Commitment and innovation cannot be mandated. Commitment and innovation cannot be mandated. They come from the establishment of a school context that supports collegial relationships, shared decision making, autonomy with accountability, and involvement by all those involved in education. This environment exists both inside the school and in the external environment. This environment creates a starting point for lasting school improvement.
Students are active participants in the change process.
Student involvement in making decisions needs to take the form of more than just a few student leaders, especially when trying to improve the performance of at-risk students who are unlikely to be those elected to the student council. Promoting interest and engagement with learning and school on the part of students is essential because the change effort will struggle if students remain indifferent, confused, or only temporarily amused by the change. Involving students will help alleviate student boredom and alienation. Changing student-teacher relationships so that students perceive teachers as persons who care about them can help increase student engagement with the school. Once again, a sense of community will be developed.