1971), and'district allowanceof schoolsite management

(Hargrove et al. 1981). Moreover, these particular variables derive\

strength from recent theories of school learning (see Carroll 1963),

Derr and Deal

organization and management (see March and Olsen 1976;
1975, 1977,
1979). and implementation and change (Berman and McLaughlin
1
1978; Elmore 1978, 1979).

In this paper we consider schoollevel factors. A focus on the

school, however, cannot ignore other levels of a school tYstem.

Following Barr and Dreeban (1981), we view school systems as "nested

layers" which each organizational level sets che context and defines

4
 EFFECTIVE SCHOOLSA REVIEW

, the boundaries for the layer below (though there is a reciprocal

Influence). If the locus of the educational process is at the lowest

layer,
structural level, the classroom, it is nevertheless the adjacent
classroom
the school, which forms the immediate environment in which the

functions. The quality of the process at the classroom level will be

enhanced or diminished by the quality oi activity at the level above

2
it.

There has been a large number of other reviews of the school

effectiveness literature (see -Edmonds 1978; Clark 1980; Austin 1979,

1981; Rutter 1981; Hersh et al. 1981). Our approach differs in three

important ways from_ most-of the others. First, our orientation is

skeptical. While there has14 Aeen a general rush to embrace the idea that

(see, for
academically effective schools are within the grasp of society

example.Edmonds 1978, 1979(a)1 1979(b), 1981(a), 1981(b); Austin 1979,

1981; Hersh et al. 1981) few writers have critically examined

the

literature.
We
Second, we use a wider net than most in gathering evidence:

Laveflooked at a variety of forms of school effectiveness research

including outlier studies, case studies, surveys and evaluations, at

of
studies of program implementation, and at theories of organization

schools and'other institutions. We give particular emphasis to theories

about
and findings about the organization of small organizations and
and
program implementation which,suggest ways of approaching

understanding efforts to change schools.

Third, our analysis is concerned with process as well as content.

their
Ey content we mean identifiable chiricteristics-of schools and

Personncl--thcse include such variables as the leadership of the

3
 EFFECTIVE SCHOOLSA REVIEW

4.

principal and the school's assessment procedures. By process we mean the

way that schools actually operate and change. The implementation

literature and the few studies of school effectiveness that look at

people
changing schools point mit the importance of the process by.which

within schools interact to determine goals, conduct everyday business,

and accommodate conflict and change (e.g., McLaughlin 1978; Rutter

1981).

II. Review of the current school effectiveness literature

AI the moment public discourse on effective schools is dominated by

literature reviews and scholarly editorials. These have captured

educators' and the public's fancy by reducing a disparate literature to

7-
simple recipes for School improvement.
Edmonds now
The best known suMmarizations have been provided by Ron

at Michigan State University. Based on his mini work and that of other

researchers such as Mayeske et al. (1972), Weber (1971), AVerch.et al.'

(1972), Brophy and Good (1-970), and Brookover (1977), Edmonds lists five

ingredients of an "effective"-schooll._ Atronvadministrative leadership,

high expectations for children's achievement, an orderly atmosphere

condUcive to learning, an emphasis on basic.skill acquisition, and

frequent monitoring of pupil progress.

Other reviews have produced somewhat different listi of inredients

(e.g., Austin 1981; Clark 1980; Tomlinson 1980; Phi Delta Kappa 1980;

and Hersh et al. 1981. - Although there is considerable overlap, these

chiracteristic of
reviews do not always find the same features to be

affective schools, even when considering basically the same literature.1

Moreovtr, the reviews, and most original studies, include no discussion

4
6
EFFECTIVE SCHOOLS- -A REVIEW

of how schools might be altered to become more effective, suggesting

either that the reviewers are not sure what to recommend or that they

'think the issue is not important. The latter case implies that the same

ingredients mixed into different schools at different points in time

will produce similar results. This assumption contradicts a substantial

amount of recent literature. It ignores or at least discounts the

0

interplay and "mutual adaptation" (McLaughlin 1978; Elmore 1978, 1979)

that exists between a given environment and any plan that seeks to

produce change in the environment. A second related issue has to do

with the sense these advocates give that change comes easily if only the

goal is clear--that weak administrative leaders can become strong;-that

teachers with low expectations can/Willy-nilly change their beliefs;

that order can be spun easily from chaos..

Finally, these reviews have become incestudus as6each in turn is

cited as evidence that certain school-level features are responsible lor

academic effectiveness. For example, in their review Hersh et al.

(1981) cite Edmouds' review (1979b) to support their claim that certain

factors make schools more effective. ,Certainly reviews are legitimate

n roduce conclusive evidence.

sources, but reviews of reviews-do nox,1"
1

have
In the following discussion we have clustered the studies that

received the most attention in the school effectivenesb literature into

four groups--outlier studies, case studies, progradSiValuation studies,

and "other" studies. The lack of empirical data in many of the stildies 0

precluded us from carrying out any sort of quantitative synthesis.

Consequently, each category is described in terms of its general

methodology and conclusions (noting relevant differences within each

'EFFECTIVE SCHOOLt--A REVIEW'

category), specific weaknesses are noted for 4ch, and a few problems

found in the literature as a whole are discussed.

Outlier studies

One major strategy of school effectiveness research'has been to

statistically determine highly effective schools (positive outliers) and

unusually ineffective schools (negative outliers). Though

methodological variation exists, most such studies employ regression

analyses of school mean achievement scores, controlling student body

socioeconomic factors. Eased'on the regression equation an ."expected"

mit achievement score is calculated for each school. This "expected"

score is subtracted from.the actual achievement level of the school to

give a "residual" score for eierschool. The researcher then selects

4.1*

the most positive and the most negative rdsidual scoretand labels the

schools they represent as unusually effective Or ineffective.

Characteristics of these mil types of schools are then assessed-by

surveys or Case studies to determine the reason for the sihools'

outcomes.

One drawback .0 this method is that-in equations that are

imperfectly fit, by'eNance, There will be sone false positive and

negative residual-outliers. To meet this problem Klitgeard and -Hall

(1974) suggest constructing "histograms of the_residuals from a

regression of scho91 achievement scores on background factors." This

(p.
would indicate "lumpiness' In the distribution (and) unusual tails"

95). Assuming an unusual right tail indicates the polcsibility of

unusually effective schools, researchers then would look at the

"A
residuals of the same schools calculated for other school years.

6
 .EFFECTIVE SCHOOLS - -A REVIEW

45
showinggetiliame schools with
series of distributions lover-many years)
provldes fairly strong
scores consistently some distance above ihe mean
look" (p.
evidance that those schools are unusual and deserve ,a closer

95).
Studies that have adopted this general approach include four
-

carried out by the New York State Education Department (1974a, 1974b,
Education
19)6), a study conducted for the.Maryland State Department of

(Austin 1978)s, Lezotte, Edmonds and Ratner's studyibf model cities

(1975)
elementary schools in Detroit (1974), Breokolier and Schneider'

study of Michigan elementary schools, and Spartz' study of Delaware

schools (1977).
the
The similarity among these studies is striking in two areas:
analysis to
means of school identification (four used regression
schools as
identify outliers), and the selection of only elementary
For
study sites. Quality and conclusions, however, vary considerably.

of reading
example? theAirst New York ttudy (1974a) found that methods
schools. A
instruction,varied greatly between lqgh and low performing

follai-up study (1974b) found the oppositethe.Method of reading

York
instruction did noi appear to make any difference. A third New

study (1976) again found salient differences in plassroOm instruction,

features as the
although it did not highlight the same instructional
e
4,
first study. The Maryland study concluded that effective schoe.ls 'are

characterized by strong instructional eadership, while Spartz (1977)

found that effective schools had principals Nho emphasized

administrative activities. Spartz (1977) identified at least seven

Schneider's'
general variables relating to achievement: Ilookover and

Michigan study (1975) finds six. Moreover, Brockover does not mention

7
 .*
4
a
EFFECTIVE-SCHOOLS--AREVIEW

ability grouping while the Delaware ana twhif the New York studies
.

considcr.this ad'significant fe'ature. Finally, although cited by mad in

got

support of varioult lists of critical factors, we could find no-

'?

discussion of the substantive findings of thejteiotte et al. (1974)*

'

study of model.citieiLs ,oe s. --;"

While the istudies do correspond in several respetts the variations-

, ,

in their findings should serve as a caution to those who would reduce

such disparate literature to five.or six variables. Similarly, ihe

variation suggests that no' variable in-particular is crucial.

Nonetheless there is Same consistenCy in the results. The more

pervasive commiiii elements are: better control or disciplIne, and'high

staff expectations for student achievement. Each of these variables

shows up in four'of the seven studies for which there are data. An

emphasis on instructional leadership by the principal or anothei

4V
important staff member was found to be important in thiee studies. A

variety of other variables are found in the studies. Although outlier

studies vary in quality, they commonly suffer from the followitig

weaknesses. 1

(1) Narrow and relatively small samples uied forNintensive studre

Though they generally sift through a fairly-large population, the final

sample in studies\that used a statistical procedure followed by a case

study approach ranges from two to twelve schools. The small sample

lazy greatly increase the passibility that the characteristics which

Appear to discriminate between high and low outliers are chance events.

False positives are especitlly likely when large numbers of variibles

ore examined and when criteria for the size of an important difference

:arc not specified prior to loc.:king at the data. -The sruall sample sizes

'8
 EFFECTIVE SCHOOLS7-A REVIEW

S.

and lack-of represenlativeness of the samples also raise issues about

"
Ihe generalizability of the-iesults from any one study. On the basis of

these studies alone we might.make tentative claims about what

constitutes an effective lower grade reading program in an urban -

eletentary school with a predominantillow-incomeand minortty student

population. The evidence will not take us beyond that with any
A.

certainty.

(2) Ern:ir ln identilAcatign of -outlier schools: The strength of

the outlier ailproach depends upen -the-quality of the meisures used to

partial out theeffectalpf social class and home background...If these

measures are weak or inappropriate,.dffferences in chool,-

characteristics between high and 164 outliers will be confounded with

student background differences. Two of the studies,,the New Ybrk State

study comparing 148 "pOsitive" schools with 145 "negative" schools

(1976) and the Maryland study (Austin 1978), suffer from this problem,to
4
such an extent as to render their conclusions meaningless.

(3) Aggregating achievement data at fhe school level. Airasian.et

al. (1979) point out that aggregating data at the schooi-level may mask

differential effects for specific subgroups of students. Edtonds and

Frederiksen (1979) reanalyzed parts of the Coleman et al. (1966) data

and found that in some schools different groups of students responded

differently to certain school characteristici. Rutter et al. (1979), on

the other hand, in a study of twelve schools found that "exemplary"

schools were equally effective with different subgroups. Outlier

studies like other studiet that use school-wide indices may not inform
,

educators on how to make schools more effective for all groups of

9
11
 'EFFECTIVE SCHOOLS.:A REVIEW

,children within the dame school. None of the outlier studies looked at

the achievement levels of differant seti of students within the schoolt.

(4) Inappropriate comparisons. In a btief note Klitgaard and Hall

(1974) recommend comparing positive outliers with average schools-rather

tham.yith negative outl1e. We were struck by.the tendency of outlier .

researchers to ignore this good advice. The logic of contrasting high

aud low schools remains a mystery. By design of the outlier method,

most schools are "nermal," a few "different" schools are effectiv4

while a few others/are "ineffeCtive." The idea-is that something has

,made",thise.outliers different--both at the positive end and at the

negative end. If negative residuals are pathological in some way so

are, in their own way, positive.residuals. This takesion Practical

significance when viewed from the position of attempting a school

improvement program. The important differences between "effective"

schools and average schools may be very different

.
from the differences
.

_between "ineffective" ani "effettive schools. nless schocils are

capable of baking quantum leaps in effectiveness, it will ptobably,not

.greatly profit a very poor schoill to compare itself to an exceptionally

k,
ol. None of thee studies addresses this issue.
-

(5) Subjective criteria used for determining school success.

......" 8

- Finally, finding statistically unusual schools does not necessarily

-
mean

they are "unusually effective" (emphasis in original) since

.

effectiveness gdepends on one's subjective scale of magnitude"

(klitgaard and Hall 1974; p. 105).. An "unusually effective" school

,
actually have
serving predominantly low-income anti minority students may =

considerably'lower achievement than emiddle class white suburban

school. .For example, the effecLive schools described by Arbor et al.

ow"

10
EFFECTIVE SCHOOLSA. REVIEW

of 38.
(1976) lad a median score of 31 compared to the district median
class on
TWo reasons for this are the-pervasive influences of "social
school
achievement, and the possibility that even the "typical" suburban

has some significant and important advantages over the relatively

effective inner city school. Although an outlier study could be

designed to probe this issue, to date none has done so.

Case studies-

We carefully studied five school case studies'often cited in

various school effectiVeness reviews (Weber 1971; Venezky, and Winfield

1979; Rutter 1979; BrOokovei et il..1979; Brookover and Lezotte 1979)

and three recent additions to the literature (Glenn 1981; California

5
State Department of Education 1980; Levin and Stark 1981).
The
t The case studies can be generally categorized into two groups.

studies in the first group (Weber, Venezky and Winfield, Glenn,

4,

: California State Department of Education, Brookover and Lezotte, Levin

and Stark) focus on reading and/or math as outcome variables in

elementary schools. They tend to describe schools in,terms of ihe

unsuccessful
discrete characteristics that differentiate successful from

sehools. The two studies in the other group (Rutter, Brookover et Al.)

look at outcome variables that, in addition to academic achievement,

and
include student academic self-concept and self-reliance (Brookovei)-

in-school behavior, attendance, and delinquency (Rutter).

SchgolS are

described as social systems and school effects seen as the influence of"!

the overall sAlool climate or ethos. While both groups preient,

substantive findings, we prefer the analytical and teneptuai.*

.
that
perspective of the latter grouP, Wad argue elseithere in this paper
. .

11

13
EFFECTIVE SCHOOLS- -A REVIEW

school
it offers a more enlightening And enabling approach to

improvement.
studj of school
In what has probably become the most widely cited

effectiveness other than Coleman et al. (1966), Weber (1971) examined

He posited eight
four inner-city "exemplary elemenvery schools.
(1)
school-wide characteristicsthat influence reading achievement:

strong leadership (in one School it came from in area superintendent),

learning, (3)
(2) an atmosphere of order, purposefulness and pleasure in
(5) additional
a strong emphasis on reading, (4) high expectations,

reading personnel, (6) use of phonics in the reading program, (7)

individualization; and (8) careful evaluation of student progress.

being
Weber's study suffers from a variety of problems, the central two
and the lack
the lack of a comparison group of less successful schools
While Weber's,
of clear,definitions for his school characteristics.
i great deal of
study lacked methodological rigor, it attracted

attention because of his sear journalistic writing style and optimism

ebout the *possibility for s hool improvement.

The'second study in this group (Venezky and Winfield 1979) looked

"low-income" schools vhich differed at sixth

at two otherwise similar
The authors
grade by ioughly a grade level in reading achievement.
teaching reading are:
argue that the two primary causes of success in
opposed to a human
(1) an achievement orientation by the principal (as
efficiency which
relations emphasis) and (2) building-wide instructional
The
is a function of instructional adaptability ihd consistency.
it appears,
discrepancy between the two studies is not as great as
factors more or less
however, since Ventzky and Winfield include other
EFFECTIVE SCHOOLS-7-A REVIEW

atmosphere in
similar to Weber's with the additijn of a "cooperative"

the school and the importance of staff development.

findings.
.Glenn's (1981) study awl review tends to support these
schools, all
She conducted case studies nf four urban elementary

pmedominantly_poor and minority, and_a more generalized study of a

school system. As in 'the studies previously cited her findings

skills
emphasize the importance of explicit.goals (usually on basic

acquisition), discipline and ordar in a supportive atmosphere, high

the principal
expectations for student achievement, and leadership from

(though it varies from instructional to "distributive" or administrative

leadership). In addition, she suggests that joint planning by the

reading and
staff, staff development activities, "through-the-grades
and
mathematics programs," and efficient, coordinated scheduling
school
planning of activities, resources and people contribute to

effectiveness.
of Education (1980) conducted a
The Californik.,State Department
the
study of Early Childhood Education schools that compared
were
characteristics of schools in which third grade reading scores
were decreasing
improving (8 schools) with those in which reading scores

(8 schools). They found that increasing score schools generally

purpose," coupled with the

exhibited (1) a "general sense of educational

knowledge necessary to implement corresponding instructional programs

positive leadership, from
meeting the specific needs of each school; (2)
the sharing
the building principal or group of teachers, that included
anticipatory
of responsibility for Aecision-making and implementation,
learninm, (4) teacher
planning, etc.; (3) high expectations for student
of accurate
accountability for student performance, and the provision
EFFECTIVE SCHOOLS - -A REVIEW

tied to
information on that performance; (5) ongoing inservice training

thOotistructional program; and (6) a-reading curriculum that required

subject
mastery of complex reading skills and was integrated with other

areas as well. Of particular interest was their argument that while

these characteri:tics were common to all the increasing score schools,

they operated and interacted in unique ways within each school.

Brookover and Lezotte's (1979) case study of eight elementary

schoolt in-Michigan identifies ten characteristics that differentiate

schools with increasing fourth ;grade reading scores from those with

decreasinireadingscores. This is a frustrating study, however, in

given in
that their conclusions are-not always consistent with the data

the text.
6
Editing Brookover and Lezotte's factors the following stand

(1) an emphasis on
out as characteristics of improving schools:

accomplishing reading and math objectives; (2) a belief by most teachers

that most students can master basic skills objectives; (3) high
(4)
expectations for the educational accomplishments of the students;

more time spent in direct reading instruction; (5) a less satisfied

staff; (6) less overall parent involvement; but more parent-initiated-

involvement; and (7)- compensatory education programs with less emphasis

in identifying
upon paraprofessional staff and involvement of teachers

compensatory education students.

the
The final study in this group (Levine and Stark 1981), studied

implementation of the Chicago Mastery Learning Reading Program (CMLIT)

school.
In three Neu Yorkelementary schools and one Chicago elementary
Angeleso
They also examined five urban elementary schools, three in Los

and tuo in Chicago, which were atteMpting to improve via "school-wide

designed
approaches" (Comprehensive curriculum and instruction planning
EFFECTIVE SCHOOLSA REVIEW

to increase achievement in Title I schools without relying upon "pullout

arrangements"). Their descriptions of effective elementary schools

suggests that it is possible to increase school-wide math and reading

of
scores by combining individualized%strategies with general principles

school effectiveness, innovation implementation, and organizational

development. Instructional snd organizational "arrangements and

processes" common to all (or most) of the improving schools were: (1)

coordination of curriculum, instruction and testing to focus-on

specified objectives achieved through careful planning and staff

devalopment; (2) focusing the school on the educational needs of

low-achieving students; -(3) emphasizing higher-order cognitive skills

such as reading comprehension and problem-solving-in math; (4) "assured

availability of materials and resources necessary for teaching; (5)

e
minimizing "burdensome record-keeping tasks" by designing simple

procedures for tracking student and class progress and achievement; (6)

coordinating required homework with the math and reading curriculum

together with improving the quality of homework assignMents and

improving parental involvement in students' learning; (7) instructional

planning that-emphasizes "grade-level decision-making" (and that

encourages communication and collaborative planning among_ grade-level

teachers and between adjacent-grade-level teachers) and is supported by

building-specific staff development; (8) staff supervision based on

outcome data for student achievement in essential skills; -(9)

comparative monitoring of student progress on a class-by-class basis;

and (10) "outstanding administrative leadership" characterized as

"supportive of teachers and skilled in providing a structured

institutional pattern in which teachers could function effectively," and

15
1 7
BFFECTIVE SCHOOLS--A REVIEW

than
willing to "interpret rules in a manner that enhanced rather

reduced...effectiveness..." (p. 56). The authors concluded by stressing

"must be
the fact that,the arrangements and processes listed above
the
meshed with each other (in a consistent fashion) and adapted to

individual school building..." (p. 62).

Each of the six case studies in *this group looked at urban

elementary schools. The studies varied in quality of methodology and

clarity of reporting. Taken together they looked closely at a sum total

study. The
of 43 schools--an average of a little over seven schools per

inherent weaknesses of the case study approach and the tiny\samples seem

school improvement. Yet

a weak reed upon which to base a movement of

the commonality of findings aMong the case studies and their similarity
Five factors
to other kinds of studies increasn their credability.
studins in
stand out as common to most, but not all, of the six case

this group. These are strong leadership by the principal or other

clear set
staff; high expectations by staff for student achievement; a

of goals and emphasis for the school.; a sChool-wide effective staff

An
training; and a system for the monitoring of Student progress.
and a
emphasis on order and discipline shows up in two of the studies,

-large number of factors are specific to a single study.

look
The authors of the final two case studies take a more complex

previous six. Brookover

at the nature of effective schools.than do the
strongly affected by
et al. (1979) theorize that student achievement ii
school even within
the school social wistem, which variesfrom school to
The
similar subsamples with SES and racial composition controlled.

school slocial system is said to be composed of three interrelated

variables: (1) social inputs (student body composition and other

16 18'
*EFFECTIVE SCBOOLS - -A REVIEW

personnel inputs)4 (2) social structure (such as school size, open or

Closed classrooms,-etc.); and (3) social climate (school culture as the

norms, expectations and feelings about the school held by staff and

students). While.,school Social inputs affect academic achievement, they

are IN modified in the_process..-s of interaCtion" with the school social

structure and school social climate (p. 14). In their analysis of two

pairs of public elementary schools (matched-in-terms of racial

--
composition, teen SES, and urban locationeach pair has one high and

one low achieving school) Brookover et al. found substantive differences

in (1) time spent-on instruction; (2) commitment to (and assumed

retponsibility for) student achievement; (3) use of competitive team

(5)
games iminstruction; (4) expectations for student achievement;

ability grouping procedures; (6) use of appropriate reinforcement

practices;.and (7) the leadership role of the principal. In sum, an

effective school is described as one "characterized by high evaluations

of students, high expectations, high norms of achievement, with the

appropriate patterns of reinforcement and instruction," in,which

ttueents "acquire a sense of control over their.environment and overcome

the feelingi of futility which . . ,

characterize the students in many

schools" (p., 243).

Their contention that school social climate (and to a lesser.extent

social structure) makes a significant contribution to achievement when

'SES and racial composition are controlled is appealing (we will return

to this model later). It is important to emphasize, however, that, the

two high-achieving schools (one-white, one black) differed in specific

ways. The high-achieving black school-emphasized discipline over

achievement, without deemphasizing achievement, while the high achieving

TFFECTIVESCHOOLS - -A REVIEW

The role of the

white school stressed achievement over discipline.

principal differed in the two types of ichools, and instructional

grouping practices also varied. This variation suggests that (as

A-
of varAables
Brookover et al. point out) there is no single combination

Finally, the mean score of the

vtich will produce an effective school.
school and of
black school is considerably below both that of the white

the state as a whole. While the effective black school may have

narrowed the gap, the gap remained.

Rutter's (1979) study stands out in four respects: it is a

secondary
longitudinal study carried out from 1970-1974; it examines
England; and,
schools,; it looks at twelve inner-city schools in London,
students' in-school
-1 Attempts to measure school outcomes in terms of
Their
behavior, attendance, examination success, and delinquency.
the four
general argument is thit-secondary schools vary in outcome in
with the
areas above, that these variations are-associated
is a
characteristics of schools as "social institutions," and that_it
School ethos
school's "ethos" that influences students as a group.
of student and
includes the "style and quality" of school life, patterns
of
teacher behavior, how students are treated as a group, the management

and maintenance of
groups of students within the school, the care

buildings and grounds, ett.

"balanced intake" in
More specifically effective schools have a
families' occupations..
terms of the children's academic ability and the

Processes in these schools include: (1) classroom management that keeps

in
students actively, engaged in learning activities; (2) classrooms
infrequently but
which praise is freely given and discipline applied

firmly; (3) a general attitude and expectation for academic success,

18

20
EFFECTIVE SCHOOLS-zA_REVIEW

coupled-with specific-actions emphasizing those attitudes and

expectations; (4) giving a high proportion of students responsibility

for personal and school duties and resources; (5) immediate feedback to

students on what is acceptable performance at school; (6) staff

consensus On the values and aims of the scheol ai a whole; (7) the

establishment of clearly recognized principles and guidelines for-

student behavior; (8) the provision of a clean, comfortable, and

maintained physical environment for students; (9) demonstrated staff

concern for individual and group student welfare; and (10) the treatment

of students in ways that emphasize land assumeY their success amd

potential for success. Though these variables comprise the school

process, their overall effect is to create an ethos leading to better

outtomes in the areas of students' ih-school behavior, attendance,

examination success, and delinquency.

A troubling aspect of Rutter's study, however, is the importance

assumed by the "balanced intake" variable. Simply put, this variable

Indicates that the more effective schools have substantially larger

percentages of middle income students than do the less effective

sthools. If academic achievement, attendance, and delinquency are

strongly linked to a balanced intake, then the possibility exists that

the significant difference between schools is not in school processes

but in school composition. This problem is magnified by the fact that

only' wo of Rutter's twelve schools can be considered to be academically

effective.

Finally, Iris important tra noie that while each case study has its

particular strengthi%and weaknesses, as a group, they generally share

the five weaknesses-of hgout1Ior studies: small and unrepresentative

21
 FFECTIVCSCHOOLS --A REVIEW

because of
samples, possible errors in identifying effectiVe schools

uncontrolled student body characteristics such as social class,

achievement data aggregated at the school leVel, inappropriate

1

comparisons, and the use of subjecti i'e criteria in determining school

\
success. -,

Program evaluations

A third category of school effectiveness research is program

evaluation. Many evaluations of educational ptograms have been carried

out over the past fifteen'years. In selecting among them our central

variation
criterion was that the study reported on the consequenceA of
_

We iooked-at-six- evaluations: Armor et al.

in school-level factors.
three studles
(1976), Trisman et al. (1976), Doss and Holley (1982), and
(Hunter 1979).
carried out by the Michigan Department of Education
identify
Armor et al.'s mandate from the sponsoring agency was to
been most
"the school and classroom policies and other factors that have
(p. v.)
successful in raising the reading scores of inner-citS, children"

Preferred Reading
who attended schools participating in the School
The Trisman et
Prograt in the Los Angeles Unified School District.
-
throughout the
al study examined reading programs in elementary schools

nation. The researchers surveyed a large number of programs and

had
carefully studied the characteristics of a few schools which

especially successful efforts. Doss and Holley summarize data from an

evaluation of Title I programs in Austin, Texas. The three Michigan

understand what
studies were conducted from 1973-1978 in an attempt to

kinds of schobls can carry out effective compensatory education

programs.

20
22
'EFFECTIVE SCHOOLS --i REVIEW .1`

By and large these studies'are methwlologically stronger than the

preceeding two types of research. However, their common findings are

-

studies. Armor et al.

,remarkably consittent with the outlier and case

(N2.20 schools) suggest that seven school characteristics are associated

with gains in reading performance: (1) teachers' strong sense of

of orderly
efficacy and high expectations for students; (2) maintenance

classrooms; (3) high levels of parent-teacher and parent-principal

often
contact; (4) ongoing inservice training of teachers with topics

determined by teachers, together with frequent informal consultations

.o

principals who
among teachers in implementing reading programs; and (5)
and
achieve a balance-between a strong leadership role.for themeelves

maximum autonomy fer-teachers._ The similarities in this list

(orderliness, high expectations of teschets, principal as instructional

few real,
leader) to others mentioned elsewhere should not obscure a

differences that exist. Most Salient in this regard is the emphasis on

teacher flexibility and relative autonomy iogether with the importance

nOt often cited by other researchers.'

of teacher-parent contact--factors

Tristan et al. (1976) examined schools with unusually effective

t

reading programs. Although the researchers looked for curriculum,

they
teacher training, class-size, and teacher characteristic-effects,
effective.
could find none that explained why certain programs were
charaCterized by etre:1g
Instead, they found effective schools to be
student
leadership (usually the principal)4_high expectations for
rappor-01-----
achievement; good school atmosphere (including student-teacher

sAill-group instruction; and evidence of

.a clear focus on basic skills;

interChange of ideas among staff:

21 23
iFFECTIVE SCHOOLS--A REVIEW

Doss and-Holley (1982) summarize.the results of a Title I

with
evaluation comparing the effectiveness of "school-viie" programs

"pull-out" programs. The "school-wide" programs require the staff to

collaboratively develop and implement plans to,work with All of the

students in a target school. They conclude that school-wide Title I

projects directed at altering the way entire classrooms and, by

extension, entire schools treat-low-achieving students have a greater

positive effect on achievetent than projects that isolate Title,I-pupils

by "pulling 'them cut" of the regular classroom.

The authors also found

the
high morale and a sense of control over the school program by

teachers in schools with school-wide projects. These observations are

%

certain
supported by a variety of literature that suggests that in
the
circumstances categorical programs cap be divisive influences on

instruCtibnal-effectiveness of the school (Glass and Siith 1973; Cooley

Hill
1981; Rubin and David 1981; Turnbul). et al. 1981; Kimbrough and

1981). We should note that the school-wide approach alio resulted in

help to
significantly smaller classes for students, a factor which may

explain the achievement differences.

The three Michigan studies were'intended to determine the-

characteristics of schools with effective compensatory education

programs. The first study contrasted seventy-five high=achieving

The second study closely

schools with sixty-nine lc:fir-achieving schools.

exailned eight schools (five high and three low) in an attempt to

replicate the earlier effort. The school variables that show.up in both
4

characierize effective schOols were high teacher morale,

studies,and
control over
clear autonomy of the school from the district, teacher
In-
instructional decisions, and au effective student assessment system.

22
24
EFFECTIVE SCHOOLS--4_REVIEW

.s

the second study the investigators also looked &Ca series of variables

having to do with the expectations and perceptions of teachers and

staff. Consistent with the findings of others (for example, Brookover

et al. 1979) they found that high-achievizglchools were characterized

by high expectations of the staff for the students. In the final

Michigan study three schools were selected to receive funds to implement

the basic findings from the preceeding work. These.schools were

compared to three similar schools that did not implement such a program.

After one year the experimental schools had modest gains in achievement.

-The basic findingS from the various program evaluation studies

create a generally consistent patterp. Mosi schools with effective

programs are characterized gy high staff expectations and morale; a

considerabledegree of control by the staff over instructional and

training decisions in the school; clear leadership from the principle or

of'
other instructional-figure; clear goals for the school and-by a sense

orderin the school. This is a familiar list.

Other studies

James Coleman et al.'s (1981) comparative study of public and

private secondary schools makes an interesting contribution to the

analysis of effective school characteristics. The basiecontention of

the authors is that private schools are academically superior to public

schools. Specifically, private school students' average scores in

vocabulary, reading, and math are higher than the average scores of

public school students after controlling for background variables; .

Catholic private schools also show less variation in within-school

achievement than dopublic schools. Yhile the methodology leading to

23
 4

EFFECTIVE SCHOOLS-4 REVIEW .

7
of
these, conclusions iecurrently the subject'of cdnsiderable debate,

Tiicular interest ire thole features of Private schoolithat are

hypothesized as accouiting for .their academic superiority. The authors

suggett that "school functioning makes a.difference in achievement

outcobea for' the average student.(p. 223)." On the school level private

schools Are more likely'tc exhibit those charaeteristics that seem to

encourage academic performance: ,better-attendance; more hOieWork; more

required, rigorous academic subjects; and overall "more'extensive

academic demanda." Private schools are less likely than public schools

to possess characteristics thought to harm academit achievement:-, .

disruptive behavior (fights, cutting class, threatening:teacheri, etc.)1

student perception.of discipline as being ineffective and Unfair; and

student perceptdon of lack of teacher interest in student achievement, )

behavior, etc. Stated more succinctly, prthte schools' academic

On
succlatss can be attributed to their making greater academic demands

their students within A tchool environment which is "safer, mere

disciplined and more ordered (p. 226)."

t-We are not persuaded that Coleman et al. -aaiquately controlled for

,student body composition, for the selfselection aspect of priyate

school enruilmenti or for the influence,generated, by such factors as

4

parents' financial commitment and the greater freedom of private schools

to select and expel students. Therefore we make no judgment as to

whether private schools as a group are scholastically better than public

schools, given the larger size of public schools, their greater,

mandated, curriculum diversity, and,the wider variety of teals held for

public school education. kevertheless, there is a close.correspondence

lietween the characteristics which explain the presumed highir academic

EFFECTIVE SCHOOLSA REVIEW

achievement of private schools and several of'the characteristics

postulSted by effective schools reseirchers as distingUishing effective

from ineffective public schools. These findings are also supported by

some preliminary analyses,by Coleman,et il. of differences between

successful and On-Successful pub1ic,schools. This similarity lends

support to the dbtion-that certain school-level characteristics can

affect school-wide academic achievement.

ME's-Safe School Study'(U.S. Departient of Health, Education and

Welfare 1978) is concerned with identifying the elements that make

schools safe,"man-violent, orderly institutions of learning- Though

they do not evaluate the acadeiic effectiveness_of_schools, nor focus on

school characteristics that 'are linked with academic success, many of

their findings regarding the difference between safe schools and violent

schools are relevant to the discussion of effective schools.

The authors find that school governance is of critical importance

4 "

in creating safe schools. The central role in school governance is

played by the principal. Principals' who served as firm disci inarians.,

strong Lehavioral role models (for students and teachers alilie); and,

educational leaders were crucial in making the school safe. Also

contributing to school effectiveness in th&sense were:the followingf

(1) clearly stated rules, consistently, fairly and firmly enforced; (2)

teachers with high job satisfaction who are in general agreement with .

the principal's "educational and procedural stylesq (3) cohesiveness

among teachersp.(4) materiaf and moral pupport from,the central

adtiniStrition; (5) emphasis on academic success with individual

improvement and achievement rewarded; (6) tlass'size or school

organization calculated to increase the "sense of personal relationship"

25
27
EFFECTIVE SCHOOLS --A REVIEW

-fief-wen stiident Aind teacher; (7) high staff ilorale; (8) strong school

relevant and 1

spirit; (9) students' belief that school subject matter is

valuable; and (10)'student5' sense that the rschool as a social system

is not a meaningless environment (p. 139)r in which they can exert

little control over what lapperis to them.

Schools with these ten characteristics are assumed to be not only

well.
safer lila generally more successful in other areas of education as

Fertinentin this regard is the strong relationShip indidated in the

study between a school's "structure of order" and acadeinic-success.

(of a
Moreover, "one of the measures associated with the turnaround
and
violent school) seems to have been improving the academic program

stressing the importance of academic excellence (p.'169)." The

schools
implications of this study for building academically effective

are intriguine.

III. General critique

Specific criticisms of particula atudies and methodologies

notwithstiniling, and regardless of a nu er of inconsistencies in

of the above
findings, there remaini an intuitive lciic to the findings

research. Flaws in the original research should not discredit the-

.

for'school
notion of discovering effectiveschool characteristics--seids

improvement that can be sown elsewhere. However, the opposite

approach-12-blanket acceptance--is equally dangerous.

- ,FOr example, there has been no

systematic sampling of different

types of schools. The existing research tends to concentrate on urban

programi in the
elementary schools-with successful reading and/or math

lower grades. Civen.that, the generalizability of the research is

EFFECTIVE SCHOOLS - -A REVIEW

limited. It is one thing to demand that all schools be effective; it is

an entirely different'matter to assume, without further research, that

wtat has effects in one setting will invariably have the same effects in

another. There is also a dearth of longitudinal studies.' It is not

clear that an effective school snapshot taken of a third grade class'

reading scores will look the same when that class is in the sixth or

eighth grade. Similarly, though a few studies control for random

variations by examining school-wide achievement scores for several years

prior to the beginning of the -study, it is again not clear that a

designated effective-school will remain- sa in the future--or was in the

past. Any cutaffline is arbitrary but it seems reasonable and prudent

to expect an effective school to be so historically and to remain

effective in the future before raising the banner of success over its

doors.. Nor have researchers examined schools that are systematically

trying to improve. Teachers' sense of efficacy and competence may be

associated with student achievement, but (a) what causes teachers to

feel efficacious and competent and (b) how does this influence student

learning all other things being equal?

Finally, the implicit assumption of the reviews of the literature

And the press seems to-be that once aware of a set of five, or seven or

(The
twelve key variables, schools can simply decide to adopt them.

-further implication is politically loaded: schools that do not acquire

all
these variables lack the "will" or "desire" to effectively instruct

their students.) Even if these "easy to assemble model" variables'were

They are_
necessary for effective schooli, they wauld not be sufficient.
demonstrates that
not sufficient because the hintorY of education.reform
schools are not
no matter hcie well-planncd, systematic interventions in

27

29
EFFECTIVE SCHOOLS --A REVIEW

always successful either in fcrm or outcome (Berman and McLaughlin 1977;

Elmore 1978, 1979). In fact, current theories of school organization

of
suggest that there are structural and procedural tlaracteristics
For
schools that mitigate against this sort of top down change.
1976),
example, if schools are indeed "loosely coupled" systems (Weick

relatively
having weak linkage between-administration levels and the
depend on
autonomous classroom, then notions of effectiveness that

strong and dogmatic administrative leadership are immediately

handicapped.
research and
Having expressed our reservations about the available

wri4ng on school effectiveness, we nevertheless find a substantive case

emerging from the literature. There is a good deal of tomMon senst to

reading
the notion that a school is more likely to have relatively high

those subjects, are

or math scores if the staff agree to emphasize
students to
serious and purposeful.about the task of teaching, expect

learn, and.create a safe and comfortable environment in which students

and
accurately perceivelhe school's expectations for academic success

come to sart. them. Such a mixture' of characteristies creates a climate

endeavor from
that would en4ourage, if not guarantee, success in any

teaching dance, to building a winning football team, to improving

1

childrenq knowledge of American history,

The ,TItuitive.logic behind this press for achievement is

classrooms (Rosenshine and Stevens

buttresse c; by research on effective
i

these.classrooms (i.t.,
1981; Good and drouwa 1979) that suggests that
\

where students learn math) are characterized by order, structure,

purposefulness, a humane atmosphere, and the use of appropriate

1 1

iuscructio al techniques. Extrapolating upward it is,reasonable to

28
30
EFFECTIVE_SCHOOLS A REVIEW-

assume that schools displaying similar characteristics would tend to

promote school-wide student achievement. Obviously there is a

reciprocal relationship between the classroom and the school. But it-is

probably easier for the school to influence all its classrooms than it

ia for a few classrooms to influence the entire school (particularly at

the secondary level)._

Finally, this notion fits rather,nicely with a more historical

perspective on schooling. If declining national test scores are

indicative of changes in the nature of schooling during the past decade,

then a partial return to yesteryear may be ,more than an exercise in

nostalgia. Tomlinson (1981) argues that traditional ideas and methods

persisted, perhaps, because they worked. Indeed, there is a remarkable

and somewhat disturbing resemblance between the traditional view of

schools as serious, work-oriented, and disciplined institutions where

students were supposed to learn their 3 R's, and the emerging view of

modern effective schools. Certainly, however, we can.learn from the

past and take what seems appropriate without copying the more unsavory

features.

Thus we are not arguing that the current research on effective

schools is useless or irrelevant. School personnel wanting to improve

the academic achievement of their pupils would be well advised to read

the current literature for whatever is of use in their specific social

situation and cultural context. However, adoption of the

characteristics suggested by this review or by others is unlikely to

work in all schools, may not work as expected in many schools, and may,

in fact, be counterproductive in some schools. The existing reviews

provide lists of ingredients, and rather divergent ingredients at that.

EFFECTIVE SCHOOLSA REVIN

What is Missing and what we now turn to are instructions, or at least

suggestions, on how to put the ingredients'together. Unfortunately, we

are not guided by systematic research on the deve:opment of effective

schools. There is research, however, which suggests alternative ways of

approaching the problem and which begins to provide the missing

directions.

IV. Toward a theory of school improvement--the importance of the

culture of the school .

A 'different approach to school improvement than the recipe model

rests upon a conception of schools which links content with process to

arrive at a notion of school culture (Rutter 1979; Brookover et al.

1979). Content refets to such things as the organizational structure,

roles, norms, values and instructional techniques of a school and the

information taught-in the-curriculum. School process refers to the

nature and style of politicalsocial relationships an4 to the flow of

information within communication networks. &school culture perspective

rejects the viewthat schools are relatively static construCts of

discrete varfibles. Instead, schools are thought to be dynamic social

systems made up of interrelated factors (Brookover et al. 1979). This

mix of interconnetted characteristics is unique to each school and

ptovides each with a definite personality or climate (Halpin and Croft

1963). It is a school's culture resulting in a distinct climate

composed of attitudes, behaviors, organizational structure, etc., that

is influential in determining the schobl's effectiveness.

In a sense the cultural notion of school effectiveness is an

ecological, model. Schools are intricate webs of values, roles, ru3es,

30
.EFFECTIVE SCHOOLS- -A REVIEW

Just as a water lily does.

norms, individual personalities and so on.

not make a pond, nor make a pond function, so too do "high expectations"

not make a school nor cake it function. Continuing the Metaphor, while

alk ponds are superficially alike, owning to the limits imposed upon

them by the larger environment in which they exist, no two exactly

resemble each other. In the same manner schools are shaped by the

Cultural environment in which they exist. This in turn, shapes'what

happens in the classroom even as each classroom creates its own

personality.

More concretely, the literature indicates that a student's chance

for success in learning cognitive skills is heavily influenced by the,

Rutter
climate of the school (Brookover et al. 1979; Rutter et al. 1979,

1981; Wynne 1980). A school-level cultural press in the direction of

in which the
academic achievement helps shape the environment (climate)

student learns. An academically effective School would be likely to

have clear goals related to student achievement, teacher and parents

with high expectations and a structu.re designed to maximize

opportunities for students to learn. A press for academic success is

climate which emphasizes

i.more likely to realize that goal than would a

affective growth or social development.

If the climate of a school can positively affect student

climate.
achievement, the question then becomes how to develop a desired
achievement
Bow does one school have teachers with high expectations for

while another does not? Why doestone school have clear goals while a

second muddles through with conflicting ideas of succeis?

Unfortunately,,,available research dims not yet provide a complete

answer. Most current school effectiveness research lists a variety of

31
33
EFFECTIVE SCH(OLSA REVIEW"

mixing them
potential ingredients byt offers little direction for

together; However, imaginink schools as living cultures does suggest a

of how to move
framework for understanding the problem and the outline

toward a solution.
culture
The fluidity and interconnectedness of the school
given
conceptualization directs attention to the process by which a

The components of a
school climate comes into being and is maintained.

school exist in a rbugh equilibrium. Intervention in any dimension

equilibrium" (Derr and Deal

ft
puts pressure on the others and affects the

1979). Therefore, school-improvement is seen as likely wnen the whole

people's attitudes
school is treated, with special attention paid to ,.

the
(Rutter 1981) and how people interact with One another and

environment.
supported by
The appropriateness of.the school culture notion is
the
ideas derived ffom organization theory and from research on

implementation of education innovation. Recent research and theory have

hierarchically
rejected a notion of schools as classical bureaucracies,
i
high responsiveness
structured, susceptible to rational control and with
by the
at the lowest level (the classroom) to the goals set
schools
administration. A competing and more persuasive description of
work of the
is that they are "loosely coupled systems" in which the
immediate supervision
teachers is.largely independent of the principal's
8 Classrooms are isolated workplaces
(Weick 1976; March and Olsen 1976).
Rowan_1978; Bidwell
subject to little organizational control (Meyer and
learning are
1965; Dreeban 1973; Lortie 1975) where teachingand
and Scott 1975).
relatively free of "serious" evaluation (Dornbush
9
soft, which works
rinalli, the "technology" of education is relatively
EFFECTIVE SCROOLS--A REVIEW

againit efforts to standardize tasks and behavior in very specific Ways.

Combining this with the range of-goals imposed on schools by society

prevents the kind of "profitability check" on teacher behavior available

to organizations with less diffuse technology and more narrowly defined

goals (Derr and'Deal 1979).

If schools are indeed "loosely coupled" in the above manner, then

attempts to increase their effectiveness through imposing discrete

policies by fiat are unlikely to bear fruit. Schools by tlieir nature

may not prove amenable to command structure approaches, especially given

the vested interests of the various groups of relatively autonomous

professionals involved in the dayrto-day operation of a school.

Furthermore, teachers may not agree with the principal (or with each

other) on essential variables and the recipe models say nothing about

overcoming or avoiding that resistance.

The school culture model begins to resolve the dilemma posed by

loose coupling. It assumes that Changing schools requires changing

people, their behaviors and attitudes, as-well as school organization

and norme. It assumes that consensus among the staff of a school is

more powerful than avert control, without ignoring the need for

leadership. Indeed, consensus emerges as a key factor in the school

culture model. Building consensus ground specified norms and goals

becomes the focus of any school improvement strategy.

Studies of implementation efforts reinforce the validity of the

school. culture perspective and highlight the importance of forging

consensus in the process of improving schools. Ot particular importance

is the fact that change (and presumably maintenance thereafter) will hot

take place without the support and commitment of teachers who must come
 _ -
EFFECTIVE SCHOOLSA REVIEW

(McLaughlin 1978).
to "own" new educational ideology and techniques
of
Implementation "ia substantially determined by the coping behavior

those who have to carry out the . . . (change)" (Weatherley and Lipsky

only
1978)6. And given the relative autonomy enjoyed by teachers, it is
efforts to
logical to assume that they ultimately control the fate of

alter a school's instructional climate and process.

and
Major innovations have been successfully implemented, however,

the characteristics of schools where change has occurred are

illuminating. According to McLaughlin (1978), successful implementation

process," the
is a,process of "mutual adaptation" which is a "learning
specific
end result of which is the close fit of an innovation with a

institution. Central to this developmental perspective is the belief

things
that changing schools requires changing people's way of doing
the
(California State Department of Education 1980) and changitg

informal social system of the school (Sarason 1973). In essence

the
successful implementation means changing the school culture,
(Hargrove et al.
wholesale influencing of the total school climate

1981).

Though specific tactics may vary, the general strategy is best

characterized as one that proiotes collaborative planning, collegial

and
'work, and a school atmosphere conducive to experimentation
Hawley
evaluation (Little 1981; Deal et al.,l977;'Hargrove et al. 1981;

1978; McLaughlin 1978). Miller (1980) suggests it is an approach that ,

organization engaged in
see* teachers as part of an entire school
Successful change
d.welopment activities that take place over time.
entire scheol
efforti are therefore more likely to be realized When the

Culture is affected. This on-going activity is best 4one by involving

\ 34 36
EFFECTIVE SCHOOLS-A REVIEW

the
the people affected, at appropriate le4114-and-frequency,_in

decision-making and implementation process (Lipham 1981). Leadership

variable
from the principal or key instructional staff is an important

(Neale 1981; Berman.and McLaughlin 1977; Goodlad 1975; Bentsen 1974;

At the
Deal et al. 1977; Hargrove et al. 1981; Rubin and David 1981).

secondary level the leadership may be best ertrcised through influence

(Neale 1981) and informal authority (Deal et al. 1977), with reciprocal
At the
interactions between teachers and administrators (Little 1981).

elementary level a more directive system from a strong instructional

leader may be viable. When change is successful it is because schools

are approached as culturil entities. Ohange is seen as developmental,

leadership
linked to teacher concerns, and fostered (not mandated) by

iihich recognizes the importance of concrete and symbolic support of

efficacy in
teachers and the motivating force of a teacher's sense of

the classroom (Lieberman and Miller 1981).

The literatures on school organization and innovation

implementation lend strength to the:school culture approach to improving

acidemic achievement. Both bodies of literature question the implicit

and'
assumptions of the recipe model,\particularly its bureaucratic

static conception of schools. Both stress the imporiance of

culture
acknowledging the interplay of' factori which compose the-school
when
and emphasize the need to address all facets pf the school

attempting change. Finally, both underline the significance of

of 'forging that
consensus in making schools effective and suggest ways

consensus in thereal 4orld of public education.

EFFECTIVE SCHOOLS- -A REVIEW

V.. A portrait of an effective school

effective school is
So far we have argued that an academically

distinguished by itstulture: a structure, process and cliMate of

the direction of
values and norms which channel staff and students in
t.
successful teaching and learning. In that regard we lean in the

and Brookover et
direetion indicated by the research of Rutter (1979)-

*al.(l979). The listt of effective school characteristics compiled by

that they
other researchers and reviewers are also helpful to the,extent

have cumulative impact

have captured those factors which are likely to

on pupils' achievement. Finally, we have turned to school organization

the idea that the

theory and the literature on implementation to pupport
key to improving
nature of the,process 'of building consensus is a

schools.
information contained in the effective
Picking our waythrough the
A
school.
schools research, we have CompOsed a portrait of an effective
understanding,this
There see two assumptions which are essential to
only be a
portrait. First, however life-lik it appears, a portrait1 can
Our portrait Of an effective
one-dimensional representation of reality.
dynamic social system
school, then, can only imperfectly suggest the

that is a school. Also, portraits of the same person by different

identical. We are
artists with equal skill and talent are_never
be recognizable
confident that the effective school sketched below would
all.effective
in many contexts, but it surely does not represent
effective
schools. Second, and most importantly, we stress that an
though hot
ichool results from its particular culture, which-stems,

'exclusively, from the-interplay between form and content.

EFFECTIVE SCHOOLS --A REVIEW

factors
The explanation offered for concentrating on school-level
We
yes that they set the stage for-what goei on in the classroom.
(school)
described schOol systems as "nested layers" in which the cuter

layer sets the context for the adjacent (classroom) layer. The

telationship between the layers is reciprocal, though=basic limits art

Imposed by the outer layers. This same notion may be helpful in

describing the components of an effective school. While the variables

framework
are interdependent, certain ones seem logically to form a

within which the others function. The framework or first group is

comprised of organizational and structural variables which can be set

They precede and
into place by administrative and bureaucratic means.
The second
facilitate the delelopment of the second group of variables.
variables.
group can be labelled, somewat loose, y, as process-form

They have to do with the climate and culture of te

school--characteristics that need to grow organically in a ichool and

are not directly susceptible to bureaucratic manipulation.

These two sets of characteristics are drawn from the lists of key
and
variables found in the effective schools research, frOm implemention

school organization theory and research,' and from other related

literature. Acknowledging the .possibility that we have omitted critical

variables, the most important organization-structure characteristics'

seem to be the following:

indicate the heed--
(1) School-site manigement. A number of studies
for each building ite-
for a considerable amount of autonomythey
determining the exact means by which address the problem of
(see Hunter 1979). This flows from
increasing'academic performance
the emphasis on school-specific culture (Rutter 1979, 1981;
Brookover et al. 1979) and the analysis-of what facilitates the .

adaptive implementation of innovation (Hargrove et al..1981; Berman

and )1cLaughlin.1977).

4
39
 .EFFECTIVE SCHOOLS - -A REVIEW

(2) Leadership. ...Though we aresuspicious of the "Great Principal"

theory, it seems clear that leadership is necessary-to initiate and
maintain the improvement process. (Weber 1971; Armor et al. 1976;
Brookover and Lezotte 1979; Trisman et al. 1977; New York State
Department of Education 1974(a), 1974(b); Venezky and Winfield
1979; Glenn 1981; Barman and McLaughlin 1977; Hargrove, et al.
z 1981; Levine and Stark 1981; California State Department of
Education 1980). The principal is uniquely positioned to fill this
role and certainly his/her support is essential very early bn
. (California State Department of Education 1980). Nevertheless,
groups of teachers or.other administrators can provide leadership.
We would argue, though there is little evidence on the subject,
that school effectiveness is likely to be enhanced to the extent
that substantiya leadership does arise from within the ranks of
teachers.- Staff-based leadership could more readily reduce teacher
opposition tri change, generate a greater sense of teacher
II ownership" toward new methods, etc. More importantly, however, it
seems likely to provide more stability and continuity. Successful
principals seem to be promoted or transferred to er trouble
spots while the staff remains more or-less intactteadership from
below may be more lasting as schools presently exist. Promoting
leaderihip in a school is not a simple task. One strategy that a
central administrator might use is to move into a school a proven
leader-administrator. This has obvious drawbacks, however. A
second strategy is to introduce a process that requires that either
the principal exert initructional leadership or that a teacher
emerge as a leader.

(3) Staff stability. Once a school experiences success, keeping

the staff together seems to maintain, and promote further, success
(U. S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, The Safe School
Study 1978; New York State Department of Education 1974(b)).
Frequent transfers are destructive and likely to retard, if not
prevent, the growth of a coherent and on-going school personality.

(4) Curriculum articulation and organization. At the secondary

level a planned, purposeful 'diet of courses seems to be
academically more nutritional than the smorgasbord approach of many
electives and few requirements. If students areexpected to learn
science, math, and/or U.S. History, then they need to take those
courses (Coleman 1981; Walker and Schaffarzick 1974). At the
elementary level if studenti are expected to icquire basic.and.
complex skills, the curriculum must focus on these skills'(Weber
1971; Armor et al.1976; Glenn 1981; Trisman et al. 197(74 Venezky
and Winfield 1979)) they must receive sufficient time for
instruction in those skills (Fisher et. al. 1960), and those skills
must be coordinated across grade levels (Levine and Stark 1981) and
pervade the entire curriculum (California State Department of
Education 1980; New,York State Department of Education 1974(b)).

(5) Staff Development. Essential change involves altering .people's

attitudes and behaviors as well.aa providing them with new skills.
and technf4ues. Io,order to influonce_an entire sch9-01 the staff
development should be school-Wide rither than specific to '4--
0
38
ti 0
EFFECTIVE SCHOOLSA-REV Ey -

individual teachers and should be closely related to the

instructional program of the school (Venezky and Winfield 1979;
California State Department of Education 1980; Glenn 1911; Armor et
al. 1976;_Levine and-Stark 1981). This effort is-incremental and
requires long-term support and reinforcement (ArMor et al._1976)-.
It ueems likely,that staff develloalent presented as a form of
remediation for teachers deficient in certain skills or attributes
.,(a common implication in current practice) will encounter
resistance. More appropriately staff development should flog from
the expreised needs Of teachers revealed as part of the process.of
collaborative planning and collegial relationships.

(6)* Parental involvement and support. Though the evidence is more

mixed here, it is _reasonable to assume that parents need to be
informed of schoorgoals_ and student responsibilities especially
with regard to homework. A fewntudies find parehial involvement
and support to be a major factor in student achievement (New York
State Department of Education 1974(b); Armor et al. 1976; Coleman
et al. 1981; Levine and Statk 1981)., Our feeling is that parent
invOlvement is not sufficient, but that obtaining pare8tal support
is likely tojositively influence student achievement.

(7) Schooli-wide,recognition of academic success. A school's

cultute is partially reflected in its ceremonies, its symbols, and
he-a ccomplishmeht.L-it--cho.ast.s_tn.:-.oilicially=rn c ognire-;---Sthotsls
which make a point of,pilblicly honoring academic achievement and
sttessing.its importance through the appropriate use of symbols,
ceremonies and the like encourage students to adopt similar norms
and values (Wynne 1980; BrooMyer et al. 19794 Brookover and -
Leiotte 1979; Coleman 1961).

(8) Maximized learning time. If schools choose to emphasize

academics, then a greater portion of the school day would be
devoted to academic subjects (Coleman 1981) a greater portion of
the class period would engage students in active learning
activities (Fisher et al. 1980; Brookover et al. 1979) and class
periods would be free from interruptions by the loudspeaker,
messages from the counseling office, or disruptions,from the hall
or yard outside (Stallings 1981; Fisher et al. 1980). Staff
training might-well-be-in-the-areas-of-classroom management and
Adirect instruction.

(9) District support, Fundamental change, building-level

management, staff stability, etc. all depend upon support from thc
district office. Few, if any, of the variables found to be
-significant are likely to be realized without district support.
(California State Department of Education 19SC; Hersh et al. 1981;
U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare, The Safe School
Study 1978). While.specialized help in some areas such as reading
of
or mainstreaming seems helpful (Hargrove et al. 1981), the role
the district office is probably best conceived as guiding and
Mostilt, perhaps even indifferent, attitudes by the

39
 EFFECTIVE SCHOOLS-4 'REVIEW

the
district office toward school improvement programs reduce
likelihood of,their being successful.

These nine organization-structure factors, in addition to being

of consequence on their own, set the stage for the process-go=

variables. Though the relationship between the two 'types is reciprocal

distinct), the
.(and the demarcation between the two types not always

process-form variables seem more likeli to develop in schools

characterized by those,nine elements. We are not aware of research

'which closely and systematically examines the interaction between the

two types i)f factors. 'Nevertheless, as we discuss the process-form

logical
variables the logical connection between the two and, also, the
follow--should be
order--the above nine preparing the way for those to

evident.
School
Four process-form.variables define the general concept of
1979;
culture.and climate (Brookover et al. 1979; Brookover and Lazotte

Rutter 1979). A school's culture, or more specifiially its climate,

faiIiire as a prace
stems to be the determining factor in its success-or

of learning. While the four variables are elements in this culture', two

additional Points'must be made: school cultures can vary and still be

goals
academically effective; and, an effective culture can lead to
improve
other than academic achlevement,(1.e., a school could choose to
ones). The
Interpersonal relations or promote skills other :hen academic
IL
culture seem to be:
sustaining characteristics of a productive school
(Little
(1) CollabOrative planning and,collegial;relationships.
Armor et
1981; _Hargrove et. al. 1981; Berman and 14cLaughlin 1977;
1974(b)i Glenn
al. 1976; New York State Department of Education
1981; Trisman et al: 1977;-Deal et al. 1977). pirectly concerned
with process, this variable comes both from school effectiveness
suggests that
research and from implementation research which
chafige attempts are more successful when teachers and
administrators wbrk together. Collegiality serves many purposes.
Chief among them are that it breaks down barriers between

40-

4 2
fFFECTIVE SCHOOLS --A REVIEW

departments and among teachers/administrators, it encourages.the

kind of intellectual sharing that can lead to Consensus, and it
promotes feelings of unity and commonality among the staff.

(2) Sense of community. (Newmann 1981; Wynne 1980). There is

persuasive evidence that community feeling, the sense of being a
recognizable member of a' supportive and clearly perceived (by the
staff arid others) community, contributes to reduced alienation and
increased achievement. There is also evidence that Schools can
create or build community by the_appropriate use of ceremony,
symbols, rules (i.e., dress code), and the like.

(3) Clear goals and high expectations commonly shared. (Brookover

et al. 1979; Brookover and Schneider 1975; Armor et al: 1975;
Trisman et al.. 1977; Venezky and-Winfield 1979; New York State
Department of Education 1974(b), 1976; Rutter 1979; Weber 1971;
Glenn 1981; Broacover and Lezotte 1979; California State Department
of Education 1980). Common sense, if nothing else, indicates that
--, a clearly defined purpose is necessary for any endeavor hoping of
success. 4thin the limits imposed by the common public school
philosophy, schools need to focus on those tasks they deem most
important. This allows the School to direct its resources and
shape its functioning toward the realization of those goals.
Continual monitoring of individual pupil and classroom progress is
a logical meihs of determining if the school's goals Are being
realized and can serve to stimulate and direct staff energy and
attention (LeVine and Stark 1981; .see also Edmonds 1981(b)).
Newmann (1981) suggests that having clearly defined and limited
goals would reduce student alienation, an all too common barrier to
increased effectiveness in any area of schooling. Academically
successful schools are also characterized by the expectations.of
the staff and students. In all cases these expectations were for
work and achievement. Finally, schools that reach consensus on
their goals and expectations are more likely to be successful-1.1n a
sense they have channeled their energy and efforts toward a
mutually agreed upon purpose.

(4) Order and discipline. (Brookover et al. 1979; Weber 1971;

Glenn 1981; Rutter 1979, 1981; Armor et al. 1976; New York State
Department of Education 1974(a), 1974(b), 1976;'Edmonds 1979, 1981;
Stallings 1978; Coleman 1984 U.S. Department of Health, Education
and Welfare, The Safe School Study 1978).. The seriouaness and -

purposefulness with which the school approaches its task is

communicated by the order and,discipline it maintains in its
building. Again, common sense alone suggests that students cannot
.

learn in an environment that is noisy, distracting or unsafe.

Furthermore, some evidence exists indicating that clear, reasonable
1es,`0144sly and consistently enforced, not only can reduce
behavior problems that interfere with learning but also can promote
feelings of pride and responsibility in the school community.

41
43
EFFECTIVE SCHOOLS --A REVIEW

issue, we want to once more stress

At the.ffilik of'belaboring the
variables and
the strong/relationships between the four process-learning
In addition, the four
the nine organization-structure vnriables.

proceis-foim-4riables are inextricably intertwined with each other.

inseparable.or that the absence of one

While we dO not claim they are

prevents the others from having a positive impact, it does seem

.//
reasonable to argue that their, cumulative effect is greatly increased

three.
over their effect individually or in combinations of two or

-A final few comments must be mAde about the four factors that

constitute the process-form variables. These variables are the dynai.,ic

that
of the school; that is, they seem responsible for an atmosphere

leads to increased student achievement. While it is conceivable that

that it would be
they could be realized by a number of means, we expect
them into
difficult to plant them in schools from without or to command

existence by administrative fiat. Within the framework discussed above

begin
the process-form characteristics must develop over time as people

to think and behave in new ways. The process is certainly not mystical

organic conception
nor terribly complex, but it would seem to demand an

of schools and some faith in people's ability to work together-toward

Common ends. This., in turn, suggests a participatory approach based on

is
the notion that how a school moves toward increasing effectiveness

critical. How a school changes wilk-determine the stability'end

longevity of the new culture it seekg. (At the same time the-process
J--

through which a gchool transforms itself Should have some effect on

the
those unanticipated consequencei of change which can undermine even

best of plans.),

42
44
EFFECTIVE SCHOOLSA REVIEW

It seems-evident, then, that the process-form variibles, will be

more difficult to acquire than the,nine organization-structuie

characteristics. The process-form variables are diffuse to the extent

that their nature will vary somewhat from school to school. While it is

easy to define them forecasting whit each will look like in a-given

school is more difficult. Moreover, their sensitivity to the means-ends

relationship emphasizes the role of process, unique to each school, in

determining their final form.

A cultural approach to school improvement that,pays particular

attention to the characteristics described above has the advantage of

being equally applicable to elementary and secondary schools. Indeed,

the large differences between elementary and secondary schools.in the

general areas of student population, school structure, and curriculum

,require a cultural perspective on school effectiveness. While recipe

models are limited by their narrow reliance on atudies of effective

urban elementary schools, and by their overly simplistic notions of

school organization and change, a cultural approach is flexible, school

(and community) specific, and is based upon the commonalities of schools

suggested by organizational theory and implementation research. The

logic of the cultural model is such that it points to increasing the

organizational effectiveness of a school building, and is neither grade

level nor curriculum specific. Certainly the greater complexity and'

size of secondary schools indicates that atteipts to change their

culture will prove more difficult and the greater diversity of secondary

schools' socially mandated goals further complicates efforts to improve

academic effectiveness. However, research by Rutter (1979), Coleman

(1981), Hargrove et al. (1981), U.S. Department of Health, Education and

43
EFFECTIVE SCHOOLS--A REVIEW

that the
Welfare (The Safe School Study 1981) and others suggests
academic
culture of secondary schools can be manipulated to promote
schools in
effectiveness, and the same research suggests that effective

(a theme often repeated

one area tended to be effective in other areas

throughout the effective schools research, though unfortunately

suppiorting -data is generally not provided).

VI. Toward a strategy for change

There are many possible approaches to turning an academically

inferior school into a more successful one. One Approach is based on a

tightly structured hierarchical model in which change is decreed from

There are a good many
the top-(the district or at least the principal).
altering the
places where such an approach might be effective in
be
structure and form of a school so that it at least appears to

"effective." Administrative fiat can announce clear goals, organize

There are
planning meetings, and institute model evaluation systems.

other places where such direction uay be absolutely critical to

upsetting an otherwise firmly established pattern of "ineffective"

operation. Our sense, however, is that there are few schools where

mandated changes will be enough to encourage the development of a

productive school climate and culture. Our view is that,most sUccessful

than
school,change efforts will be messier and more idiosyncratic

systematic.

Certainly leadership is necessary, particularly in the initiating.

phase. A forceful principal or other administrator would be an

"critical mass"
advantage, but clearly leaderihip could also come from a
sufficient-energy and visioli
of teachers or a few influential ones with

44
46
PPECTIVE SCHOOLS --A REVIEW

(Berman and McLaughlin 1977; Stallings 1981;-California State Department

of Education 1980), At the very least the school aCministration must be

supportive, however passively, of the change process. Active hosiility

seems likely to prevent leadership arising from any other.groups within

the schoOl.

One way of thinking about the change process is to analyze a

school's political structure, identifying various interest groups which

form that structure (Pfeffer 1981; see also Miles 1981). Since the

intent is to alter the culture Of the school (Brookover et al. 1979.;

Rutter et al. 1979; Rutter 1981; Wynne 1980; Sarason 1971; Hargrove et

al. 1981) .a political strategy which builds coalitions of support might

be indicated (Hargrove et al. 1981). As a first step all or some

substantial subset of the nine organization-structure characteristics

discussed above would be instituted-by the school and district

leadership. These elements would establish a framework for the

development and nurturing of an effective school culture. The framework

creates a context in which implementation becomes a process of political

bargaining. Such a process could begin, for example, by developing

collaborative strategies with the teacher union to maintain a stable

staff in a partiCular school. (See Johnson's, 1982, ideas on

"cooperative problem-solving" and "principled negotiations" between

teacher unions and school administrators on the issue of lay-off

policy.) As another example extra resources necessary to establish

order in the halls, a larger budget for supplies, or release time for

planning might have to be forthcoming to gain administrator and teacher

assent to lengthen the instructional time during the week by two or

three hours. Although the first step of this process is characterized

45

47
EFFECTIVE SCHOOLS--A REVIEW

by political and social exchange (Talbert 1980), the purpose is to lay

the groundwork for developing a sense of ownership, commitment and

general consensut among the staff of the school. This second step would

be facilitated by the use of discussion groups, faculty meetings, and

inservice programs directed at working through school-wide problems.

(District support could greatly facilitate this process by offering

release time for such gatherings.)

Involving all relevant groups in the change and decision-making

process increases the likelihood of successful implementation of new

ideas and programs (Berman and:McLaughlin 1977; Elmore 1978, 1979).

Part of the purpose is to generate an ethos Which results in the

voluntary merging of organizational and indiVidual wOrk-place beliefs

and normsrii situation in which overt ccntrol (tightly-coupled,

hierarchical) is replaced by consensus. The four ,process-form

characteristics gain potency to the extent that'the staff coalesce

around common goals and share a pedagogical perspective that recognizes

the importance of such things as order, purposefulness, and commitment

to increasing student achievement. Bargaining, collaborating and

participatory decision-making on a collegial basis are the means by

which the above consensus could develop over time.

A problem arises, however, if individual staff members, or groups,

refuse to be persuaded and consistently act in ways which undermine or

oppose the goal of increased academic effectiveness. Latitudein

teaching style and even in content taught is absolutely necessary for

schools to be responsive to individual teacher and student needs and

dispositions. Still, consensus, unity of purpose, etc., are

prerequisites of an effective School. While ii is beyond the scope of

46
48
EFFECTIVE SCHOOLS --A REVIEW

this paper to do more than acknowledge this potential dilemma, one

comment is in order. Collective bargaining limitations not

withstanding, teachers and.administrators who cannot or will not strive

for academic success on the part of every student have no place in

schools that choose (and not all will, or should) to stress learning

cognitive skilli. We veheiently oppose policies designed to force

pebple who are not demonstrably incompetent out of teaching. Provisions

must be made, however, and negotiated agreements reached with teacher

and administrator organizations allowing for staff selection at the

building level. Without the flexibility to assemble a staff reflecting

a specific orientation (again, within limits), school improvement

efforts will be frustrated.

VII. A future agenda

What is to be done? In raising criticisms of existing research and

suggesting a conception of effectiveness based on school culture, we

Most obvious is the
have uncovered areas demanding furtfier research.
school
need for longitudinal studies in a variety of schools which track

and student performande over time. Other quastions in this area

schools
include: Are difierent strategies required,for low achieving

(to raise their scores) than for high achieving schobls mbibh are

beginnin&to decline? Once a school, is deemed academically effective,

what is needed to maintain its success? Will '-demographic change in a

require
school district or cultural evolution in the larger society

corresponding reforms in an effective school in brder for it to maintain

its equilibrium? How do different improvement strategies affect

subpopulctions in a school?

47
49
EFFECTIVE SCHOOLS --A REVIEW

of
A second area bf inquiry should involve a fuller investigation

the process by which schools increase (decrease or maintain)

kffectiveness. The emphasis on culture as a dynamic process still

leaves only a hazy idea of just how various elements (characteristics)

of
are mixed together to produce effective schools across the full range

school types in the United States. How is consensus about goals.created

in a school which has experienced only disunity and fragmentation

before? What'is-the nature of the interactions between-leadership and

the rest of the staff? How are clearly-defined goals (once determined)

translated\into teaching methods that will realize those.goals? In what

4hich choice in
manner does consensui and clearly defined goals co-exist

curriculum and instruction and the divergent needs of students and

How long can-consensus last? What methodology,'in fact, is

parents?

best suited to studying process?

Another area, closely related to that of process, has to do with

actual implementation. There is a research gap in the area of current

school improvement programs. Though a number of districts lave begun

projects based on one or another of the effective school models,

information is lacking on the procedures followed, the obstacles

obtained.
encountered, and the results (both-intended and unintended)

Finally, as Clune (1982) points out, school effectiveness

like
literature provides for "goal definition" (what schools are 5p,be

in order to be effective) and suggests strategies for change based on

organizational and implementation theory. Less clear, however, are the

intermediate steps of "goal specificatien" and "problem diagnosis."

Goal specification involves, for example, explaining as exactly as

Research by Cerstial et al. (1982)

possible what leadership entails.

48
EFFECTIVE SCHOOLS --A REVIEW

into the specific support iutctions that must be previded by

administrators or supervisors in order for instructionally effective

practices to be.implemented and institutionalized is a helpful step in

this, direction, but clearly more such researCh is needed. Program

in
diagnosis includes.analyzing why certain characteristics are not now

schools. For example, while the implementation literature underlines

the necessity of teachers coming to. "own" new teaching techniques,

school effectiveness literature rarely explains Why teachers often do

technology; nor does

not invest in the ownership of new instructional

school effectiveness literature often try to explain why schools do not

adopt clear atd narrowly defined goals, promote collaboration and

collegiality, etc. More knowledge as to why schools do not now have

ability to plan '

c rtain characteristics would improve administrators'

sutcessful change strategies.

'other topics are mor5,philosophical or definitional but of no less

interesi\ The publicity attending current effective schools'research

\\

has obscured the almost casual acceitance of the definition of an

effective school as being one,in which Students scbre high on

standardized reading and math tests. Should school effectiveness be so

its
defined? Is a school effective if there is great variancebetween

lowest and its highest achieving students? Finally, what effect would

life in the
an effective schools program have on the quality of student
of
school, on the "hidden cUrriculum" of the school, and on the nature

teaCher's work in the school?

In conclusion, we have argued thit schoollevel factors can promote

learning in the clasiroom. By ,studying academically effective schools

school culture
we can identify characteristics Which together create a

49
EFFECTIIASCHOOLS--A'REVIEW

conducive to student achievement. Rowever, 4 attempting to build more

effective schools we must abandon our reliance upon facile Solutions and

the assumption that fundamental change can be broilght about from the top

down. Instead, a more promising notion rests upon the conception of

4

schools as functioning social syitems with distinctive cultures. This

culture is amenable to change via faculty-administration collaboratioa

and shared deeision-making. It has been strongly argued that the

process by which schools are made more academically effective is

crucial: We have offered a political approach to beginning the

improvement process which recognizes people's tendency to operate on the

basis of their perceived self-interest as well as on their professional

desire to, educate children. Finally, we have suggested areas for

further research and raised a few of the mbre abstract questions which

must be addressed sooner or later.

50 52
EFFECTIVE SCHOOLS - -A EEVIEW
A

-100TROTES.

1
It is easy to conclude that the findings of the new reiearch

contradict the findings of-Coleman et al. (1966), Jencks et al. (1972),

and others. In fact the results are censistent though theimplications

-may differ. First, the new studies_do not refute the general- finding-

that easily measurable differences among Schools (class size variation

from twenty to thirty pupils, existing differences is teacher preservice

training, teacher experience and salaries, Immber of books in the

llbrary, etc.) have little consistent relationship to student

The new studies look at other variables. -.Second, the new

achievement.

studies do not find that there aie overall large differences in

athievement among existing schools. The new studiis generally do not

gather data,of the sort required for such analyses. Instead they

identify especially ,"good" schools and examine their characteristics or

they compare the characteiistics of "high" scoring and "low" scoring

schools. They.then imagine the improvement that would result, for

eiample,,if the least "effective" schools (the bottom 20 percent)

improved tsan achievetent level equal to the most "effective" schools

(the top 20 percent). For the average si*th grader the "old literature"

estimates that thiS improvement would be on the order of two-thirds of a

standard deviation or roughly one full grade level of achievettnt (see

Jencks et al., pp. 123-124). This estimate is consistent wtth the few

"new' studies which.report sufficient data to allow us to make a

1

qóantitative estimate of the achievement difference between "effective"

51

53
EFFECTIVE SCHOOLS- -A REVIEW

and "ineffective,schools. Third, the new studies imagine changes in

scii6o1s that go beyond existing differences among schools. If our yery

best schools improve they will set a new, standard for other schooli to

Achieve.
2
An example would be running the school in such a way that the

,sanctity of the class period was seldom violated by PA announcements,

early dismissals for athletics or uninvited visitors, from the office or/

counseling center (Stallings 1981). 'Or, suppose'that classroom

discipline or good management is a necessary, thongh not sufficient, '

prerequisite for learning for most students (Duffy 1980). Just,as order.
4
in the corridors is enhanced-by order in th,e classrooci (Glenn 1981;

Stallings and Hentzell 1978), control is difficult to maintain behind.a

,-

,classroom door if the halls, lunch room, bathroomsand other Classrooms

are in bedlam. Since we are concerned with making entire schdols,.not

merely scattered classrools touching some small fraction of the student

body, more successful it is logical to treat ihe school as a whole

entity. Only when the school functions to promote the chance of

efficient learning being able to take place within the classroom can

classroom or teacher-spedific interventions have'much probability of.

3
For example, Tomlinson .(1980) agrees with Edmonds that a common

purpose and clear goals together with instruttional leadership froin the

principal contribute to school effectiveness. He differs, however, in

adding (among othe2rs) efficient use of'claisroom time and using parents

or aides to help keep children on task. Austin's (1979, 1981)

twenty-nine characteristics include some which are similar to Edmonds'

(1979(a), 1979(b), 1981(a)),/ive but,also such characteristics as

52 54
EFFECTIVE SCHOOLS - -A REVIEW

teachers and who

principals who have an,iducatiori as elementary school
teaehers who have achieved
recruit their own staffs, experienced
direct instruction. The
mployment status and schools which entourage
factors such as reducing the
Phi Delta Kappa review suggests that
orparental'eontact and
adult/child ratio, fostering high levels
prógramt be added fo
involvement, and goal specific staff development
Clearly, while all the
the list of effective school characteristics.
differentiated froth
^revieWs assume that, effective schools can be
just what the salient
ineffective ones there is not yet consensus on

characteristics happen to`-'be.

4 had been identified in

After the positive and negative outliers
compared the two groups of schools on
the New York Study the researchers

If SES hadebeen adequately controlled,

a viriety of-input variables.
chance of' having a compensatory
the schools should have had an equal
"negative" schools (.30) had
education program--as it turned out the
educatiOn programs as the
almost twice the incidence of compensatory

It positive" schools (.17). In the Maryland study the confounding was

"high" and "low" schools differed-

even worse--the Average income of the
36 percent of fathers of-students
by over one-half - standard deviation,
secondary school compared to
in the lligh" schools had graduated from

only 9 percent in the "low" schoolS, etc.

5 Though 'turn into case
a
most of the-outlier -studies,eventually
the two types on the basis
studies, it Is worth distinguishing between
sample. One difference is
of the method used to identify and select a
successful; and unsuccessful
that original case studies tend to select
do the outlier approaches.
schools in a-less systematic manner-than
from schools
ileSer-(1971), fcr example, selected four scl,00ls

53
55
EFFECTIVE SCHOOLS--A REVIEW

nominated" by "specialists in the field of reading, publishers, sthool

officials and superintendents of five big-city systems." Second, in a

number of the case studies the investigator looked only at "exemplary"

schools. This means that elementu that are common to both "ineffective"

and "effective" schools cannot be diitinguished from elments that are

common only to "effective" schools.

6 The authors
See Brookover and Lezotte 1979, Appendix I, Part Z.

report that improving schools' staffs assume that all of their students

can master the schools' basic objectives. The data indicate, however,

that only 35 percent of the teachers in imzroving schools felt that all

of their students could be taught 6asic skills. We note, however, that

unlike many of the other case studies, Brookover and Lezotte included

data as well as conclusions.

7
See Journal of Sociology of Education, Spring 1982, for an

interesting set of critiques and views, with a response by Coleman.

8
Miles (1981), however, suggests that we actually have little

empirical data on what schools are iike organizationally. In attempting

to determine tie "common properties" of elementary and secondary

schools, researchers have occasionally confused "inherent properties,"

that stem from the "core features" of schOols (such as the educational

processing of groups of students), with "historicalpropirties,t't at

are the result of legislation,. Social movements and the like. He

adVocates isolating the primary organizational tasks,of schools

(providing educational services, relating to the commUnity outside of

chonl,, etc.) and then investigating how Schools function in meeting

these tasks. Drawing on a variety of perspectives (bureaucratic theory,

systems thory, structural/functional analysis, loose coupling, etc.)

54
5
EFFECTIVE SCHOOLS- -A REVIEW

dilemmas (pp. 50-53) in

Miles suggests that.schools tend to face nine
that in general, schools seem
their efforts to fu1fi11 4their tasks but
affect their receptiveness to
to share thoe following properties that
easily
change efforts: vague goals, the achievement of which is not
weak
measured; vulnerability to their surrounding environments;
struCtures-for
production functions; and inappropriate incentive

studentS and staff (p. 111).

the content of
While this brief summary does not adequately convey
the
article,,the point to be made is that in analyzing
this provocative
description of schools
schools' responses to the nine dilemmas, a
theory and political
compatiblevith that provided by loose coupling
schools are likely to be
systems approaches emerges (though secondary
due to their increased size and
more "political" than elementary schools
schools
complexity). The cultural approach we adopt assumes that
political systems. Thus,
exhibit features bf both loosely coupled and
conclusions (and warnings) seem__
while we recommend Miles' article, his
organization and its impact on
to be in line with our notion of school ,

effectiveness:
int in time. However,
9
This statement remains accurate at this p
(or "activ ) instruction,
recently research in the area of direct
and readikg at the early
particularly involving subjects such as math
firmer technology
,elementary level, suggests the emergence of a
1979, 1982; Go &and
(Rosenshine 1981; Anderson, Evertson and Brophy

Grouws 1979).
10 studies of elementary schools,'',
Since the researdh is dominated by
effectiveness has not been
the student role in building school
productive roles
addressed. -Clearly, however, older itudents can have

55
'EFFECTIVE SCHOOLS --A REVIEW

(U.S.
in creating and maintaining and appropriate school climate
Study 1978;
Department of.Health, Education and Welfare, The Safe School

Rutter 1981). This factor, in particular, offers opportunities for

students to be actively involved in promoting and rewarding academic

achievement.
11 See Popkewitz et al. (1982) for an interesting study of six

elementary schools that had implemented Individually Guided Education

(ICE). Each school forged consensus around the specific goals/practices

inherent in the IGE model. However, after becoming ICE schools they

style of
differed from each other in many respects, particularly in the
contained within
work demanded of students, the conception of knowledge
In general,
the curriculum, and the professional ideology of the staff.

the variations stemmed from the interplay

-
among-difiefent socio-cultural
_
different
contexts_ln- whith-ifie schools existed, the influence of

educational
community interest groups on each school, and the different
Of relevance here is the
interests and beliefs of the school staffs.
reach
fact that rather different outcomes are likely even if all schools

cow.ensus around the same goal pf increasing pupils' academic

achievement. While this likely diversity may be welcomed, and

cultural approach
buttresses the argument in favor of a school-specific
to make all
to effectiveness, it does suggest that educators hoping

schools academically alike may be disappointed.

56 58
 EFFECTIVE SCHCIOLS=-A REVIEW

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