M.S.

One of the most important administrative problems in education today is how equitably to finance the school system of a state, since frequently the question of insufficient revenue and disparity between school divisions and states reflects a larger societal problem of commitment to public education. The proposal to restructure, if not refound the present educational system as a quasi~ public marketing entity using educational vouchers now challenges the time- honored common school ideal. This study provides a philosophical rationale for the American common school to aid legislators, jurists, and policymakers in interpreting key terms in the educational provisions of state constitutions. It assumes that the school financing policies of a nation reflect the value choices of a people as well as their priorities in the allocation of resources. The terms selected for analysis: "common," "system," "uniform," and "efficient," are pregnant with meaning in the context of education. Defined etymologically and philosophically, they are "terms of art" because they suggest ethical standards for a common school system. In the process of defining each term, the study examines the intellectual roots of the American common school, an institution its founders believed could unite the nation and ensure the common good. The present movement to privatize public systems, however, reflects a paradigm of laissez-faire individualism that encourages private self interest and a divisive pluralism in contrast with an older, more egalitarian tradition of classical republicanism which has shaped the common school ideal. The phrase "common good," associated with the public interest, is a rubric used to define "common" and other related root terms such as "commonality," "commonwealth," and "virtue." It defines "system" as an aspect of polity and suggests that the terms "efficient" and "uniform" have moral implications for school systems that have a public purpose of effecting a virtuous and enlightened citizenry for the preservation of a republic. This multidisciplinary investigation emphasizes the duty of the state to educate in the republican, civic humanist tradition. It thus serves as a guide to policymakers required to make complex school finance decisions that will ensure equity and equality of educational opportunity for all citizens in every state throughout the commonwealth. / Ph. D.

The adoption and integration of technology is limited in K-12 contexts worldwide, including in the Middle East. Based on the work of Everett Rogers (1995) and his disciplines, studies in the United States indicate that teachers' perceptions towards the attributes of technology (relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability and observability) reflect the extent by which technology is used. Furthermore, teachers' characteristics and the support environment provided can potentially encourage or inhibit the adoption of technologies. This multiple case study was designed to show the applicability of Rogers' diffusion of innovation theory in Kuwait public school systems. The study was conducted with eight female Kuwaiti teachers in two primary public schools. A qualitative methodology was employed using interviews, participant observations, and physical artifacts for collecting data. The study reveals that Rogers' three attributes relative advantage, compatibility and observability (result demonstrability) contributed to use, while complexity and observability (visibility) limited use. Prior experience and practice, motivational support provided by the school administration and department head, and teachers' voluntary decisions on the type of technologies to use encouraged use. Anxiety from lack of functionality of devices and extra time and effort in preparing materials, centralized decision-making on technology purchases, budget constraint, and limited access to technology and classrooms in which devices are located were factors that limited teachers' use. The study showed that Kuwaiti teachers' acceptance of technology varied along the continuum, where some teachers were early adopters and some were laggards. Support initiatives are needed from the Ministry of Education and school administration, in order to facilitate technology adoption and use in Kuwaiti schools. / Ph. D.

In the mid-nineteenth century, with the influx of European immigrants into the cities, public schools became the answer to the poverty and ignorance of the urban masses. Then, in the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century, urban public schools were again called on to educate the many African-Americans who migrated to the cities from poor Southern states. Again, the idea of mass education of the public, funded by the public, became the panacea for all the problems of city living. The civil rights movement brought a flood of litigation, and courts attempted to provide equal educational opportunities to all students, even those in poor urban localities. Currently, urban public schools face the flight of middle-income families from the cities to the suburbs, within-district flight of more affluent families to private and parochial schools, and diminishing funds with which they must serve their populations. This study explored the factors that would influence middle-income families to return or remain in urban public schools to restore the original concept of a public education for all by all (Hunter & Donahoo, 2003) / Ed. D.

no abstract provided by author / Master of Science

M.S.

Over the past six years, analyses of the National Center for Education Statistics' High School and Beyond data have primarily focused on the differences in achievement between public and Catholic high school students. Valuable data on non-Catholic private school students have been virtually ignored. Based on a strategy proposed by Althauser and Rubin (1970), in this study non-Catholic private schools are matched with public schools similar in school average base year student achievement levels, school average base year student socioeconomic levels, geographic region and racial composition. T-test results show that, among students in the most similar matches, non-Catholic private school students score significantly higher on vocabulary, reading, and a test composite of vocabulary, reading and general math scores. Public/non-Catholic private differences in basic and advanced math, science and civics are not significant although all but the civics tests show a small non-Catholic private advantage. The multiple regression analyses suggest that, for the most closely matched pairs, non-Catholic private school students have a small statistically significant advantage over public students on the 1982 reading test and test composite. However, the non-Catholic private advantage on general math, science, vocabulary and writing tests, and the public advantage on the advanced math and civics tests, are not significant. Thus, the null hypothesis stating that there are no differences between the 1982 achievement test scores of students in public schools and the tests scores of students in non-Catholic private schools is generally refuted. Yet, the differences, primarily favoring non-Catholic private school students, are small and in many cases not significant. / Master of Science

M.S.

M.S.

The purpose of this study has been to examine and analyze the salient medical and legal aspects related to the educational placement of children in public schools with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. The study attempts to provide information that will serve as a resource to public school personnel who are among the professionals that must make informed decisions on public school attendance policies for children with a lethal, complex, and controversial disease. New developments in medicine and in the courts have crucial implications for existing policies and for the development of new policies related to the issue. By examining precedents and patterns in the emerging area of AIDS litigation and legislation, the study serves as a resource for school officials enabling them to make informed proactive decisions. The methodology used in the study was legal research. Primary and secondary sources of law were utilized. Nonlegal research materials included medical research and data that might serve as evidence in legal disputes concerning the educational placement of children with the HIV infection. In addition to medical evidence related to educational placement issues, the information gathered for the study included an examination of the state antidiscrimination disease laws, state special education laws, state communicable disease laws, and state and selected local policy statements for sixteen states; an analysis of the relevant legal issues of the Education of the Handicapped Act (EHA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; and an examination of the constitutional issues pertinent to educational placement of children with AIDS. Case law “in point” or “analogous” to the issue was presented. The concluding chapter summarizes the findings from Chapters Two, Three, Four and includes recommendations for decision-making and policy based on the medical and legal information presented. There is no medical evidence to support the exclusion of children from regular school attendance based on the suspicion of or identification of HIV infection. Awareness of sound medical evidence to support educational decision-making provides a means of projecting a solidly grounded policy to the school population and community at large. Health care precautions should be taken and routine procedures established for the removal of blood and/or body fluids in cases of accident or injury. Routine precautions should be followed by all school personnel regardless of whether an HIV-infected individual is present. / Ed. D.