Class Placements and Competing Priorities

Justine Finley, newly appointed principal of Northside Elementary, had been tasked with increasing her school’s grade under the state accountability system and keeping neighborhood families from choosing to enroll in the charter school down the street. The superintendent made these priorities very clear. After spending the first 3 months observing and analyzing data, Justine realized that a new model for placing students in classes could be a lever for increasing achievement scores. What Justine failed to realize was the conflict that the new model would generate among parents and teachers. This case highlights the challenges a new principal encountered when attempting to implement a change in student and teacher placement procedures amid competing priorities