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Predicting outcomes of planning team efforts in a Schools of Choice program
Abstract
The purpose of this study is to make predictions for school change in a school system which has recently implemented a Schools of Choice plan. Goals of this plan include systemwide equity, increased parental involvement, and school improvement which is based on the interests of faculty and parents. This plan provides for School Planning Teams which are charged with planning for school change which is responsive to the wishes of the greater community. In order to ascertain the interests of faculty and parents in the city's five elementary schools, a survey was administered by Schools of Choice officials. This survey was prepared by a committee of teachers, administrators and parents, and was based on the advise of a consultant, similar surveys used in other school systems, and the interests of this community. The survey was administered to all elementary school teachers during faculty meetings, was mailed to parents of preschoolers, and was sent home with all elementary school aged children. Opinions were solicited in the areas of academic enrichment possibilities, program options and forms of organization. Survey results identify areas of convergence and divergence of interests among parent and teacher groups in each of the five schools. These survey results contain information which can be of use to School Planning Teams as they begin planning for school change. The process of using a Schools of Choice program as a catalyst for school change is particularly relevant to the rapidly increasing number of school systems, cities and states, which are turning to choice plans to improve the quality of public education. If parents are to chose schools for their children, the schools must differ from one another in meaningful ways. If parents and teachers together are to plan for school improvement and educational diversity, they need the kind of data which can be provided by an opinion survey as a source of direction.
Subject Area
Educational administration|Elementary education|Curriculum development
Recommended Citation
Vivian, Helen Louise, "Predicting outcomes of planning team efforts in a Schools of Choice program" (1991). Doctoral Dissertations Available from Proquest. AAI9132928.
https://scholarworks.umass.edu/dissertations/AAI9132928