From the Principal Files: Principals Share Parent Involvement Ideas Education World asked school principals to tell us about ways their teachers involve parents in the classroom and the school. Dozens of ideas flooded our e-mailbox! Included: More than 30 practical ideas for including parents across the grades!
	Playground Pass Creates Recess Success! If you've done recess duty, you know the playground is not all fun and games! Wouldn't you love a simple, straightforward teaching tool that steers students away from trouble and into recess success? The Playground Pass does just that! Included: Links to the reproducible Playground Pass system resources!
	Three Ways to Make Values Last at Your School "Core values allow the school community to remain focused on what's important," says Marilynne Quarcoo, principal of the Cabot Elementary School in Newton, Massachusetts. In this article, Education World guest editor Elaine L. Lindy documents the process and benefits of creating a set of core values at any school. Included: Tips for helping your school team develop a list of core values.
	'Formative Leadership' Theory Views Principal as Leader of Leaders The theory of "formative leadership," developed by Dr. Ruth Ash and Dr. Maurice Persall of Stamford University, is based on the belief that many leaders exist within a school. The theory supports the teacher as a school leader and the principal as the leader of leaders. In this Education World e-interview, Ash and Persall talk about their leadership theory. Included: Tips for helping your staff embrace change!
	Strong Libraries Improve Student Achievement Last spring, site-based management teams at 11 elementary schools in Kalamazoo, Michigan, chose to cut their 2000-2001 budgets by eliminating the position of school librarian. Did they make the right decision? Included: Study results showing that students at schools with strong media centers scored significantly higher on standardized tests than students at schools with less-well-equipped and staffed libraries.
	Five More Great "Administrators" Stories from 2000! From the Principal Files: Principals Identify Top Ten Leadership Traits 25 Ways to Celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week Increase Parent Involvement With First Day of School Activities Principal-in-Residence Speaks Out on Key Issues (an Education World e-Interview with Carole Kennedy) From the Principal Files: The Principal Shortage -- Why Doesn't Anybody Want the Job?