Central-office roles.

A 48-page report from WestEd, "Central Office Inquiry: Assessing Organization, Roles and Actions to Support School Improvement," offers practical advice for districts engaged in continuous school improvement.

Building on a three-year study, the authors created a district action guide with concrete activities to help personnel understand whether they are on track to help--and not hinder--their local schools' efforts to raise student achievement.

The guide examines the critical roles of the superintendent and the governing board, along with the local and national contexts in which districts operate.

Information on ordering the report for $12.95 can be found at www.WestEd.org/centralofficeinquiry.