Responsibility

In a study of four begining teachers ' understanding of curriculum decision-making, three questions were addressed: (1) How do beginning teachers understand district policies about curriculum decision making? (2) How can or should school districts provide guidance and leadership to incoming teachers? and (3) Do current induction policies consider beginning teachers ' knowledge of curriculum eecisions? Data were collected through focused interviews with four beginning elementary teachers and their principals from two different school districts. Also interviewed were the curriculum coordinator responsible for the reading programs within each district and the the reading coordinator for the state department of education. Findings indicated that there was occasional disagreement over decision making responsibility at all levels. Curriculum decision making was seen as moving further away from the classroom. Teachers and principals reported that their responsibilities in this area had diminished over the last few years, while district and state level responsibilities increased. Case studies are presented of the decision making process in the four schools and at the district and state levels. (JD) * Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * * from the original document. * d