Centralization and School Empowerment from Rhetoric to Practice.

Centralization and School Empowerment: From Rhetoric to Practice -- Contents -- Foreword -- References -- School Empowerment: Moving from Rhetoric to Practice -- Controlling Public Education -- Reform in Context -- School Empowerment in Context -- Moving One Step Forward -- References -- Empowering Schools in Centralized States: Experiences from Cyprus -- Introduction -- The Context: A Brief Description of the State and the Educational System -- Major Restructing Initiatives Towards School Empowerment -- The Lasting Effect: In What Areas Were Changes Noticed and in which Other Areas Should Changes Be Initiated? -- Restructuring Constraints and Catalysts -- A Look towards the Future -- References -- Devolution, Partial Decentralization of Education in France and Improvement in the Running of Schools -- Introduction -- The French Educational System -- Conclusion -- References -- Centralization Paradigm of Tradition Versus Decentralization as the Imposition of Modernity in Turkish Educational System -- Introduction -- The Turkish Educational System -- Reform and Decentralization Efforts in Turkey -- Incubation Period of Educational Reforms through Decentralization -- Pros and Cons of Reform Efforts -- Conclusion -- References -- Developing Autonomy: The Case of the Israeli School System -- Introduction -- The Elementary School System: Basic Features of Centralization -- The Process toward School Autonomy -- The Second Cycle, Twenty Years Later: School-Based Management -- Summary -- References -- School Empowerment and Autonomy in the Italian School System -- The Context: History and Structures -- In Search of a New Quality: School Autonomy -- Governance and Management of the Schools: New Principles -- School Heads: A New Profile -- New Challenges: New Realities? -- Critical Issues -- Conclusions -- References.

Malta: Education Administration and Management in the Center of the Mediterranean -- Introduction -- Background -- Educational System -- A Legacy of Central Control -- Greater Autonomy for Heads of Schools -- People's Power -- A Question of Size -- Teachers of French -- Computerization Drive -- Malta's Brain Drain -- A Transparent, Open Society -- Conclusion -- References -- Attempts to Empower Schools in the Greek Educational System -- Introduction -- A Nation in Context -- Structure and Administration in the Greek Educational System -- Educational Administrations in the School System -- Initiatives towards School Empowerment -- Conclusion -- References -- Educational Administration and School Empowerment in Portugal -- The Context: Social, Political and Economic Circumstances -- Educational System -- Major Restructuring Initiatives towards School Empowerment -- Restructuring Constraints and Catalysts -- Recent Trends and a Look towards the Future -- References -- Legislation -- Decentralization in the Spanish Educational System -- The Context: Political, Economic and Social Circumstances in Spain -- Current Structure of the Spanish Educational System -- Types of Schools -- Laws and Regulations Promoting Decentralization -- The Teachers and their Professional Development -- Initiatives of Restructuring Aimed at the Independence of the Schools: Most Important Effects and Areas of Impact -- The Education Statute 2/2006 of 3 May -- The Education Inspectorate and its Role in the System -- Participation of the Education Community -- Aspects Helping or Hindering the Independence of the Schools -- The Structure -- The Institutional Processes -- Social Dynamics -- The Prospect of School Improvement -- References -- Centralization and School Empowerment: Theoretical Assumptions Revisited -- The Context of Public Schooling.

Making it Happen: Empowering Schools -- School Empowerment in Context -- Moving beyond Rhetoric: Can the Gap be Bridged? -- The Centralization Trap -- Moving from a Single to Dual Mode Policy -- Making School Empowerment Happen -- Looking Ahead -- References -- About the Contributors -- About the Editor -- Index.