Principal perceptions and beliefs about integrated curriculum use

Abstract

Presents the results of Phase II of a study examining use of integrated curriculum as a reform strategy in US schools. The purposes of this phase were to determine how the uses of integrated curricula change over time and to explore relationships between teacher implementation of integrated curricula and principal beliefs and practices. Telephone interviews with a subset of principals of schools using integrated curriculum gathered information about changes in use since the original data collection, team planning practices, involvement with peer coaching, teacher involvement with decision processes, and relationships among principal belief systems, practices, and support of integrated curriculum. Results, using qualitative and quantitative methods, show that over time integrated curricula use increased and became more sophisticated, time is an obstacle even with common planning periods, teacher involvement in decision processes increased, and principals overwhelmingly believe that the integrated curriculum has positive effects on teachers and students.