Education Policy Commons^™

Does Size Matter? School Consolidation Policy Issues In Arkansas, Joshua H. Barnett, Gary W. Ritter, Christopher J. Lucas

Arkansas Education Reports

Providing a reasonable education for all students in Arkansas is a legal responsibility explicitly mandated by the state’s constitution. Consistent with the long-standing American tradition of “grassroots” control of education, public schools in all states are funded and managed first and foremost at the local level. The federal government can and does enact legislation with which schools must conform. Directly or indirectly, federal mandates provide significant amounts of monies to support particular types of school services and programming. But ultimate responsibility for financing and operating schools devolves on state government. In Arkansas, it has been held, the state must provide …

Alternative Education: A Continued Examination Of How States Are Addressing Alternative Education In Their Schools, Les Carnine, Joshua H. Barnett

Arkansas Education Reports

In an attempt to understand the current preparation level of Arkansas for the Leave No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) of 2002, the current project conducts a preliminary literature and web search to record what other states have done and are doing to prepare for NCLB. A brief synopsis of the history of alternative policies is also included. Results indicate that of the twelve states examined, most states are following a similar pattern with regard to preparing for their “at risk” students and passing similar alternative education policies. Three common characteristics found across the states: defining what alternative education is …

Administrator And Teacher Perceptions Of The Impact And Effectiveness Of Academic Standards On Select Indiana High Schools, Andrew T. Melin

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the differences in perception of high school teachers and administrators, as well as the differences in perception between math and language arts teachers and all other teachers, in regard to teacher understanding of state standards, the level of standards' implementation in instruction, and the degree to which student achievement is affected by a standards' focused curriculum. Teachers and administrators were compared because current school accountability legislation on both a state and national level places greater pressure on administrators than on teachers to assure standards are taught. Math and language arts teachers were …

The Impact Of Professional Development Activities On Selected Indiana High Schools, Lori Ann Hoevener

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A dearth of literature exists on the topic of professional development for public school teachers, according to Guskey ( 1997). This study attempted to contribute to the data base through both qualitative and quantitative analyses. The following two research questions were explored: 1) What are teacher perceptions regarding changes in professional development in the last five years? 2) Is there a relationship between personal satisfaction and the quality/availability, funding, and presence of outside consultants within professional development activities for teachers? Teachers at six Indiana public schools were surveyed, and voluntary interview participants were solicited. Thematic analysis occurred of twelve one-on-one …

The Characteristics Of Successful Superintendents, Terry Mcdaniel

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine what technical-managerial skills, human relation skills, and personal characteristics made superintendents in Indiana successful and to determine whether these skills and characteristics were innate or could be taught. Four universities and three educational organizations were surveyed to identify successful superintendents in Indiana based on the superintendents' technical managerial skills, human relation skills, and personal characteristics. The theoretical framework of the study was based on the eight professional standards for the superintendency as developed by the American Association of School Administrators. The identified superintendents were asked to participate in the study using the …

Examination Of The Skills And Dispositions Needed For Assistant Principals To Be Effective Disciplinarians, Sherie Lynn Williams

Dissertations

The main purpose of this study was to identify the set of key skills and dispositions needed by secondary school assistant principals to function as effective disciplinarians. A secondary purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of males and females concerning this topic. This was accomplished by exploring the perceptions of experts and practitioners, both male and female, concerning their ideas on the skills and dispositions needed by assistant principals at the secondary level to be successful disciplinarians.

This study used two methods of data collection, the Delphi Method of collecting information and focus groups. A panel of …

An Analysis Of The Role Of Regional Safe School Program Administrators, Bobbi Mattingly

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In 1996, legislation created the Regional Safe Schools Program in Illinois. Alternative public school programs were established for disruptive or violent students who were unable or unwilling to conform themselves to the expectations of a traditional school setting. There has been limited research on alternative education administration. The purpose of this research was to study RSSP administrators to determine their leadership type, the effect of organizational culture on their leadership approach, and their beliefs and dispositions of alternative education. The problems of the study were approached from the conceptual framework of a system that interlocks alternative education, educational administration and …

A Study Of The Leadership Preparedness Of U.S. Public University Chief Business Officers, Daniel J. Hurley

Dissertations

Despite the enormous role that Chief Business Officers (CBOs) play in administering the business and financial affairs of American public universities, little research has been conducted on their leadership preparedness. The primary objectives of this study were to assess the self-perceived preparedness of U.S. public university CBOs at the time they assumed their first position in the role, and to determine if specific factors could be associated with their overall preparedness.

With support from the National Association of College and University Business Officers, a survey was developed and mailed to the entire population of CBOs at four-year public universities in …

Indiana Public School Superintendents' Perceptions Of Literature Based Reasons For Implementing Full Day Kindergarten, Scott Daniel Hanback

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation was to compare superintendents' perceptions of their reasons for implementing full day kindergarten in their schools based on twenty-seven literature based elements relative to corporation location, size, and socio-economic status. These twenty-seven elements of full day kindergarten were clustered into three independent categories: student learner benefit, social adjustment benefit, and school corporation community benefit. The population for this study was the 115 Indiana Public School Superintendents that implement full day kindergarten in their schools. The superintendents were surveyed to glean their perception as to how important the twenty-seven literature based elements were in their decision …

What Effective Middle School Principals Do To Impact School Climate, Tammy Dee Roeschlein

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Purpose of the Study. The Lwo purposes of this mixed-methodology sludy were to: (1) examine or quantitatively analyze the relationship between leacher perception of principal effectiveness and principal perception of principal effectiveness, and (2) qualitatively investigate the differences between what more effective principals and less effective principals do to impact school climate. iii Procedures. The first phase of the study was quantitative; 254 public middle schools with a grade configuration of six through eight were included in the original sample. Principal effectiveness data was collecled in each of the identified middle schools using the Principal Leadership Inventory developed by Barbara …

The Perceptions Of Women Superintendents Regardlng Their Leadership Practices And Uses Of Power, Susan Katz

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

In public schools a limited number of women have attained the position or superintendent. Limited resemch exists that focuses on understnnding the position from n woman's perspective. The purpose of this study, then, was to understand how women public school superintendents describe their leadership practices and uses or power in leading their school districts. The study was both quantitalivc and qualitative in methodology. The problem under study was approached from the conccpltial framework or five leadership practices. Challenging the Process, Inspiring a Shared Vision, Enabling Others to Act, Modeling the Way, and Encouraging the Heart are the practices that Kouzes …

Principals', Guidance Directors', And Department Chairs' Perceptions Of Goals And Effectiveness Of The Trimester Schedules In Indiana High Schools, Robert E. Brower

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation was to compare high school principals', guidance directors', and department chairs' perceptions of agreement (as clustered from 33 literature-based goals into school benefit, teacher benefit, and student benefit) of a trimester schedule. Secondly, this dissertation compared high school principals', guidance directors', and department chairs' perceptions of agreement (as clustered from 33 literature-based goals into school benefit, teacher benefit, and student benefit) as to whether these 3 3 goals were achieved after one year on a trimester schedule. This study is based on 10 Indiana high schools that were on the trimester schedule for a minimum …

The Relationship Between Principal Effectiveness And School Culture In Elementary Schools, Douglas J. Fiore

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Purposes of the Study. The purposes of this mixedmethodology study were to: (1) quantitatively analyze the relationship between school culture and principal effectiveness and; (2) qualitatively investigate the differences between the manner in which principals of schools with more positive cultures and principals of schools with more negative cultures (a) lead and conduct school operations, (b) communicate with stakeholders, and (c) foster relationships. Procedures. Two hundred sixty-one public elementary schools in Illinois and Indiana were included in the original cluster sample. Staff perception of school culture and principal effectiveness was gathered through two different surveys that were distributed to teachers …

An Investigation Of Servant-Leadership In Public School Superintendents In The State Of Indiana, Michael P. Livovich Jr.

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the extent to which the "Ten Critical Characteristics of Servant-Leadership," according to Spears (1995, 1998), exist in public school superintendents in the state oflndiana. All 289 public school superintendents in the state of Indiana were sent a survey instrument which operationalized these characteristics. Alternative hypotheses were tested, and an analysis was conducted comparing the responses of the superintendents based on personal information and school district demographics. Personal information was defined as age, highest degree earned, and length of experience as a public school superintendent. School district demographics were defined as the number of students served based on …

Grade Retention: A History Of Failure, William A. Owings, Susan Magliaro

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Faculty Publications

Although almost 50 years of research has shown that grade-level retention affords no academic advantages to students, this practice is gaining increasing attention as schools face political pressure to be accountable for student achievement. The negative effect that retention has on children is ignored in favor of an overly simplistic view of it as a panacea for education woes. In an attempt to better meet student needs, educators historically have seen retention as a way to reduce skill variance in the classroom. However, this practice has not achieved its objective. An at-risk population is cognitively and affectively harmed by retention. …

The Relationship Between Teacher Salaries And Certain Wealth And Demographics Of Local Indiana School Corporations, Alan Lee Gold

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study examined the relationship between teacher salaries and certain wealth and demographics of Indiana school corporations. Source data were obtained through the Indiana State Department of Education, the Indiana State Board of Tax Commissioners, the Indiana School Board Association, and the Indiana Education Employment Relations Board. Data collected were the teacher salaries, the demographic type, average dai1y memberships (ADM), assessed valuations (AV), General Fund tax rates, and Property Tax Replacement Credit amounts of all Indiana school corporations. The above data were obtained for the calendar years 1988, 1989, and 1990 and teacher salary data for the 1988-89, 1989-90, and …

The Need For In-Service Training For Newly Elected/Selected Board Members As Perceived By School Board Presidents And School Superintendents, Richard E. Helton

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: This study investigated the following research questions: (1) Is board member in-service a desirable and beneficial activity for the newly elected/selected board member? (2) Should board member inservice become a mandated activity in the State of Indiana? (3) What concepts, activities, and information should be included in the in-service process? (4) What delivery system or systems including the individuals and agencies should be used to bring the necessary information to the newly elected/selected board members? Method: The sample consisted of all 300 superintendents and all 286 board presidents in Indiana. The survey instrument was composed of four sections, with …

Perceptions Of Selected Indiana Superintendents On The Issue Of Comparing Student Achievement Test Scores, Isaac Barako Gimah

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates selected Indiana school superintendents' perceptions of student evaluation using standardized and teacher-made tests. In the survey instrument used for the study, superintendents' perceptions of student testing were verified from the perspectives of their age, experience and school district location. The survey instrument also incorporated questions intended to identify participating superintendents' opinions on student evaluation with tests from their educational beliefs, assumptions, and philosophical orientations. Two hundred Indiana school superintendents were selected to participate in the study. The method of selection was the stratified random sampling technique. Responses from sixty-nine percent of the two hundred participating superintendents were …

Statutory Provisions Of The Fifty States Relating To Save Harmless Legislation And Legislated Authority To School Corporations For The Purchase Of Liability Insurance, Kenneth Thomas Murray

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Purpose. This paper is a comprehensive collection of statutes of the fifty states relating to save harmless legislation and legislated authority for school corporations to purchase liability insurance for themselves and/or their officers and employees. These protective statutes have become necessary as the doctrine of governmental immunity for school corporations has slowly eroded. Not only can school corporations and their employees be held liable for damages resulting from tort, but for some offenses school board members can be held personally liable for damages to be paid from their own pockets. Procedures. The collection of statutes at the Indiana University Law …

An Analysis Of Higher Court Cases Relating To The Dismissal, Suspension, And Discipline Of Public School Teachers On The Ground Of Immorality, Michael Paul Benway

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the rights of teachers related to the dismissal, suspension, and discipline of public school teachers on the ground of immorality in five selected areas of teacher conduct: (1) cursing and abusive language; (2) derogatory and critical comments directed towards school and school personnel; (3) dishonesty involving employment; (4) drugs; and (5) sexual activity. More specifically, answers to the following questions were sought: 1. What were the most current and generally accepted definitions of immorality rendered by the courts in the five selected areas of teacher conduct? 2. What were the changes in …

Education And The World Situation, Selden Smyser

All Faculty Scholarship for the College of Education and Professional Studies

The world situation of this last year, continued depression with its termination more than ever in the indefinite future, together with the threat of an outbreak of war which existed for a time, is the most direct challenge our system of education has ever had. Charles Beard, political scientist, has presented a five-year plan to be carried out through national governmentaJ organization. Gerard Swope, president of the General Electric Company, has proposed a plan for industry. The American Federation of Labor and the United States Chamber of Commerce each present plans to stabilize business and employment. Why are educators contributing …

Long-Term Outcomes Of Low-Achieving Third Grade Readers, Emily Jordan, Sarah C. Mckenzie, Gary W. Ritter

Arkansas Education Reports

Research shows that students who demonstrate low reading achievement in 3rd grade have trouble catching back up to grade level and being successful in school, compared to their peers who demonstrate early proficiency (Fiester 2010; Hernandez 2011; Juel 1988). This report seeks to investigate what happens to Arkansas public school students who demonstrate low achievement in reading in 3rd grade. Reading scores from three cohorts of students are followed from 3rd grade until high school, beginning with data from the 2008-09 school year and continuing through 2016-17.