This study examines the effort to achieve equal federal education funding for California's children living in poverty. In 1998 California's children living in poverty received an average Title I per pupil expenditure of $603. The national average was $717. Some states received as much as $1,200 per child. Put another way, California had 14.8 percent of America's poor children and received only 11.3 percent of Title I funding. This study addresses a fundamental question. What are the causes of this inequity? It is reasoned that the examination of inequity will provide strategic direction in the achievement of a more equitable policy benefit for all children. This case study of the 2001–2002 effort to reauthorize Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, employs a qualitative and comparative theoretical approach. It begins with a historical examination of the origins, development and processes of the United States Congress. The examination continues with a thorough review of the legislative history of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. These examinations reveal the utility of three theoretical perspectives: elitism, class conflict and pluralist bargaining theories. These theoretical approaches are used in a case study that utilizes a thorough review of the relevant documents, observation of the process and interviews of primary participants to reveal key components in achieving a more equitable educational benefit for California's students living in poverty.

The purpose of this study was to identify and describe leadership styles and influence behavior tactics used by college deans with their faculty members. Each of the 104 faculty member respondents completed the Influence Behavior Questionnaire Target-2000 a questionnaire. The IBQ Target-2000 measured the use of influence behavior tactics by deans as interpreted by faculty members. The findings of the study concluded that deans lead and faculty members follow by way of differing influence behavior tactics. The findings suggest that, more times than not, the deans influence attempts resulted in complete commitment by the faculty members. It was also found that deans prefer to utilize certain influence behavior tactics more than others. Generally, deans used Rational persuasion, Consultation, and Inspiration tactics approximately twice as often as Exchange tactics, Personal appeals, and Pressure tactics. It was found that the dean's choice and use of influence behavior tactics are dependent, to some degree, on the faculty member's gender or academic status. Furthermore, it was concluded that deans from non-unionized colleges, small colleges and private colleges utilize differing types of influence behavior tactics than their counterparts at unionized, large, public colleges. Finally, it was concluded that deans utilize influence behavior tactics differently with tenured faculty than non-tenured faculty. The study raised some interesting questions that merit further inquiry and study. In summation, there is a perception among faculty members that deans do not use influence behavior tactics uniformly. Other relationships, theories, hypotheses or conclusions remain unsettled at this point in time.

Purpose of the study. The purpose of this study was to examine the attitudes of correctional educators in the California Department of Corrections toward their inmate learners. Procedure. A total of 228 surveys were mailed out and 156 correctional educators from the 23 correctional institutions in operation as of January 1993 responded. A systematic sampling process for selecting the survey participants, based upon a percentage or like number of vocational and academic educators, was utilized. Eight research questions were analyzed by means of one- and two-way Multivariate (MANOVA) analyses, Univariate (ANOVA) analyses, Wilks' Lambda, frequency and percentage results derived from the survey instrument. Findings. The attitudes of correctional educators seriously impact the probability of educational success as defined by breaking the cycle of recidivism by providing training and instruction to inmate learners. The data indicated that a majority of the correctional educators possess a positive attitude toward their jobs as indicated by their desire to remain in their teaching or instructional position. The data also indicated positive attitudes toward the inmate learner, and generally showed sensitivity toward inmates with learning disabilities. The data showed no relationship between gender of educator or inmate learner, or the number of years spent by the educator in either the public or private educational system to correctional educators' attitudes toward inmate learners. Implications for future research, training and educational policy development in the correctional education setting are provided.

This study investigates and compares the skills, knowledge, and activities engaged in as a principal and an assistant principal and their relationship to the preparation of an aspiring middle school principal. Since little information exists, it is possible that no similar investigations have been previously completed. This study also compares the perceptions of principals with the expectations of school districts as to the required skills, knowledge, and activities of principals and assistant principals as delineated in their job descriptions. This study includes a survey of 104 middle school principals who were systematically selected from 1,228 active, public, non-charter, junior high/intermediate/middle schools in California. Surveys were mailed during the last week in October, 2006 and were postmarked for return between October 31 and December 20, 2006. A field test among ten selected principals was completed to establish the validity of the instrument, improve questions, format, and/or rating scales. Positivistic Educational Administration Theory provides the conceptual framework that informs this quantitative study. The study is cross-sectional, utilizing a self-administered questionnaire. Responses were gathered and averaged by category. Since the survey includes Likert scales, factor analysis was used as the statistical procedure to validate the questionnaire. The data provided by this study should be of interest to aspiring administrators, middle school principals and assistant principals, school district administrators, higher education professors of educational administration and other administrator preparation programs.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the development and process of a small high school from the perspective of stakeholders. Research included semi-structured interviews with parents, students, teachers, administration, and other community members over a two-year period. Grounded theory methodology helped analyze the data and framed the study through process, interaction, and negotiation. Qualitative analysis of the data revealed that the development of a small school occurred in stages. Stages informed the process internally and extended to include a base of community support. Vision was a core category during the startup and implementation stages of development. Over time, the process included the building of relationships and program. This process also supported a stage of vision renewal in order to sustain vision and development.

This study investigated the social factors affecting female Hispanic transfer students. The importance of the study relates to the relatively low graduation rates for this population and the fact that the Hispanics represent the fastest growing segment of the population in California. This study explored the topic through qualitative inquiry leading to the formation of a grounded theory. The population was limited to female Hispanic students under the age of 30, who transferred from a local 2 year college, and who applied for graduation. There were two groups: (a) neither parent attended college, and (b) at least one parent attended college. Data collection occurred in three stages: (a) collection and review of demographic data, (b) rating importance of involvement factors, and (c) guided questions to facilitate opportunity for discovery. The most universal finding was that family was their most influential social connection regarding support to attend and graduate from college. This finding was true irrespective of parental educational level. Most of the students felt their experience at the 2 year college was an extension of high school . All of the students had at least some fear about transferring and all of the students held down jobs while attending college. Each student had very a different experience in this process. This led the researcher to caution college and university decision makers to be careful not to oversimplify solutions to this issue. Faculty support was found to be particularly important in this study because the time students did spend on campus was almost exclusively in the classroom. This confirmed that faculty provides a key opportunity for individual attention and support for persisting to graduation. Other researchers should further examine the concept of the Three Connections in Social Integration : (a) personal connections, (b) extra curricular connections, and (c) academic connections. Examine the concept of the Five Stages to Graduation : (a) early experiences, (b) decision to attend the 2 year college, (c) the 2 year college experience, (d) transition, and (e) the 4 year college experience.

Attendance in our nation's schools continues to decline. It is necessary for schools to expand their programs and strategies to improve student attendance. Incentives and rewards for excellent attendance have had positive results in studies researched, but little has been done to research the relationship between changes in attendance and implemented incentive programs. This quantitative study examined the effects of extrinsic rewards on high school student attendance at two separate schools. The first part of the study enabled a chance to win a daily cash prize with value based upon the number of students successfully attending all day. Changes in attendance in the current school year versus the previous school year were measured and analyzed. The second part of the study compared attendance and student attitudes between two comprehensive high schools, where one school represented the treatment group and other the control group. Attendance performance criteria were established that would allow students the chance to earn extrinsic rewards at the end of the first semester of school. Changes in attendance in the current school year versus the previous school year were measured and analyzed. An analysis between change in attendance, school GPA, and student GPA was performed for each school and compared. Finally, a longitudinal study was performed using surveys at each school to measure any changes in student attitudes related to (a) reasons for attending school, (b) interest in school, and (c) satisfaction with school. The null hypotheses were there is no statistically significant relationship between the use of rewards for excellent attendance and (a) the average daily attendance of students, (b) their grade point averages, (c) their motivation to attend, or (d) their interest and satisfaction in the school experience. Results of the first study showed that the change in attendance between school years was statistically significant. While the second showed statistically significant increases in attendance at both schools, the additional increase at the treatment school was also significant. No significant relationship was found between the use of rewards for attendance and school GPA, student GPA, motivation to attend, or the interest and satisfaction in the school experience.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors that contribute to the career achievements of female superintendents in California's public schools. The under-representation of female superintendents in California's educational system is explored, and the study helps explain why it exists and how it can be changed. The personal and professional characteristics shared among the female superintendents are clearly outlined. In addition, the study also describes the personal and professional obstacles these women have encountered while aspiring to become superintendents, how they overcame them and what advice they have for aspiring superintendents. While illustrating these factors, as well as outlining the most typical career path to the superintendency, the study also covers why there is a disproportionate representation of women in the superintendent position, and explores how that can change. Additionally, the study investigates why California has more female superintendents than found in the national average. The researcher used qualitative and quantitative research methods. The population consisted of 152 female superintendents in California. A questionnaire was used to collect personal and professional characteristics data. Thereafter, structured taped interviews were conducted with 10 selected female superintendents. Findings of the study showed that while California has a higher percentage of female superintendents than the national average, there is still a disparity between men and women in this field. The study illustrates the common characteristics shared among the women holding superintendency positions. The female superintendents in California all begin with a minimum of seven years of teaching, and then their career paths begin to vary. Barriers such as chauvinism and prejudice on the part of board members exist, as well as balancing career with home responsibilities. To overcome barriers and achieve success, upbringing is an important factor. Women superintendents tend to be strong in their resolve and to persevere. In order to be successful, it is recommended that superintendents mentor other aspiring superintendents to reinforce the belief that women should be placed in these leadership roles. Also, women should gain a variety of experiences. Numerous reasons were given due to the disproportionate role of female superintendents in California. One included the women's responsibility in the family. To overcome this disproportionate representation, it is recommended that these women have a strong support system at home. California's culture allows women to further advance in education as opposed to other states. According to these women superintendents, tolerance is greater in California, a state with less views about women and more views about growth and progress.

The development of interpersonal competence cannot be underestimated for college students. Indeed, it could be the single, most important element that a student can develop. Equipped with interpersonal competence, a student is able to solve problems, lead a group to achieve a common task, and interact successfully in social environments and sensitive situations. In essence, a student has the ability to develop into a productive worker and citizen. Without it, a student may literally fail no matter how valid the student's endeavor or how sincere the effort. The primary purpose of this study was to examine if participation in student government at University of the Pacific (UOP) influences the development of interpersonal competence. Research on interpersonal competence was examined. Skills related to interpersonal competence were clustered together in themes, forming four different scales: Communication Scale, Perceptual Scale, Relational Scale, and Goal Achievement Scale. In conjunction with this literature-based research, studies were completed using student survey instruments, assessing those who participated in student government at UOP over a six-year period. Nine areas of statistical significance were found within the four scales. The data clearly exhibit that participation in student government at UOP positively influences students' interpersonal competence, and that the student government is successfully achieving its anticipated learning outcomes. The student government leadership program is a place where participants gain valuable skill-building traits and significant learning.

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