Overview

A thought-provoking examination of how public education systems can be strengthened through strategic relationships both within schools and with outside partners.   In Democracy and Reform in Public Schools, Saul Rubinstein, Charles Heckscher, and John McCarthy apply their expertise in labor relations to public school reform. They envision a model of K–12 education that shifts away from the tenets of neoliberalism and centers on productive collaboration among school boards, school administrators, teacher unions, and other education stakeholders.    Providing evidence of the links between collaborative partnerships and improved student outcomes, Rubinstein, Heckscher, and McCarthy build on a rich body of research on interorganizational cooperation. They highlight case studies such as that of the New Jersey Public School Labor-Management Collaborative as leading examples of how better student performance, more intra-district learning and innovation, and reduced teacher turnover can be traced to greater educator collaboration. Citing examples not only from the K–12 educational sector but also from successful union–management partnerships in the automobile, steel, and telecommunications industries, they then identify proven strategies to foster collaborative partnerships at district, state, and national levels. They discuss techniques for forging new partnerships, sustaining collaborative efforts, and expanding the collaborative partnership model to larger scales.     This work expertly demonstrates how employment relations practices are antecedents to whole-system reform in schools.

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9781682538500

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Reviews

"""Democracy and Reform in Public Schools is a powerful research-based antidote to failed neoliberal, top-down school reform. The authors' careful research and convincing evidence demonstrate the value of a collaborative pathway to sustainable improvements in education outcomes. Every education leader and policymaker should use this as a guide for action."" --Thomas A. Kochan, George M. Bunker Emeritus Professor, MIT Sloan School of Management ""Failed leadership can be linked to a multitude of traits and characteristics. In my experience, I see this lack of collaboration as a core association of failure. With a tremendous investment in stakeholder collaboration, Rubinstein, Heckscher, and McCarthy have statistically demonstrated success that has resulted in improvements in both student achievement and teacher retention. While working together and building mutual respect seem intuitive, it can be a prodigious undertaking. Rubinstein and his coauthors establish the environment to successfully facilitate these conversations and partnerships with the ultimate goal of building an educational system where all children can achieve their full potential."" --Timothy Purnell, executive director and CEO, New Jersey School Boards Association ""The authors offer a compelling critique of education reform efforts over the last forty years and provide powerful research and case studies that argue for collaborative partnerships to improve teaching and learning. I strongly encourage teacher union leaders and school administrators as well as other stakeholders to build on the lessons in this book to improve our public schools."" --Jo Anderson, Jr., founder of the Consortium for Educational Change, retired executive director of the Illinois Education Association-NEA, and senior consultant with the Collaborative Leadership Consulting Group"

“Failed leadership can be linked to a multitude of traits and characteristics. In my experience, I see this lack of collaboration as a core association of failure. With a tremendous investment in stakeholder collaboration, Rubinstein, Heckscher, and McCarthy have statistically demonstrated success that has resulted in improvements in both student achievement and teacher retention. While working together and building mutual respect seem intuitive, it can be a prodigious undertaking. Rubinstein and his coauthors establish the environment to successfully facilitate these conversations and partnerships with the ultimate goal of building an educational system where all children can achieve their full potential.”—Timothy Purnell, executive director and CEO, New Jersey School Boards Association “Democracy and Reform in Public Schools is a powerful research-based antidote to failed neoliberal, top-down school reform. The authors’ careful research and convincing evidence demonstrate the value of a collaborative pathway to sustainable improvements in education outcomes. Every education leader and policymaker should use this as a guide for action.”—Thomas A. Kochan, George M. Bunker Emeritus Professor, MIT Sloan School of Management “The authors offer a compelling critique of education reform efforts over the last forty years and provide powerful research and case studies that argue for collaborative partnerships to improve teaching and learning. I strongly encourage teacher union leaders and school administrators as well as other stakeholders to build on the lessons in this book to improve our public schools.”—Jo Anderson, Jr., founder of the Consortium for Educational Change, retired executive director of the Illinois Education Association-NEA, and senior consultant with the Collaborative Leadership Consulting Group

Author Information

Saul Rubinstein is a professor in the School of Management and Labor Relations at Rutgers University and director of the Collaborative School Leadership Initiative. Charles Heckscher is a distinguished professor in the School of Management and Labor Relations at Rutgers University and codirector of the Center for the Study of Collaboration. John McCarthy is an associate professor at Cornell University's ILR School, where he studies management and labor relations in U.S. public education.

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