School Based Decision Making

School Based Decision Making School based decision making is a process and tool used to allow all sectors of the school community to be involved in accomplish the mission of the school and the district board . It is a process of reorganizing the educational system to place the decision making process closer to the grassroots level of the classroom (Skytt , 1996 ,

.2 . It involves the following elements : commonly held student-centered vision climate of trust respect for diverse ideas and interests an open dialogue and debate a shared leadership , accountability , authority and

br responsibility an actively involved , broad-based representation of all sectors in the school community (Jeffco Schools , n .d ,

. 1

It is important for the principal to be able to lay down a clear and compelling vision for the whole school system towards which change initiatives may be designed . He has to be successful in convincing faculty , school staff , the children and their parents of the rationale of changing the status quo . All parties involved in decision making must be accountable for the empowerment that is accorded to to them thus , they are autonomous and empowered yet fully responsible for such freedom and power . The progress of any school cannot be the sole accountability of the principal or head of the school on the contrary it ought to be a shared goal of everyone involved in school-based decision making

Running formal schools requires rapid and responsive decision making The school based decision making process usually covers , but is not limited to , the following categories (1 ) Instructional - learning resources , student recognition , enrichment programs , curricular changes (2 ) Resources - budget development and evaluation , grant writing employee recognition , recruiting , bidding , recognizing and allocating community volunteers and resources (3 ) Governance and management - discipline plan , attendance policies , community relations and communications , special events , scheduling , school-based fees , school safety issues (Jeffco Schools , n .d ,

.1

The system of school based decision making is very flexible depending on the needs of the school . One system has the following as standards of operation : 1 ) The participants are broadly representative of the school community . 2 ) The process operates with written rules that are widely understood . 3 ) The roles of the various decision-making groups are understood within the CDM process . 4 ) The CDM process has a shared vision that focuses on improvement of student learning . 5 ) The CDM process determines what decisions are made and how they are made . 6 Meetings are open and at convenient times . 7 ) The CDM process is communicated internally and externally . 8 ) The process is evaluated to determine its effectiveness . 9 ) Training is provided for all participants . 10 ) Assistance is utilized when needed (Jeffco Schools n .d ,

.1

Some schools and school districts specify the areas that must be focused on by the school based decision making body . Some of these areas include the following : 1 ) Determination of curriculum , including needs assessment and curriculum development 2 ) Assignment of all instructional and non-instructional staff time 3 ) Assignment of students to classes and programs within...