Education Commons^™

Starting A Charter School In Benton Harbor, Michigan, Donald W. Pearson

Masters Theses

This project investigates the process of starting a public school academy (i.e., charter school) in Benton Harbor, Michigan and completing the authorizing application. The dynamics of the project is documented in four phases. The first is the inquiry phase which is identifying, clarifying and documenting the problem. Phase two is designing a comprehension strategy in response to the problem. The third phase is implementing, creating and submitting a viable application for authorization to an educational institution and which is to be submitted to the Michigan State Department of Education for a charter school grant. The last phase of the project …

School Safety Planning: A Survey Of Bond, Fayette And Effingham County Schools, Teresa A. Wortman

Masters Theses

This study was designed to assess the readiness of Illinois public and parochial schools in Bond, Fayette and Effingham Counties to implement school policies, building security strategies, and violence prevention/intervention programs to improve school safety. The study examined current trends in the school safety planning of the respondents. In addition, the study examined the relationship between the schools' implementation of violence prevention/intervention programs and their use of safety grants, the relationship between the array of safety measures implemented by the responding schools and their involvement of school and community groups in their planning, and the relationship between the array of …

Lnservice Educational Activity Needs And Preferred Delivery Methods Of Bement Community Unit School District #5 Teachers, Nyle G. Waters

Masters Theses

A study of the Bement Community Unit School District #5 faculty was conducted in the spring of 1999. The purposes were to determine the inservice educational activity needs of the faculty and to determine which inservice educational activity delivery methods the faculty considers most effective. Bement C.U.S.D. #5 is a small rural district in central Illinois with 38 prekindergarten through 12th grade teachers. A needs assessment questionnaire was constructed and administered to all district teachers. Each item on the questionnaire was designed to collect data on the following questions:

1. What are the perceived inservice educational activity needs of the …

A Study Investigating The Process For Designing And Implementing A Technical Academy For Decatur Public Schools, Darbe D. Brinkoetter

Masters Theses

As a result of a study conducted to consider the problems of declining enrollment and buildings in need of repair, Decatur Public Schools identified technical training and strong academics as priorities for its high school students. Following several meetings with parents, staff, and community members, plans were initiated to restructure one of the three high schools into a four-year technical academy. The objective of this paper was to design a process for establishing a technical academy. New design models for high schools were researched and resulted in the identification of design elements, key questions, characteristics, and partners critical to designing …

The Triple Crown Program: Addressing Respect And Responsibility Among Elementary Students, Mary Letitia Durnil

Masters Theses

The purpose of this qualitative study was to design a respectful and responsible student program for the students and staff of Muffley Elementary School in Decatur, Illinois. It was designed to answer the question: What type of program may be instituted to lay the foundation of respect and responsibility education? This study has laid the foundation for addressing the issue at Muffley Elementary School.

Several objectives were developed in order to meet the purpose of this study. The meeting of each objective lead to a component of the overall program. The first objective was the development of a booklet to …

Reasons For Home Schooling As Cited By Selected Parents In Central Illinois, Douglas A. Taylor

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine the specific reasons the home-schooling option was chosen by some parents in central Illinois. The number of parents who home school their children has increased significantly in recent years. Understanding the motives behind parents' decisions can provide important information on the home-schooling movement and these parents' perceptions about public education. By knowing the reasons the home-schooling option was selected, legislators, public school educators, and parents can initiate any changes that may be warranted.

The study took place in the fall of 1998 utilizing a survey instrument that was developed using information gleaned …

Teacher Feedback Regarding Principal Performance, Dee A. Scott

Masters Theses

This study was conducted to address the need for teacher feedback regarding principal performance at Casey-Westfield Community Unit School District C-4. It examined current uses of critical elements and determined which elements should be used to compose a model program utilizing teacher feedback regarding principal performance. A program which could be used in District C-4 to provide teacher feedback to principals regarding their performance was developed. The program was developed by determining (a) applicable critical elements, (b) type of feedback to be obtained, (c) procedures for administration of the program, (d) procedures for assessment of data, (e) selection of facilitator, …

A Study Of The Perceptions Of Students, Staff, And Parents Regarding Conflict At Mary Miller Junior High School, Georgetown-Ridge Farm Community Unit School District # 4, Georgetown, Illinois, Robert A. Rice

Masters Theses

Too often in schools across the country students and teachers have felt unsafe. Students and teachers have been threatened physically, verbally, and have experienced violence. Besides creating fears, violence in schools has diverted energy and resources from instruction. The researcher believed that based on recent national happenings regarding school violence, it was important to assess the school environment at Mary Miller Junior High School to identify if any problems existed regarding safety at school. It is not surprising that one of the National Education Goals for the year 2000 was to establish safe, disciplined, and drug-free schools that offer an …

A Study Of The Elements For Effective Implementation Of A Full-Day Kindergarten Program At Armstrong-Ellis Grade School, Jamie Ann Dorsey

Masters Theses

This study was conducted to determine the effective elements needed to implement a full-day kindergarten program at Armstrong-Ellis Grade School, a rural district located in northwestern Vermilion County. It was designed by first looking at how to implement change in a system. After the steps for change were determined, the elements for effective implementation were incorporated into the change process. These elements were established by analyzing the related literature and research.

It was determined that to introduce change within a system a three-step process was needed. These steps are mobilization, implementation, and institutionalization. All three steps are examined in the …

Eliminating In-School Disciplinary Study Halls: A Study Of The Effects Vs Teacher Perceptions Of The Disciplinary Environment, Lyle A. Rigdon

Masters Theses

This study reviewed and evaluated the effect that elimination of all-day, in-school disciplinary study halls had on one rural East Central Illinois high school of fewer than 400 students. Historical data of student discipline over a 3-year period were gathered and a staff perception survey of current conditions was administered. This study compared staff perceptions to historical data collected.

Until 1995, Westville High School had experienced a sharp decline in overall student behavior. Students often left classes without permission, wore clothing that exhibited drug and alcohol slogans, and were belligerent toward the teaching staff. Additionally, IGAP test scores had declined …

Strategies, Obstacles, And Methods Related To Conducting Building Bond Campaigns In Rural Illinois Unit (K-12) School Districts, Todd E. Pence

Masters Theses

This study was designed to determine (a) the strategies used by school district personnel in rural Illinois unit school districts to help pass school building bond issues, (b) the obstacles that school district personnel in rural Illinois unit school districts faced when trying to pass building bond issues, and (c) the methods used by school district personnel in rural Illinois unit school districts to overcome the obstacles.

The study took place during the spring of 1998. The study included a survey that was sent to the superintendents of the 88 small and medium sized (less than 1,800 students) rural Illinois …

Principal Perceptions Of School Breakfast Programs In Small Enrollment Illinois School Districts, Teresa M. Martin

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate school breakfast programs in small enrollment districts in Illinois. The review of literature and research indicated that school breakfast programs may improve student achievement, behavior and attendance, and that providing a breakfast to hungry children may increase their readiness to learn.

The study took place in 1997-98, using a survey instrument designed by the author to collect perceptions about school breakfast programs from Illinois principals. A random sample of 75 principals was selected from all Illinois school districts with student enrollments of less than 1,000 which had breakfast programs. Surveys were returned …

Identification Of Training Needs For School Board Members, David Jordan

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to identify the training topics offered to newly elected and incumbent school board members by state school boards associations. The researcher then evaluated the materials to determine which states have laws requiring board members to participate in training programs.

The study was designed to answer three research questions:

1. What are the topics offered by state school boards associations for school board member training?

2. What states have laws requiring individual school board members to participate in training programs, and what are those requirements?

3. What states have training programs specifically designed for newly …

An Investigation Of Student Retention Practices And Development Of A Proposed School Retention Policy For The Beecher City, Illinois School District, Douglas C. Heiden

Masters Theses

The purposes of the study were to investigate student retention policies and practices in selected elementary schools in the Beecher City, Illinois, area and to develop a proposed school retention policy for the Beecher City School District where the author was employed as an emementary school principal. The issue of student retention has been debated across the country for decades. The review of literature and research found mixed evidence concerning the effectiveness of student retention. Since retention is an age-old practice, an historical review of literature was included to inform the reader of progression of the practice of retention in …

Principals' Perceptions Of Teacher Evaluation Processes And Instruments, William Harold Carpenter

Masters Theses

Each year principals in Illinois schools are required to evaluate teachers. This study was conducted to assess principal perceptions of teacher evaluation processes and instruments used in schools located in the southern Illinois counties of Clinton, Hamilton, Jefferson, Marion, and Washington. The study was conducted to determine the principal perceptions related to the following research questions: (a) What are the minimum number of classroom observations principals are required to make each year before developing the final teacher evaluation? (b) What type of teacher evaluation instruments are being used in districts? (c) What is the extent of principals' satisfaction with district …

Current Discipline Procedures Used In Southern Illinois High Schools, Les Oyler

Masters Theses

Class disruptions caused by unwanted student behavior account for lost instruction time and reduce the amount of learning that can take place within the school setting. There were three purposes of this study. The first purpose was to determine how detentions and suspensions were used to discourage disruptive and unwanted student behavior by southern Illinois high school administrators responsible for student discipline. A second purpose of the study was to determine the extent of satisfaction of southern Illinois high school administrators responsible for student discipline with current discipline procedures being used. The third purpose of the study was to identify …

Merits Of Traditional And Alternative High School Schedules In Southern And Central Illinois As Perceived By High School Principals, Tom Sherman

Masters Theses

This study was conducted to determine the merits of traditional and alternative high school schedules (Block 8, Block 4, etc.) as perceived by principals of central and southern Illinois high schools (schools south of Interstate 80). The study took place during November and December, 1997, utilizing a survey of 200 randomly selected Illinois high school principals south of Interstate 80. Of the 200 surveys sent out, 168 were returned for a response rate of 84%. A survey was constructed to gather data on six research questions. The High School Schedule Survey and cover letter were developed and field tested by …

An Investigation Of Parental Perceptions Of Facilities, Communication Practices, Parental Involvement, And Educational Programs Of St. Mary School, Mount Vernon, Illinois, Aletta Lawrence

Masters Theses

This study investigated the parental perceptions of St. Mary School (a parochial K-6 school located in Mt. Vernon, Illinois) in order to assist the principal and school board in the implementation and formulation of policies which could benefit the students. The study addressed the following questions:

1. What are the perceptions of parents regarding the facilities at St. Mary School?

2. What are the perceptions of parents regarding the ways in which they are informed about St. Mary School?

3. What are the perceptions of parents regarding the extent to which they attend school related activities at St. Mary School? …

A Study Of Parent Perceptions Of The Home/School Connection With Technology In Georgetown-Ridge Farm Cusd #4, Andy Weathers

Masters Theses

The last three years has brought dramatic changes in implementation of technology for the Georgetown-Ridge Farm Unit District #4 (G-RF Unit #4). Since 1995 the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has initiated increased grant funding for schools in the areas of technology deployment, staff development and software purchase and upgrades. ISBE has placed special emphasis on the home/school connection with technology. Districts are required to assess what ISBE refers to as their "current reality" in these areas and take steps to close the gap in the inequities that exist. Districts were required to use gap analysis data to prepare …

Internet Access In East Central Illinois Public K-12 Schools, Gary Thomas Grissom Ii

Masters Theses

Internet access is becoming increasingly important to the public K-12 school system. This descriptive study reports on the current state of Internet access in east central Illinois public K-12 schools. Baseline data for Internet access have been collected that can be used to measure future progress. This study determined that 84.2 percent of public schools in east central Illinois have building level Internet access. Of the schools that reported Internet access, the mean student to computer with Internet access (SIA) ratio was 65.44. The mean student to computer (SCOM) ratio was 8.27. Analysis by type of connection revealed that 20.5 …

A Study Of The Perceptions Of School Administrators Regarding The Current Condition Of Public Schools In Illinois South Of I-80, Myrtle A. Carey

Masters Theses

The intent of the study was to collect data concerning the perceptions of Illinois public school administrators in districts south of Interstate 80 in the following areas:

1. Current condition of educational facilities.

2. Funding sources available for renovation of facilities.

3. Strategies of the district to address deterioration of school buildings.

4. The impact of the current building conditions on the educational process.

Results were obtained through the use of a questionnaire sent to 170 administrators who were responsible for educational structures. One hundred and twenty-one administrators returned the questionnaire for a response rate of 71%. Respondents indicated that …

The Perceptions Students Have About Transitioning From A Small Rural K-8 School District (Tamaroa) To A Larger Community High School (Pinckneyville) In Southern Illinois, Robert J. Hamerski

Masters Theses

The purpose of this field study was to ascertain the perceptions of former Tamaroa, Illinois, Grade School students regarding their transition to Pinckneyville High School. The research questions were:

1. How successful were former Tamaroa Grade School eighth graders at Pinckneyville High School as evidenced by perceived high school academic standing?

2. What are the perceptions of former Tamaroa Grade School students regarding issues related to the importance of completing high school?

3. What are the perceptions of former Tamaroa Grade School students attending Pinckneyville High School regarding adjustments needed to perform well academically in high school and graduating?

4. …

Perceptions Of Parents Of Elementary Students In Paris Union School District #95, Paris, Illinois, Regarding Curriculum Trends, Instructional Techniques, And Support Services, Lorraine A. Bailey

Masters Theses

The purpose of the field study was to ascertain the perceptions of parents of elementary students in grades K-5 in Paris Union School District #95, Paris, Illinois, regarding curriculum areas, instructional techniques, and support services. Addressing these areas was believed to be one important component in the process of determining the extent of the need for new or remodeled facilities at the elementary level in the district.

The researcher believed facilities of the future may be significantly different from their predecessors depending upon the nature and extent of curriculum changes. Before new facilities were proposed for Paris Union School District …

A Study Of The Potential Need, Location, And Cost Of An Addition To St. Joseph-Ogden High School, James M. Acklin

Masters Theses

This study was conducted to address the problem of the growing student population and potential overcrowding of St. Joseph-Ogden High School. It examined the extent of need, best location, and estimated cost of an addition to the high school. The extent of need was established by determining the assignable space percentage, the functional capacity, and the future enrollment of the high school. The best location was established by determining educational, classroom, and square footage needs and then determining what available property would satisfy those needs. The construction cost was established by multiplying the total square footage of the proposed addition …

A Resource Document For The Development Of An Alternative Education Program For Disruptive Youth, Deborah Claunch

Masters Theses

This qualitative study developed a model for an alternative education program for disruptive students in grades 6 through 8 in Franklin and Williamson Counties in Southern Illinois. It was facilitated by the issuance of grant funds to the Regional Offices of Education by the Illinois State Board of Education under the Safe Schools Act of 1995.

The desire of the researcher was to develop a program that would lead to changes in behaviors, promote academic achievement, and return students to the regular school environment with fewer incidents of misbehavior. The outcomes of this qualitative study resulted in a comprehensive resource …

The New Illinois Charter School Law: A Study Of School District Superintendents' Knowledge And Inservice Desires, Larry Boyd

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine the current knowledge of a random sampling of Illinois school district superintendents regarding the new Illinois Charter Schools Law. An additional purpose of this study was to ascertain the extent of the desire of a random sample of Illinois school district superintendents for inservice activities or further information about the same law.

A survey containing 12 charter school issues was developed by the author and was used to determine the extent of the knowledge and desire for further knowledge on the Illinois Charter Schools Law. A random sampling of 201 Illinois district …

An Investigation Of Reciprocal Reporting Agreements Between School Districts And Local Law Enforcement Agencies, Mark E. Doan

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to determine the existing status of reciprocal reporting agreement guidelines between high schools and local law enforcement agencies in East Central Illinois. Principals of all high schools and local law enforcement officials in a 13 county area were surveyed, and responses were tabulated.

In the surveyed area, 54% of the districts did not have reciprocal reporting agreements with law enforcement offices. Local Parent-Teacher Advisory Committees had very little or no input (52%) in the development of these guidelines. While 70% of high school administrators have general guidelines to follow when law authorities are to …

Use Of The Internet Connection In Selected Illinois Schools, Dean Keller

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to investigate the practice of school districts connecting to the internet within the Southern Illinois Instructional Technology Association. The research questions for this study were: (a) Should an internet connection be initiated, continued, improved, or terminated? (b) To what extent is connecting to the internet cost effective for schools? (c) To what extent do increased program expenditures increase the use of the internet connection by staff and students? (d) To what extent does the program achieve its intended objectives?

The review of literature indicated that school districts can effectively use an internet connection as …

Administrative Perceptual Inquiry Into School Law Issues, Mary Heeren

Masters Theses

The courts and constitutional law have had a significant impact on public schools and public school administrators. The purpose of this study was to examine administrative perceptions of particular school law issues and concerns. Via a questionnaire, administrators from west central Illinois overwhelmingly stated that school law information was necessary for effective performance in their jobs. They also named the superintendent as the school official who needs to have the highest level of school law knowledge.

When questioned about various issues of school law, respondents indicated an extreme importance in six topics: due process and student suspension/expulsion, student rights, liability, …

The Practice Of 7th And 8th Grade Retention In Illinois Public Schools, Steve Bianchetta

Masters Theses

This study was conducted to investigate the practice of grade retention in Illinois public schools with a combined 7th and 8th grade enrollment of at least 100 students and a district student population of less than 1700 students. A sample population of schools was obtained by dividing Illinois into three geographic areas and randomly selecting 30 schools from each area. The northern area consisted of schools north of Interstate 80. The central area consisted of schools between Interstate 80 and Interstate 70. The southern area consisted of schools south of Interstate 70.

Principals in each of the sample schools were …