Leadership through Collaborative Strategic Planning: One School’s Journey

Educational administrators, school board members, and policy makers have been mandated to account for the learning and performance of the highly diverse students that comprise today’s classrooms. The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) of 2002 and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA 2004) have presented a set of challenges for educating all children using data-driven decisions in a standards-based curriculum with culturally responsive practices. These mandates from federal and state legislation demand a change in administrative culture. These challenges require school personnel to develop plans to adjust their practices to meet the academic and behavioral needs of all students. Additionally, federal and state laws require local educational agencies (LEAs) to meet rigorous standards and provide evidence of progress through academic yearly progress (AYP) reports