Gordon Donaldson, Jr. said, “The best opportunity a principal has to improve teaching and learning in a school is when a teacher is hired.” This is the basic premise from which this study began, and it suggests, that in addition to the day-to-day teaching and learning that takes place in the classroom, the next most important activity of a school district is the hiring of talented, skilled, knowledgeable, and effective teachers. In the next five years, educational leaders will have the opportunity unlike any other in the past to have a dramatic impact on the educational process. Anecdotal information is backed by the statistical data that there will be a major turnover of teachers and a dramatic need for new teachers. This study examined the hiring practices of a sample of Indiana public school principals to determine the components that school administrators use and consider most critical in hiring effective teachers, and to compare the components to what research indicates is effective practice. This examination identified the most commonly used components of the teacher hiring process across the state of Indiana, identified the most commonly involved stakeholders in the process, and identified what factors, skills, or characteristics principals utilize and look for most often when making teacher hiring decisions. Respondents completed a survey with questions based on the related literature to quantify the desired target areas focusing on strategies used in the five steps of the teacher hiring process. The questions were centered on research-based components of an effective hiring process, as well as questions focused on gaining insight from school principals into the steps they utilized and deemed important in the teacher hiring process. Principals were asked to report the extent to which they utilize each strategy as well as the degree of importance they place on each strategy. The data were presented using descriptive statistics. The findings were discussed and compared to what the literature indicates is best practice in the teacher hiring process. Recommendations for further research were offered as well as recommendations to administrators for practical strategies for creating a strategic and systemic process for recruiting, hiring, and retaining high quality teachers. / Department of Educational Leadership

It has been widely publicized that approximately 98% of the teachers in the United States are rated as satisfactory (Weisberg, Sexton, Mulhern, & Keeling, 2009). This has led many Americans to think that there are very few ineffective teachers in the United States. But is this true? This study indicated that a majority of the principals in the state of Indiana (56.6%) have ineffective teachers in their schools. When ineffective teachers are allowed to stay in the classroom for multiple years, a lot of students are adversely affected by these decisions (Peske & Haycock, 2006). This research focused on defining teacher effectiveness from the perspective of school principals. Are Indiana principals competent to identify effective and ineffective teachers? This research indicated that over 94% of the principals agreed, “Without hesitation, they were able to identify effective and ineffective teachers”. When principals were asked about six common aspects of the teaching practice that lead to effectiveness, the ability to engage students was the overwhelming factor that 68% of the principals indicated as most important. The other factors included achievement score growth, ability to establish quality relationships with students, content knowledge, planning skills, and classroom management skills. What has historically happened to ineffective teachers in Indiana, specific to their contract status? Currently a very small percentage of teachers are being counseled out of the profession by their principals, and even fewer teachers are having their contracts canceled. More specifically, 92.2% of principals indicated that they counseled out less than 3% of their teachers, and 95.5% of Indiana principals indicated that they recommended contract cancelations for less than 3% of their teachers last year. Lastly, principals were asked if they would make recommendations for more teacher contract cancelations as a result of the changes in Indiana laws that define teacher effectiveness. Only 23.8% of principals indicated that the changes in law would cause them to more frequently recommend contract cancelations. Three hundred twenty K-12 public school principals were randomly selected and mailed a 36-question survey. One hundred ninety-one principals (59.7%) completed the survey. The comprehensive survey results are included in this study. / Department of Educational Leadership

The purpose of this study was to report opportunities available to all Indiana high school students to access dual credit through AP, IB, and Indiana colleges and universities. In addition, this study attempted to identify potential barriers facing schools and students which may limit access to dual credit programs, as well as the attitudes and perceptions of Indiana high schools principals with respect to dual credit. This study further provided data for school leaders and policymakers to consider as efforts continue toward implementation and expansion of dual credit programs in Indiana high schools. A total of 224 principals participated in the study. Based on prior research, the findings of this study, and the stated objectives of Indiana's P-16 Plan, the researcher recommended eleven areas for further consideration. / Department of Educational Leadership

The primary purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which Indiana alternative school administrators were knowledgeable of research-supported tenets of effective alternative education and the extent to which they personally supported these tenets. Other purposes included: (a) developing a demographic profile of the administrators, including total population and membership in an Alternative Career Group or Traditional Career Group, (b) testing for possible associations between the two study groups and selected demographic variables, (c) testing for possible differences in knowledge levels between the two study groups, and (d) testing for possible differences in support levels between the two study groups.The study population consisted of 118 licensed administrators employed in public alternative schools in Indiana serving students whose disruptive behavior resulted in the students' removal from traditional schools. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Ninety-one surveys were returned, yielding a 77% response rate.Major findings included:1. Administrators did not recognize all tenets that guide the policies of effective alternative schools or all practices that hinder success; the mean knowledge score was 78% of the possible score, indicating moderate knowledge level.2. Administrators' personal support level was slightly lower than the knowledge level; the mean support score was 74% of the possible score.3. Less than one-third of all administrators reported taking college courses pertaining to alternative education.4. Alternative Career Group members had a significantly higher knowledge level of the tenets than Traditional Career Group members; however, no significant difference existed between the groups regarding personal support.Results concerning knowledge and support suggested that some administrators were not guided by the tenets of alternative education espoused in the literature. Moreover, administrators who had a career orientation to this specialization were no more inclined to support the tenets than were administrators without this career orientation. The fact that a relatively low percentage of administrators had completed one or more college courses in alternative education raises questions regarding the degree to which these administrators are adequately prepared to lead their schools. Recommendations are made with respect to additional research and to revising licensing standards for alternative school administrators. / Department of Educational Leadership

In 1995, the Indiana General Assembly passed legislation that required a graduation exam be given to all Indiana high school students. This researcher examined the perceptions Indiana superintendents and high school principals hold toward the Indiana Graduation Qualifying Exam (GQE).The population of the study consisted of all public school superintendents and public school high school principals listed in the 2001 Indiana Division of School Finance and Education Information database. The entire population was sent the Indiana's Graduation Qualifying Exam Survey, which was developed by the researcher. The survey instrument consisted of demographic questions asking for personal and professional characteristics, 20 statements designed to generate respondent perceptions, and four open-ended questions.Findings indicated superintendents and high school principals perceived that the GQE was a valid indicator of minimum competency in English/language arts and mathematics and that the GQE encouraged students to reach minimum competency levels. The overall effect of the GQE was not perceived to be negative but superintendents and high school principals were unsure as to the GQE promoting the improvement of instruction or having a positive influence on student achievement. Superintendents and high school principals did not perceive the GQE was a valid measure of school effectiveness, school district effectiveness, or that it was a valid predictor of a student's future success. The study showed that changes were made by schools districts to align remediation programs, staff development and curriculum to state standards since the implementation of the GQE.Significant differences in perception were obtained between superintendents and principals, as well as among superintendents, and among principals when grouped by personal and professional characteristics. / Department of Educational Leadership

The purpose of the study was to identify factors which influence Indiana public school superintendents and principals to provide special services to home-school families. A second purpose of the study was to identify the services Indiana home-school families would use if available from the public schools.Perceptions Indiana public school superintendents (N=97) and principals (N=404) have of home-schools were collected through the use of a survey instrument developed for the study. One -hundred thirty-one Indiana home-school families participated in the study.Findings from the study show principals and superintendents hold a negative view of home-schooling relative to the academic, instruction, and socialization quality available to home-school students. Home-school families choose non-classroom activities most frequently when indicating possible participation in the public schools.The following conclusions are drawn from the study:1. Public school principals in Indiana have a negative perception of the academic, instruction, and socialization quality in home schools.2. Indiana public school principals are more willing to allow home-school families access to non-classroom activities than classroom.3. The majority of Indiana public school principals and superintendents believe parents choose to home school for religious reasons.4. Public school superintendents in Indiana have a negative perception of the academic, instruction, and socialization quality in home schools.5. Indiana public school superintendents willing to allow home-school families access to the public schools are willing to allow home-school families to participate in either classroom or non-classroom activities.6. Of Indiana families educating children at home, less than 15% use public school services while homeschooling; however, over 85% might use public school services if made available. / Department of Educational Administration and Supervision

Access to abstract permanently restricted to Ball State community only / Access to thesis permanently restricted to Ball State community only / Department of Educational Leadership

The purpose of this study was to investigate the degree to which Indiana secondary school principals engaged in mathematics instructional leadership behaviors that supported the implementation of the NCTM Standards.A self-reporting survey was sent to 300 randomly chosen secondary school principals, from a population of 672 public school secondary principals in the State of Indiana during the 2000-2001 school year. A total of 151 usable surveys were returned for a response rate of 50.3 percent. The 151 secondary school principals who returned the questionnaires were 22.5 percent of the population.The survey instrument was an adaptation of questionnaires developed by Horizon Research Incorporated, 1992; Cauley, Van de Walle, and Hoyt, 1993; and Horizon Research Incorporated; 1994. The survey instrument was designed to ascertain demographic information on the principal's school, personal background information on the principal, as well as information concerning the mathematics instructional leadership behaviors of the principal.The major findings from this study were:1. Principals who had more positive attitudes towards the NCTM Standards were more likely to have engaged in a higher degree of support for teachers who implemented the NCTM Standards. Also, principals who had more positive attitudes towards the NCTM Standards were more likely to provide a greater degree of direction to staff members with respect to the implementation of the NCTM Standards.2. Female principals engaged in mathematics instructional leadership behaviors to a greater degree than did male principals.3. Principals from urban schools engaged in mathematics instructional leadership behaviors to a greater degree than did principals from rural schools. / Department of Educational Leadership

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