What Is Site-Based Management?



      

        
Site-based
        or school-based management shifts decision making authority from
        the central office to the schools. It reverses a trend, evident at least
        since the mid - 1960's, to try to improve school performance
        through general-purpose instructures of public policy - regulation,
        mandate, enforcement, and legal action. According to the theory
        of site-based management, all decisions of educational consequence
        are to be made at the school and none may be compelled by regulation
        in the district. In practice however, it may be understood as
        a relative term, i.e., as an increase in the number or importance
        of decisions made at the school level.
        
1. Under the concept of the principal as
        a site manager,
        the principal controls school resources and is held
        accountable for the success of the school. This view of the principal
        as the site manager was reinforced by the school effectiveness
        literature's focus on site leadership.
        
2. Under the philosophy of lay control,
        parents control site policy
        because they are the consumers and care most deeply about policies
        at schools their children attend. Parent school-site councils
        deliberate and decide on school level policy.
        
3. Under school-site policymaking by teachers,
        teachers form a school-site senate and allocate funds and personnel as well
        as decide instructional issues. School-site policymaking by teachers
        also enhances the professional image and self-concept of teachers.
        
4. Under a philosophy of parity, no one
        party should control the school entirely. Teachers, administration, and parents
        should have parity on a school-site council that reaches agreement
        through bargaining and coalitions. At the high school level,
        students may be included. All factors deserve a place at the
        table, and the best arguments should prevail.
      

      
Find out the pluses and minuses of 
school-based management.



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