![[PDF]](/pb-assets/Icons/adobe-pdf-icon-1498649896243.png){kind=icon}
Abstract
This article presents the results of an interpretive policy analysis of China’s Ministry of Education Standards (2013) for the professional practice of principals. In addition to revealing the evolution of the evaluation of principals in China and the processes by which this policy is formulated, a comparative analysis was conducted to compare it with the Interstate School Leaders Licensure Standards 2008 (ISLLC 2008). The analysis was conducted on the specific standards and indicators across the two documents. The results indicate the presence of both significant similarities and differences in performance expectations for principals: differences are explained by the cultural and national contexts within which school leaders work in both countries. In February 2013 the Ministry of Education in China issued for the first time the national Professional Standards for Compulsory Education School Principals, which provide the specific expectations of quality school leadership. The unprecedented interest in international benchmarking of student academic performance has led to the belief that there are common elements in education policy and school leadership practices. It is hoped that this research sheds new light onto the current thinking on the expectations and evaluation of principal leadership.
References
Section:
|
Ai, S (2013) A comparative study of principals’ professional standards between Australia and China (in Chinese). Chinese Journal of Education 34(11): 34–38. Google Scholar | |
|
Alexander, R (2000) Culture and Pedagogy. Oxford, UK: Blackwell. Google Scholar | |
|
Baker, PD, Wiseman, WA (2007) Education For All: Global Promises, National Challenges. San Diego, CA: Elsevier (JAI). Google Scholar | |
|
Ball, SJ (1998) Big policies/small world: An introduction to international perspectives in education policy. Comparative Education 34(2): 119–130. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI | |
|
Branch, GF, Hanushek, EA, Rivkin, SG (2013) School leaders matter: Measuring the impact of effective principals. EducationNext 13(1): 62–69. Available at http://educationnext.org/school-leaders-matter/ (accessed 23 March 2015). Google Scholar | |
|
Canole, M, Young, M (2013) Standards for Educational Leaders: An Analysis. Washington, DC: Council of Chief State School Officers. Google Scholar | |
|
Catano, N, Stronge, JH (2006) What are principals expected to do? Congruence between principal evaluation and performance standards. NASSP Bulletin 90(3): 221–237. Google Scholar | SAGE Journals | |
|
CCSSO (2008a) Educational Leadership Policy Standards: ISLLC 2008. Washington, DC: Council of Chief State School Officers. Google Scholar | |
|
CCSSO (2008b) Performance Expectations and Indicators for Education Leaders: An ISLLC-based Guide to Implementing Leader Standards and a Companion Guide to the Educational Leadership Policy Standards: ISLLC 2008. Washington, DC: Council of Chief State School Officers. Google Scholar | |
|
Chen, Y, Xu, S, Wang, J (2011) Interpretations of ‘Professional Standards for Compulsory Education School Principals’ (in Chinese). Beijing: Beijing University Press. Google Scholar | |
|
Chen, Y, Xu, S (2010) The principal professional standards need to be established (in Chinese). People’s Education 61(2): 22–25. Google Scholar | |
|
Chu, H, Cravens, XC (2012) Principal professional development in China: Challenges, opportunities, and strategies. Peabody Journal of Education 87(2): 178–199. Google Scholar | Crossref | |
|
Chu, H, Jia, J (2013) China’s principal professional standards: Backgrounds, structure and vision (in Chinese). Chinese Journal of Education 34(7): 1–6. Google Scholar | |
|
Cravens, XC (2008) The cross-cultural fit of the learning-centered leadership framework and assessment for Chinese principals. Unpublished Doctoral Dissertation, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN. Google Scholar | |
|
Cravens, XC (2014) The cross-cultural validity of the learning-centered leadership framework and its assessment instrument for principals. Journal of Educational Administration 52(1): 2–36. Google Scholar | Crossref | |
|
Cravens, XC, Liu, Y, Grogan, M (2012) Understanding the Chinese superintendency in the context of quality-oriented education. Comparative Education Review 56(2): 270–299. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI | |
|
Dinham, S, Collarbone, P, Evans, M, Mackay, A (2013) The development, endorsement and adoption of a national Standard for principals in Australia. Educational Management Administration and Leadership 41(4), 467–483. Google Scholar | SAGE Journals | ISI | |
|
Fowler, FC (2012) Policy Studies for Educational Leaders: An Introduction (4th edition) Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon. Google Scholar | |
|
Fullan, M (2006) The future of educational change: Systems thinkers in action. Journal of Educational Change 7(3): 113–122. Google Scholar | Crossref | |
|
Gall, MD, Gall, JP, Borg, WR (2007) Educational Research: An Introduction (8th edition) Boston, MA: Pearson. Google Scholar | |
|
Gu, M (2010) A blueprint for educational development in China: A review of the ‘National Guidelines for Medium and Long-term Educational Reform and Development (2010–2020)’. Frontiers of Education in China 5(5): 291–309. Google Scholar | Crossref | |
|
Hallinger, P, Heck, RH (1996) Reassessing the principal’s role in school effectiveness: A review of empirical research, 1980–1995. Educational Administration Quarterly 32(1): 5–44. Google Scholar | SAGE Journals | ISI | |
|
Hargreaves, A (2007) Sustainable leadership and development in education: Creating the future, conserving the past. European Journal of Education 42(2): 223–233. Google Scholar | Crossref | |
|
Halls, WD (1990) Comparative Education: Contemporary Issues and Trends. London, UK: Jessica Kingsley Publishers. Google Scholar | |
|
Hu, H (2013) Interpretations of ‘Professional Standards for Compulsory Education School Principals’ (in Chinese). Teachers 30(7): 5–8. Google Scholar | |
|
Jiang, X (2013) A milestone of principal professional development. Education Today 44(3): 19–22. Google Scholar | |
|
Leithwood, K, Mascall, B (2008) Collective leadership effects on student achievement. Educational Administration Quarterly 44(4): 1–34. Google Scholar | SAGE Journals | ISI | |
|
Liu, L (2013) Several issues in China’s education. Key Speech at the Annual Conference of Basic Education Evaluation Committee, Chinese Society of Education, 27 November. Google Scholar | |
|
MOE (Ministry of Education) (2010) National Outline for Medium and Long-term Education Reform and Development (2010–2020). Beijing: MOE. Google Scholar | |
|
MOE (Ministry of Education) (2012) Professional Standards for K–9 Teachers. Beijing: MOE. Google Scholar | |
|
Ministry of Education (MOE, 2013) Professional Standards for K-9 Principles. Beijing: Author. Google Scholar | |
|
Murphy, J (1998) Preparation for the school principalship: The United States’ story. School Leadership and Management 18(3): 359–372. Google Scholar | Crossref | |
|
Murphy, J (2003) Reculturing educational leadership: The ISLLC standards ten years out. Paper prepared for the National Policy Board of Educational Administration. Alexandria, VA. Google Scholar | |
|
Murphy, J (2005) Unpacking the foundations of the ISLLC Standards and addressing concerns in the academic community. Educational Administration Quarterly 41(1): 154–191. Google Scholar | SAGE Journals | ISI | |
|
Murphy, J, Shipman, N (1999) The Interstate School Leaders Licensure Consortium: A standards-based approach to strengthening educational leadership. Journal of Personnel Evaluation in Education 13(3): 205–224. Google Scholar | Crossref | |
|
OECD (2010) PISA 2009 Results: What Makes Schools Successful? Resources, Policies and Practices (Volume IV) Paris: OECD. Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/9789264091559-en (accessed 24 March 2015). Google Scholar | |
|
OECD (2013) PISA 2012 Results: What Makes Schools Successful? Resources, Policies and Practices (Volume IV) Paris: OECD. Available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/9789264201156-en (accessed 24 March 2015). Google Scholar | |
|
Phillips, D, Ochs, K (2004) Researching policy borrowing: Some methodological challenges in comparative education. British Educational Research Journal 30(6): 773–784. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI | |
|
Schwille, J, Dembele, M, Schubert, J (2007) Global Perspectives on Teacher Learning: Improving Policy and Practice. Paris: UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). Google Scholar | |
|
Soh, K (2014) Finland and Singapore in PISA 2009: Similarities and differences in achievements and school management. Compare 44(3): 455–471. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI | |
|
Stronge, JH, Richard, HB, Catano, N (2008) Qualities of Effective Principals. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. Google Scholar | |
|
Sun, M, Youngs, P, Yang, H, Chu, H, Zhao, Q (2012) Association of district principal evaluation with learning-centered leadership practice: Evidence from Michigan and Beijing. Educational Assessment, Evaluation and Accountability 24(3): 189–213. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI | |
|
Stigler, WJ, Hiebert, J (1999) Teaching Gap: Best Ideas from the World’s Teachers for Improving Education in the Classroom. New York, NY: Free Press. Google Scholar | |
|
Walker, A, Dimmock, C (2002) School Leadership and Administration: Adopting a Cultural Perspective. New York, NY: Routledge-Falmer. Google Scholar | |
|
Walker, A, Ko, J (2011) Principal leadership in an era of accountability: A perspective from the Hong Kong context. School Leadership and Management 31(4): 369–392. Google Scholar | Crossref | |
|
Walker, A, Hu, R, Qian, H (2012) Principal leadership in China: An initial review. School Effectiveness and School Improvement 23(4): 369–399. Google Scholar | Crossref | ISI | |
|
Xu, S (2010) Research of constructing professional standards for school principals: Lessons and implications from the US (in Chinese). Global Education 39(8): 84–90. Google Scholar | |
|
Zeng, P (2005) Teacher evaluation in Chinese elementary schools: An historical account. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT. Google Scholar | |
|
Zhang, X (2009) An analysis of constructing professional standards for school principals (in Chinese). Education Development Research 30(4): 7–12. Google Scholar | |
|
Zhao, Q, Wang, M (2007) Construction of performance appraisal system for primary and secondary school principals: A case study in Beijing. Educational Administration Review 27(4): 194–244. Google Scholar | |
|
Zheng, Y, Walker, A, Chen, S (2013) Change and continuity: A critical analysis of principal development policy in mainland China (1989–2011) Educational Management Administration and Leadership 41(4), 484–503. Google Scholar | SAGE Journals | ISI |
