The author investigates the theoretical basis, major strategies and mechanisms of the American school culture development in the context of USA secondary education reform during the 80th of XX century - the beginning of the XXI century and outlining opportunities to implementation of innovative American experience in Ukraine. The analysis of development of American school culture problem in modern native comparative pedagogical thought is done. Thus scientists explore the problem of American school culture in the context of such problems: the history of American education, philosophical principles of its functioning, management features, problems of training and education, the characteristics of the professional development of pedagogical staff. The concept "school culture" in the modern theory of education of the USA is characterized. It is determined that there are different approaches to the interpretation of the concept "school culture" in the American theory of education, a compilation of which allowed us to determine it as a complex of professional practice, standards of behavior, the basic values and facilities that are implemented and shared by all members of the school organization.The main approaches to its structure elements and functions are covered. On the basis of analysis of cultural, historical, socio-economic, socio-political and pedagogical factors the stages of development of American school culture are defined: 1) Puritan culture (1607-1776); 2) the civic culture (1776 - the first half of the XIXth century); 3) the pragmatic culture (the second part of the XIXth - first half of the XXth century); 4) protest culture (60-s-70-s of the XXth century); 5) high achievements culture (1983 - the beginning of the XXI century). It is revealed that the major strategies of development of American school culture in the context of the reform of secondary education in the USA 80s of XX - beginning of XXI century period are: the creation of high achievements culture, culture of partnership, culture of safe and caring environment. Mechanisms of such development of school culture were the introduction of the new curriculum, educational and managerial practices, certain tasks of educational reform, first of all programs of development of schools as professional learning communities, charter schools, school based management, innovative school networks, and also programs of the school as a caring community. Comparative characteristic of Ukrainian and American school culture is given; innovation potential of the American experience in the school culture development and opportunities for its use in Ukraine are defined. At the national level the educational legislative base should be upgraded taking into account modern researches in the field of the theory of educational reforms, the results of modern American researches on the school culture as a facilitator of educational change, the possibilities of school organizations to define optimal ways of cooperation with parents and other stakeholders; development state support of schools participation in the programs of school based management and innovative educational networks. At the local level a range of activities aimed the formation of readiness of the participants of the educational process to participate in the educational reforms through their empoverment as well as local education authorities are offered; implementation of programs of school bazed management, strengthening the methodological contacts of the educators within the innovative school networks. At the institutional level the transformation of the educational institutions by improving leadership skills of teachers, their professional and personal development in the framework of the reconstruction of secondary schools into "caring communities" and "professional learning community" should be promoted.
