Understanding School Reform

School reform is oftentimes used as a catch phrase and have numerous policies and programs included within it. Reforms are meant to change a procedure or rule that affects the manner in which the school operates. Therefore, you can think of them as small steps that are being taken in order to change the school. However, whenever you compare school reforms with school restructuring, you will find that the school reforms will not change the school very much. It is also important to understand that essentially there are two types of school reforms.

School Reforms Related To Subject Matter And Teaching Methods

The type of school reforms that have to do with subject matter and teaching methods affects what students are taught and how they are taught this material. Some of the more common reforms that fit within this category include:

• A back-to-basics approach in learning
• Concept-based mathematical programs
• How and when computers should be used within the classroom setting
• How various cultures have influenced history and literature
• Whole-language instruction

You will find a lot of professional organizations involved within these types of reforms. For instance, there is The National Council Of Teachers Of Mathematics. This organization is working to develop curriculum guides that will describe what students should know about math and what they should be able to do in the way of mathematical operations. They are also looking into new ways in which to teach and test school students. As this progresses, reform on both the state and the local levels is being influenced.

School Reforms Related To School Administration And Governing Procedures

The school reforms that are related to the school's administration and governing procedures will affect the way in which a school is managed and the role that teachers and administrators play therein. Some of the most popular changes that have taken place within this area include:

• Administrative decisions that are made at the school level (oftentimes referred to as site-based decision making)
• Leadership being shared by placing staff in more leadership areas
• Community involvement

How Educational Reform Of Any Type Starts

Regardless of which type of educational reform is undertaken, it gets its start from either inside or outside of the school. For instance, if there is a need to ensure that students are prepared to compete in the world economy once they have graduated from high school, those who make the school's policies will reconsider what is being taught to these students while they are in the classroom. On the other hand, an example of a reform that came from within the schools themselves was the move toward a flexible school schedule in the 1960s and 1970s.