Michigan State University Extension
Diversity and Pluralism - 02170086
12/95/
ERIC TITLE NUMBER: ED238206 AUTHOR: Baltzell, D. Catherine; Dentler, Robert A.
TITLE: Selecting American School Principals: Research
Report.
YEAR PUBLISHED: 1983
NOTE: 217 p.; For a related document, see ED 236 811.
ABSTRACT: A case study was conducted on how principals are
selected in American public school districts. Chapters 1-3
describe and evaluate conventional selection practices in 10
randomly sampled school districts; these include vacancy
announcements, selection criteria, applicant pools,
screening, and employment decisions. These procedures as
currently practiced do not do justice to the importance of
the principalship, nor do they manifest any consistent
likelihood of attracting or selecting the best qualified
candidates. Chapter 3, "Pathways to the Principalship,"
provides case histories of five principals of varying
competence, in order to illustrate the vagaries of the
selection process from the applicants' perspective. Chapters
4 and 5 describe three promising alternative procedures
currently in use at five school districts: (1) assessment
centers; (2) district operated internships; and (3)
"exemplary" common practices. A comparative analysis
follows, delineating the differences between the
conventional practices and these alternatives. The essential
advantages of the latter derive from sequential screening,
which provides more objective, reliable, and comprehensive
data for assessing applicants, so that appointments are
based more on merit than on contingencies. Guidelines are
therefore included for developing or revising a principal
selection procedure. A bibliography and an appendix
describing the study design and methodology are included.
(TE)
KEY DESCRIPTORS: Administrator-Characteristics;
Administrator-Evaluation; Administrators-; Affirmative
Action; Assessment-Centers-Personnel; Educational
Administration; Elementary-Secondary-Education; Evaluation
Methods; Internship-Programs; Personnel-Policy; Recruitment-
KEY DESCRIPTORS: *Administrator-Qualifications;
*Administrator-Selection; *Evaluation-Criteria; *Management
Development; *Principals-
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