The purpose of the study was to determine sources Indiana secondary principals used to gather and utilize information to comply with eight selected mandates associated with school improvement during the years 1983 through 1988. In addition, the study was to determine the most frequently used information sources, and to examine the judgments of principals regarding the quality of the various resources. Further, the study was to survey what relationships existed, if any, between selected demographic factors and the sources used and the time spent implementing selected policy decisions.Five research questions were developed to analyze the judgments of principals about information sources used to implement the eight selected mandates. Seven categories of information sources were listed on a questionnaire sent to selected Indiana secondary school principals. Respondents recorded the sources most frequently used among the categories, rated the quality of each information source, and selected the amount of time required to implement each mandate in relation to time spent on other administrative tasks.Selected Findings1. Principals identified seven categories of information as being most useful in developing strategies to implement eight state-imposed mandates. The sources of information were Department of Education, Professional Journals and Newsletters, Superintendent's Office, Colleagues, Personal Resources, Professional Consultants, and Other, a category for specific individual preferences.2. The Department of Education was the most frequently used resource for the greatest number of mandates and was judged most valuable in quality by the respondents.The Superintendent's Office, Colleagues, and Professional Journals and Newsletters also were judged frequently as important resources.3. A multivariate analysis of variance indicated no relationship between selected demographic factors and the sources used in gathering information to implement selected policy decisions with one exception. A subsequent univariate analysis and a Scheffe multiple comparison test showed respondents of schools of 1000-1999 students used the Superintendent's Office significantly more as an information source to implement mandates than did respondents of schools under 1000 students. Respondents of schools over 2000 students were found to use Professional Consultants significantly more as an information source to implement selected mandates than did respondents of schools of 1000-1999 students.

The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which elementary principals are involved in teacher selection and to determine the opinions of principals on : (a) procedures used in the selection process, (b) current status of their involvement, (c) who establishes teacher selection processes, (d) involvement of teachers in teacher selection, (e) their current level of preparation to effectively select teachers, and (f) the role of decentralized governance in teacher selection.The study sought to determine if principal involvement in teacher selection was governed by policy or superintendent regulations. Also, the study sought to determine if there was variance in teacher selection practices within a school district and possible reasons for such variance. Finally, the study sought to determine if any of three demographic variables (school district regional classification, school district enrolment, and governance structure) influenced principal involvement in teacher selection.Data were collected from 188 randomnly selected elementary principals in Indiana via a survey containing 28 items divided into 4 categories. Data were analyzed using an analysis of variance, and research decisions were based on the .05 level of significance.In general, the level of involvement of Indiana elementary principals in teacher selection is relatively high. Demographic variables incorporated in this study appeared to have little effect on principal's involvement. There were three exceptions. Where variance of practice occurred within a district, significance was found in paper screening of candidates, interviewing of candidates, and making recommendations for employment. Principals' involvement in teacher selection was not affected by regional classification, enrollment of the school district, engagement in decentralized governance, existence of regulations, or established board policy on teacher selection.Findings in this study suggested that principals were highly involved in many aspects of teacher selection with one exception, writing of the job vacancy announcement. It was also found that there was a majority of schools that did not have existing school councils. Principals believed that their involvement in teacher selection was important, yet their training in this area appeared to be limited.Based on the outcomes, recommendations for further study included assessing teacher selection practices at sites where school councils exist, examining discrepancies between perceived selfconfidence and formal training, and evaluating the role of the principal in writing job vacancy announcements. / Department of Educational Leadership

The purpose of the study was to determine the impact, if any, of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) on middle level characteristics (e.g. interdisciplinary teams, common planning time, heterogeneous grouping, interdisciplinary curriculum, and advisory programming) in Indiana middle level schools as assessed by building principals, and if those characteristics have increased, decreased, or remained consistent as a result of NCLB. The research also included demographic information (e.g. age of respondents, years in administration, years in current position), university/certification training on the specific needs of young adolescents, current Adequate Yearly Progress status under NCLB, improvement in mathematics and/or language arts as measured by ISTEP, and adjustments to the daily schedule to provide more time for mathematics and/or language arts classes. In addition, respondents were surveyed regarding the increase in remediation classes, both in place of elective and core classes, and the expansion of grade retention.The population for the study included all Indiana public schools that include grade seven as reported by the 2006-2007 Indiana Department of Education School Directory. The sample did not include principals of Indiana Department of Correction schools or alternative schools. The survey instrument was mailed to 420 principals. At the close of the survey window, 274 surveys had been returned for a 65 % return rate.The findings indicate a greater level of implementation of middle level characteristics as a result of No Child Left Behind in all areas with the exception of wide participation in exploratory activities. Data also indicates a narrowing of the curriculum for young adolescent students as more students are removed from core classes and exploratory classes to spend extended time in mathematics and/or language arts classes, There has also been a dramatic increase in schools utilizing grade retention as a result of NCLB. / Department of Educational Leadership

The purpose of this study was to examine an intradistrict school choice program in an urban setting through the use of three independent variables regarding school principals' perceptions. The independent variables were gender, years of experience, and the building or grade level assignment of school principals. Another purpose was to examine whether school principals saw positive or negative outcomes in student and teacher performance since the school choice program began. Areas explored included student achievement and behavioral performance, teacher attitude and morale, principal and teacher interaction(to facilitate change), and special education.The study's population consisted of the principals of the Indianapolis Public School Corporation, Indianapolis, Indiana. There were 80 eligible principals. A return rate of 72.58 was gained (58 respondents). The study's population was sent a survey instrument consisting of seven demographic items and 25 Likert-type items with five possible responses (strongly agree, agree, undecided, disagree, and strongly disagree). The items were designed to evaluate principal responses according to the three independent variables mentioned earlier in addition to the other purposes of the study. The instrument was designed by the researcher with the assistance of a jury of veteran principals familiar with intradistrict school choice from Bartholomew Consolidated School District (Columbus, Indiana).A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was used to determine any significant relationships between the independent variables and principal perceptions about intradistrict school choice. Further, mean data was examined and compared.The following conclusions were drawn from the study's findings:1. A statistically significant relationship was found with principal perceptions by the independent variable of building or grade level on the special education items of student attendance, less parent complaints, and teacher professional development activities as determined by a MANOVA.2. A statistically significant relationship was found with male principal perceptions about principal/teacher interactions within a change environment by the independent variable of building/grade level.3. A statistically significant relationship was found with male principal perceptions about principal/teacher interactions within a change environment by the independent variable of experience level.4. Mean analysis would suggest that there were no changes in student academic or behavioral performance two years of program implementation.5. Mean analysis would suggest some positive change in teacher attitude after two years of program implementation.6. Mean analysis would suggest some positive change in informal principal and teacher interaction to facilitate program change after two years of program implementation. / Department of Educational Leadership

This research study was designed to determine the attitudes, and perceptions of Indiana high school principals concerning implementation of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The sample consisted of Indiana high school principals who held membership in the Indiana Association of School Principals. There were 222 high school principals who were requested to complete an on-line survey; 105 principals responded, which generated a response rate of 47 %.The Section 504 on-line survey was modified from an instrument in California in which the researcher studied the attitudes and perceptions of elementary school administrators (Williams, 2003).The data were analyzed, depending upon the variable, with a standard analysis of variance (ANOVA) or t-test design. Demographical data and survey responses were subjected to statistical analyses based upon the research hypothesis being examined. Demographical data collected from high school principals were degree earned, type of license, years of experience, gender, size of the school, whether the principal was responsible for implementing Section 504 plans, and if the principal categorized his school as rural, suburban, or urban.Results showed significance for high school size and whether the high school principal was responsible for implementing Section 504 plans. As high schools increased in the number of students, there was a need for principals to have additional training in implementing Section 504 plans. Another significant finding was that principals believe students with disabilities benefit educationally from having Section 504 plans at minimalcosts to their school corporations. However, principals also have a slightly negative attitude towards implementing Section 504 plans. Possible reasons for these results were discussed and a need for further research was offered. / Department of Educational Leadership

The purpose of this study was to determine whether teachers' perceptions of principals' promotion and support of technology in the Fort Wayne Community Schools, Fort Wayne, Indiana, effected the successful integration of technology into the elementary school curricula. The selection of variables for this study was based on a comprehensive review of the literature and identified practitioners who had educational computing experience. These variables included teacher perceptions of principal support, teacher participation in staff development opportunities, availability of support with computer-related problems, and computer availability. These variables were correlated with teachers' use of computers, students' use of computers, and teachers' perceptions of their own improvement as measures of technology integration.A 75-item researcher-developed survey instrument, based on these variables, was presented to 558 elementary classroom teachers in the 22 participating elementary schools in Fort Wayne, Indiana, on two scannable pages. Pearson product-moment correlations were calculated for the pairs of variables.This research provided evidence of a strong correlation between the FWCS teachers' perceptions of principal leadership and support of technology integration and the teachers' evaluations of their own improvement in integrating technology into thecurricula. It also supported the premise that the level of staff development that teachers engage in directly affects their level of improvement in integrating technology into the curricula. / Department of Educational Leadership