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
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:BSU/oai:cardinalscholar.bsu.edu:handle/182246 |
| Date | January 2003 |
| Creators | Zimmerly, Randall James |
| Contributors | Malone, Bobby G. |
| Source Sets | Ball State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Format | xiv, 200 leaves ; 28 cm. |
| Source | Virtual Press |
| Coverage | n-us-in |
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