The New Meaning of Educational Change

The book that revolutionized the theory and practice of educational change is now in its Fifth Edition! Michael Fullan’s The New Meaning of Educational Change is the definitive textbook on the study of educational change. Based on practical and fundamental work with education systems in several countries, the text captured the dilemmas and leading ideas for successful large-scale systemic reform. This updated edition includes decisionmakers at all levels—from the local school community to the state and national level—and introduces many new and powerful ideas for formulating strategies and implementing solutions that will improve educational systems.

Widely used by university professors, policymakers, and practitioners throughout North America and in many other countries, this perennial bestseller shows us how to:

• Develop collaborative cultures at the school level, while avoiding superficial versions of professional learning communities.
• Foster district-wide success in all schools, illustrating how state and national systems can achieve total system transformation based on identifying and fostering meaning for educators at every level.
• Integrate individual and systemic success, a rare feat in today’s school reform efforts.

The New Meaning of Educational Change, Fifth Edition is your comprehensive textbook on all aspects of the management of educational change—a powerful resource for everyone involved in school reform.

Michael Fullan, OC, is professor emeritus at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto. He consults with governments and school systems in several countries around the world and has won numerous awards for his more than 30 books, including the 2015 Grawemeyer prize with Andy Hargreaves for Professional Capital. To learn more, visit his website at www.michaelfullan.ca.

"In The New Meaning of Educational Change, Fullan makes clear his meanings for collaboration, partnership, deep learning, educational changes, and the changes necessary for whole system improvements."

—Teachers College Record

"In the First Edition of this classic work, Michael Fullan helped educators come to greater understanding of the complexity and dynamics of change in the educational system. In this Fifth Edition he shares the wisdom that he has accumulated over more than 3 decades as to the specific actions that can be taken at the school, district, state, and national levels for overcoming those challenges. It should be required reading for all educators."
—Richard DuFour, educational author and consultant

"Few people can match Michael Fullan’s depth and breadth of experience with real change in education. Updating his classic text, The New Meaning of Educational Change could not come at a better time given the rolling wave of rethinking Industrial Age education around the world."
—Peter Senge, senior lecturer, MIT Sloan School, founding chair, Society for Organizational Learning

"In 1982 The Meaning of Educational Change transformed the way in which we thought about and practiced school improvement. In subsequent editions Michael Fullan continued to deepen his analysis with increasing precision, insight, and relevance. In this Fifth Edition of the The New Meaning he offers practitioners, policymakers, and researchers secure guidelines for the next decade. Fullan once again proves that he is the doyen of education change workers."
—David Hopkins, professor emeritus, Institute of Education, University of London

"Through both his research and his authentic work in schools, Michael Fullan has come to shape the way educators understand and take on the challenge of change. With each new book, including The New Meaning of Educational Change, Fullan pushes himself and his readers further as he gathers more on-the-ground evidence about what it takes to implement meaningful improvements in schools. I am grateful that he is educational change’s chief champion – his insights have continuously influenced my thinking and I see his impact in systems around the world. "
—Stephanie Hirsh, executive director, Learning Forward