School leadership and educational effectiveness

This paper examines the links between student learning and school leadership focusing on Lithuania in comparative perspective. Different aspects of school leadership areas are being outlined, but after a more thorough analysis of the educational effectiveness perspective, it seems that the direct link between principal and student achievement is not that clear. In order to explain this, we further analysed the role which school autonomy plays in effective leadership and found that different countries chose different levels of power distribution. After revealing diversity in meta-analyses and reviews about the existing effect sizes of school decentralization we looked into different tasks on which school heads spend their time, and noticed that instructional leadership is most effective in adding value to student achievement. What exactly counts as instructional leadership is debated and may change depending on context. The presumption that leadership and school effectiveness are related, could be valid only if school accountability and autonomy particularities are taken into account, therefore the reforms in selection, recruitment and training of school heads could be expected to drive effectiveness of education systems only as far as the right balance of the three (accountability, autonomy, leadership) are found.

Decentralization of Educational System and its Impact on Local Self-Government in Slovakia

The decentralization of the state public administration was announced in spite of the EU integration process as well as the reform of the state public administration that proved the necessity of transforming and transferring the competences and finances to the subnational levels of governance. From this principle, among others, the regional and municipal administration of education sector evolved in Slovakia. This article aims to study the decentralization development with the particular impact on local self-government and regional school system. The authors argue about the potential threats of school decentralization and challenges that the system of regional and municipal schools brings.

THE ROLE OF CAPACITY- BUILDING FOR SCHOOL DECENTRALIZATION IN KOSOVO

After the war in Kosovo (1999) many powers concentrated in school were drawn out the former Department of Education, led by UNMIK. Many responsibilities were transferred from central to local level in the period from 2003 until 2010, but there was no assignment at school. Obviously, the return of powers to schools is having many difficulties. The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology in Republic of Kosovo has still no clear strategy on how to make the decentralization of educational system. This paperwork deals with analysis of the existence of capacities for successful implementation of decentralization process of school system. It also identifies the challenges and difficulties faced by principals and teachers in meeting the school needs because of a lack of competencies in school management. The study uses survey data generated from 29 primary and secondary school principals and 172 primary and secondary school teachers in Republic of Kosovo. According to the survey and interview results, schools in Kosovo do not enjoy autonomy. Their needs are addressed at the municipal level. Key words: decentralization, capacities, roles, legal infrastructure, pre- university education.