Federal and State Funding Initiatives in School Improvement: A Texas Focus

Authors

  • Dusty L. Palmer Texas Tech University
  • Vanessa de Leon Texas Tech University
  • Irma Almager Texas Tech University
  • Fernando Valle Texas Tech University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33423/jhetp.v24i6.7144

Keywords:

higher education, principal preparation, school-university partnerships, school improvement

Abstract

This article explores the impact of federal and state funding initiatives on school improvement, focusing on the Texas Education Agency (TEA). It examines the evolution of the Texas Tech University principal preparation residency program, emphasizing the importance of partnerships, research, and continuous improvement in principal preparation. Key TEA initiatives include the Texas Incentive Allotment, Grow-Your-Own Grant, and Principal Residency Grant. These initiatives support teacher retention, recruitment, and leadership development, contributing to the success of instructional leaders across Texas. The program's design integrates practical experience with theoretical knowledge, preparing residents for effective school leadership.

References

Anderson, E., & Reynolds, A. (2015). The state of state policies for principal preparation program approval and candidate licensure. Journal of Research on Leadership Education, 10(3), 193–221.

Brown, S.L. (2022). Learning at the boundaries of research and practice: A framework for understanding research–practice partnerships. Educational Researcher, 51(3), 197–208.

Cosner, S., Tozer, S., Zavitkovsky, P., & Whalen, S.P. (2015). Cultivating exemplary school leadership preparation at a research-intensive university. Journal of Research on Leadership Education, 10(1), 11–38.

Crow, G.M., & Whiteman, R.S. (2016). Effective preparation program features: A literature review. Journal of Research on Leadership Education, 11(1), 120–148.

Darling-Hammond, L., & Friedlaender, D. (2008). Creating excellent and equitable schools. Educational Leadership, 65(8), 14.

Darling-Hammond, L., Wechsler, M.E., Levin, S., & Tozer, S. (2022). Developing Effective Principals: What Kind of Learning Matters? Learning Policy Institute.

Davis, S., Darling-Hammond, L., LaPointe, M., & Meyerson, D. (2005). Developing successful principals. Stanford Educational Leadership Institute, Ed. Retrieved February, 20, 2009.

Dexter, S., Moraguez, D., & Clement, D. (2022). Pedagogical gaps in the bridge from classroom to field for pre-service principal competence development. Journal of Educational Administration, 60(5), 473–492.

Eadens, D.W., & Ceballos, M. (2023). Educational Leadership Preparation and Professional Roles: Are We Serving the Needs of Leadership Roles Along the Leadership Continuum? Journal of Research on Leadership Education, 18(2), 277–300.

Farrell, C.C., Penuel, W.R., Allen, A., Anderson, E.R., Bohannon, A.X., Coburn, C.E., & King, C.L. (2018). Quality Measures™ Principal Preparation Program Self-Study Toolkit: For Use in Developing, Assessing, and Improving Principal Preparation Programs. Education Development Center, Inc.

Knight, J. (2007). Instructional coaching: A partnership approach to improving instruction. Corwin Press.

Korach, S., Anderson, E., Hesbol, K., Tabron, L., Candelarie, D., Kipp, P., & Miller-Brown, E. (2019). Interdependence and reciprocity: Partnership ethos at the University of Denver. Journal of Research on Leadership Education, 14(1), 31–50.

Mendels, P. (2016). Improving University Principal Preparation Programs: Five Themes from the Field. Wallace Foundation.

Mitra, D.L. (2022). Educational change and the political process. Taylor & Francis.

Young, M.D., & Eddy-Spicer, D.H. (2019). Bridging, brokering, bricolage: Building exemplary leadership programs from the inside out. Journal of Research on Leadership Education, 14(1), 3–10.

National Center for Education Statistics. (2022, December 13). U.S. Schools Report Increased Teacher Vacancies Due to COVID-19 Pandemic, New NCES Data Show. Retrieved from https://nces.ed.gov/whatsnew/press_releases/12_13_2022.asp

Skrla, L., Scheurich, J.J., Garcia, J., & Nolly, G. (2004). Equity audits: A practical leadership tool for developing equitable and excellent schools. Educational Administration Quarterly, 40(1), 133–161.

Texas Education Agency. (2018). Grow Your Own (GYO) Grant Program. Retrieved from https://tea.texas.gov/about-tea/government-relations-and-legal/government-relations/grow-your-own-1-pager-final.pdf

Texas Education Agency. (2023). 2023-2024 Principal Residency Cycle 6. Retrieved from https://tea.texas.gov/finance-and-grants/grants/grants-administration/grants-awarded/2023-2024-principal-residency-cycle-6

Texas Effective Schools Framework. (2019). Texas Education Agency. Retrieved April 15, 2019, from texasesf.org

Tiatexas.org. (n.d.). About the TIA. Retrieved from https://tiatexas.org/about-teacher-incentive-allotment/

Downloads

Published

2024-08-06

How to Cite

Palmer, D. L., de Leon, V., Almager, I., & Valle, F. (2024). Federal and State Funding Initiatives in School Improvement: A Texas Focus. Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice, 24(6). https://doi.org/10.33423/jhetp.v24i6.7144

Issue

Section

Articles