Do school councils matter?

Citation
K. Leithwood et al., Do school councils matter?, EDUC POLICY, 13(4), 1999, pp. 467-493
Citations number
57
Categorie Soggetti
Education
Journal title
EDUCATIONAL POLICY
ISSN journal
08959048 → ACNP
Volume
13
Issue
4
Year of publication
1999
Pages
467 - 493
Database
ISI
SICI code
0895-9048(199909)13:4<467:DSCM>2.0.ZU;2-Z
Abstract
Survey and interview data were collected through a two-staged, mixed-method research design to examine the effects on schools and classrooms of school councils formed in response to a large bundle of government reform initiat ives in Ontario. Results suggested that, at best, councils had a weak posit ive influence on both classroom practice and schoolwide decisions. Councils that were relatively influential had, among other features, highly compete nt parent chairs, facilitative principals who wanted the councils to be use ful to their schools, and a history of productive working relationships bet ween teachers and parents.