National Inventory of Schools with Teacher Autonomy

Author: Education Evolving

Location: National

From Education Evolving, this online database tracks K-12 public schools around the United States that have varying degrees of teacher autonomy over educational decision-making. The Inventory includes a map and list of schools, description of types of teacher autonomy, and an explanation of the kinds of arrangements schools have with local and state authorities to maintain their autonomy. The Inventory is the result of a great deal of work on the part of Education Evolving and is a great resource to find schools practicing local control and innovative practices.

Highlights:

The Ten Areas of Teacher Autonomy (created as a collaboration among several organizational partners and researchers):

1. Selecting colleagues
2. Transferring and/or terminating colleagues
3. Evaluating colleagues
4. Setting staff pattern (including size of staff; allocation of personnel among teaching and other positions)
5. Selecting leaders
6. Determining budget
7. Determining the salaries and benefits of colleagues, including leaders
8. Determining learning program and learning materials (including teaching methods, curriculum, and levels of technology)
9. Setting the schedule (of classes; of school hours; length of school year)
10. Setting school-level policies (including disciplinary protocol, homework, etc.)

Links:

• National Inventory (website) - http://www.educationevolving.org/teacherpartnerships/inventory

Submitted by Dana Bennis on: Monday, June 06, 2011 - 9:23 am

Tags for this entry:
power, teacher autonomy, decision-making, local control