Leading the Charge: A Case Study on the Leadership Behaviors of Education Leaders at Title I Campuses in Texas Prisons

Each year, eligible schools across the nation receive Title I grant funds through the Elementary and Secondary Act. These funds, justified in pursuit of social justice and educational equity, serve to provide supplemental education services to neglected and delinquent students. While the majority of the awarded schools operate within the traditional school setting, a very small number of schools in the United States operate within the correctional setting. These schools receive Title I Part D Subpart 1 funds. Consequently, most of the guidance pertains to best practices within traditional public schools, which provides no provision on the appropriate use of Title I funds with consideration for the conditions of providing education in the correctional setting. Despite this knowledge an adult correctional education district in Texas demonstrates historical success. This qualitative case study utilized surveying, semi-structured interviews, and observations to ascertain how campus leaders select and leverage leadership behaviors to facilitate success at their Title I campuses.