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(1 - 8 of 8)
- Title
- Why Parents Choose Non-Denominational Private Schools for Their Children: Preferences In International Settings.
- Creator
- Segovia Bonet, Jorge, Reyes-Guerra, Daniel, Florida Atlantic University, College of Education, Department of Educational Leadership and Research Methodology
- Abstract/Description
-
This study offers a better understanding of the reasons why parents from six different countries across the Western hemisphere chose private, non-denominational schools for their children’s education. The findings deepen the knowledge in what is currently an underdeveloped field of research in education. The overarching research question was: What are the primary reasons why parents chose a private nondenominational school in Mexico, Spain, Costa Rica, United States, United Kingdom, and South...
Show moreThis study offers a better understanding of the reasons why parents from six different countries across the Western hemisphere chose private, non-denominational schools for their children’s education. The findings deepen the knowledge in what is currently an underdeveloped field of research in education. The overarching research question was: What are the primary reasons why parents chose a private nondenominational school in Mexico, Spain, Costa Rica, United States, United Kingdom, and South Africa for their children’s education? To explore this question in depth, the researcher considered five sub-questions and employed a grounded theory qualitative research design. Data were collected twofold through focus groups and individual interviews and analyzed iteratively to develop a fresh theoretical perspective on the topic of parent school choice. Extant literature explains that the most frequent reasons to choose a private school include quality of education, location, participation of parents and being able to be heard, financial resources, and parents’ prior educational experiences. Contributing to the literature, this study revealed four major reasons for private school selection: consideration of private education as an investment for the future, smaller class size, the opportunity for students and their families to establish social contacts, and the academic quality of the school. In addition, three reasons specific to certain countries were identified: importance of learning the English language, quality of the facilities, and extended school day. Finally, eight additional secondary reasons were found including: international character of the school, happiness of the students in the school, distance from parents’ home, quality of the environment, prestige or tradition of the school, private management and organization, values and ethos of the school, and the non-denominational nature of the school. These findings can help private—and public—school administrators make better decisions to improve the quality of their educational offerings in knowing what parents most value. Parents may also find value in understanding the factors for consideration when evaluating public versus private school options. Finally, recommendations for practice and research for the field of education are offered.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2019
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013260
- Subject Headings
- Private schools, Parents, School choice, International
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- The Quest for Charter School Enrollment: Reported Innovations and Student Achievement.
- Creator
- Cabrera, Einav, Maslin-Ostrowski, Patricia, Florida Atlantic University, College of Education, Department of Educational Leadership and Research Methodology
- Abstract/Description
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Charter schools have often boasted about differentiating themselves in the educational marketplace. With today’s growing emphasis on student achievement, whether this differentiation has had a positive effect on student learning is still debatable. The purpose of this exploratory mixed-methods study was to establish if innovation is a reported practice in charter schools in Miami-Dade and Sarasota Counties in Florida and to determine if a relationship exists between innovation reporting and...
Show moreCharter schools have often boasted about differentiating themselves in the educational marketplace. With today’s growing emphasis on student achievement, whether this differentiation has had a positive effect on student learning is still debatable. The purpose of this exploratory mixed-methods study was to establish if innovation is a reported practice in charter schools in Miami-Dade and Sarasota Counties in Florida and to determine if a relationship exists between innovation reporting and student achievement as measured by Florida school grades. A qualitative analysis of School Improvement Plans and school websites for a 62 school sample was utilized. As well as a quantitative measure of the correlation between level of reported innovation in eight categories (organizational structure, ideology and culture, leadership models, professional development for teachers, curriculum, technology, parent involvement, and other) and student achievement, as measured by Florida’s school grade formula. The study found that charter schools in both counties reported innovation at high levels with only three schools reporting innovations in fewer than five categories of innovation. An examination of opposing forces of loose and rigid structure, autonomy and policy control, as well as creativity and standardization led to findings of less reported instances of innovation on average in schools with looser structure, autonomy, and creativity. Furthermore, Title I schools and high minority student population schools (≥50%) showed signs of innovation saturation, with no value added to student achievement (school grade averages) by reported innovation beyond a moderate level. Still, reported innovation level (overall categories of innovation) and student achievement (school grade averages) showed a negligible relationship (r = -.062). In conclusion, reported innovation existed in charter schools despite opposing forces, but was often similar across charter schools. In fact, past a moderate level of innovation, there was no value added to school grades for Title I and high minority charter schools. Yet, a weak, negative relationship existed between specific reported innovations in combination (professional development in pedagogy, tutoring programs, non-district behavior programs and incentive, and multiple levels) and student achievement (school grade averages) which can inform us on the nature of reporting.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2016
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004652, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004652
- Subject Headings
- Academic achievement, Alternative education, Charter schools, Educational change, Motivation in education, School choice
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- The attitudes of certain parents of elementary school children and their teachers toward various school choice plans.
- Creator
- Bacallao, Mary Kay, Florida Atlantic University, Morris, John D., Gray, Mary B.
- Abstract/Description
-
This study investigated the degree of agreement parents and teachers in public and private schools had with full school choice in the form of tuition vouchers. The school choice attitude assessment instrument was developed for this purpose and determined to be reliable. The surveys were administered to 416 volunteer respondents. Significant differences were found in the voucher subscale score obtained from parents and teachers. The parents were more favorable to the concept of school choice F...
Show moreThis study investigated the degree of agreement parents and teachers in public and private schools had with full school choice in the form of tuition vouchers. The school choice attitude assessment instrument was developed for this purpose and determined to be reliable. The surveys were administered to 416 volunteer respondents. Significant differences were found in the voucher subscale score obtained from parents and teachers. The parents were more favorable to the concept of school choice F(1, 412) = 10.80, p < .00625. Private school parents and teachers were more positive about school choice than public school parents and teachers, F(1, 412) = 46.63, p < .00625. There was also an interaction between role (parent or teacher) and institution (public or private). The interaction was disordinal; private school teachers had a higher mean than private school parents while public school teachers had a lower mean than public school parents, F(1, 412) = 8.45, p < .00625. The demographic variables of education, age, race, and family income were not significantly related to the voucher subsale score. The demographic variables of education, age, race, and family income were not significantly related to the voucher subsale score. Republicans were found to be more favorable to the concept of school choice than Democrats, F(1, 3) = 3.84, p < .00625. Teacher union members were less favorable toward the concept of full school choice than non-union respondents, F(1, 1) = 67.57, p < .00625. The uniform (with additions) voucher was the most popular, chosen by 38.8% of the respondents. Consequently, full school choice programs in the public schools will probably receive more support from parents than teachers. In the future, full school choice programs will probably originate from outside the public school system.
Show less - Date Issued
- 1996
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/12458
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Values underlying the parental selection of charter schools: A multi-site case analysis.
- Creator
- Grimsley, Patricia Ann., Florida Atlantic University, Bogotch, Ira
- Abstract/Description
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This multi-site case analysis investigated the values underlying the parental selection of charter schools. The conceptual framework of this study was school choice within the public sector and more specifically charter schools. The research design employed in-depth interviews and data analysis. A purposeful sample with random selection was used to select the eighteen parent participants. The principals were serving as principals of the schools at the time of the study. All research questions...
Show moreThis multi-site case analysis investigated the values underlying the parental selection of charter schools. The conceptual framework of this study was school choice within the public sector and more specifically charter schools. The research design employed in-depth interviews and data analysis. A purposeful sample with random selection was used to select the eighteen parent participants. The principals were serving as principals of the schools at the time of the study. All research questions were answered by the data analysis: How do the values of parents influence their selection of charter schools for their children? Parents were looking for alternatives to traditional public schools. Charter schools gave parents the opportunity to select schools that they believed would match their values. Why do some parents select to send their children to charter schools in lieu of traditional public schools? Charter schools provided smaller class size/smaller school size, more discipline, and diverse student population. Why do parents who have selected to send their children to charter schools believe that these schools do a better job of educating their children than some traditional public schools? Traditional public schools lack many of the things that parents stated would provide a good education for their children. How do race, socioeconomic status, and level of school impact the parental selection of charter schools in lieu of traditional public schools? These differences did not impact the parental selection of charter schools. What do parents consider when they select charter schools for their children? Parents considered what was best for their individual child. The finding of the study revealed that parents selected charter schools based on what they valued: small class size and small school size and the importance of education to the child's future. There were other themes that emerged across and within the three sites which contributed to the study's finding. More research is needed on charter schools because better informed parents will make better selections when exercising choice.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2004
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FADT12111
- Subject Headings
- Charter schools--United States, School choice--United States, Educational equalization--United States, Educational change--United States
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Reading, writing, and privatization: the narrative that helped change the nation's public schools.
- Creator
- Meyers, Merrie Elyn., Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Department of Sociology
- Abstract/Description
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The face of North America's public education system is changing. Across the United States, hundreds of thousands of students have migrated away from traditional public school into charter schools. While both are considered public schools, often that is where the similarity ends. Claims and counter claims have been made about the virtues and advantages of a charter school versus the traditional public school. This study, focused on the nation's sixth-largest school system in Broward County,...
Show moreThe face of North America's public education system is changing. Across the United States, hundreds of thousands of students have migrated away from traditional public school into charter schools. While both are considered public schools, often that is where the similarity ends. Claims and counter claims have been made about the virtues and advantages of a charter school versus the traditional public school. This study, focused on the nation's sixth-largest school system in Broward County, Florida, compares comments from stakeholders involved in charter programs to feedback from those still involved in the traditional public system. Three hypotheses are evaluated including: whether traditional schools are not adequately serving the needs of students; whether charter schools are better at serving student needs; or people believe that charter schools are doing a better job at serving the needs of students. Evidence suggests that while each model of education has its advantages and disadvantages, neither clearly provides a ""better" opportunity for students. Conclusions are that consumer perceptions are driving the shift in enrollment. This is attributed to the narrative about "choice" created by charter school advocates that aligns with American ideologies of liberty, freedom and independence. Ultimately, it is argued that the deconstruction of the traditional public education system is part of a larger effort to shift selected rights and privileges out of the public sphere and back into private control. For traditional public schools to regain momentum, they must learn to control the narrative and ultimately public policy and public opinion about our nation's public schools.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2013
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/3360949
- Subject Headings
- Charter schools, Evaluation, Public schools, Evaluation, School choice, Evaluation, Academic achievement, Evaluation
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- The threat of school choice and changes in public school organizations.
- Creator
- Thompson, Jeanethe D., Florida Atlantic University, Pisapia, John
- Abstract/Description
-
This study tested the assumption that faced with the threat of losing students via vouchers public school principals would make changes in their organizational practices to improve their schools and avoid this occurrence. Two variables were investigated: (a) the level of threat and (b) school organizational practices. Data were collected using a 55-item mail survey-questionnaire, structured to assess changes in school organizational practices perceived by teachers at the randomly selected...
Show moreThis study tested the assumption that faced with the threat of losing students via vouchers public school principals would make changes in their organizational practices to improve their schools and avoid this occurrence. Two variables were investigated: (a) the level of threat and (b) school organizational practices. Data were collected using a 55-item mail survey-questionnaire, structured to assess changes in school organizational practices perceived by teachers at the randomly selected schools. The School Organization Teacher Survey was field-tested twice to check reliability and validity. Cronbach alpha values were 0.88 and 0.93 for the pilots. The unit of analysis for this study was the school. Eight hundred (800) surveys were sent to 160 schools; 331 representing 112 schools were completed and returned for a response rate of 71.3%. Descriptive statistics, multiple regression, and analysis of variance techniques were utilized to determine whether and to what degree relationships existed between the independent variable of grade and threat and the dependent variable of change in the organizational practices by the principals. The results of this study are consistent with the literature on public school choice or market theory. First, a strong relationship was found between school choice and changes in school organizational practices. Faced with the voucher threat, Florida public school principals made changes in teaching conditions, enhancing opportunities for student learning, and encouraging parental involvement. Second, the level of threat felt dictated the level of response by principals. Principals at low performing schools felt a greater sense of urgency and responded more quickly and to a greater degree. Principals at high performing schools, on the other hand, did not feel this threat and did not make changes in their organizational practices. The results from this provide support for the use of choice as a mechanism for school reform, since, as the results indicate, principals made changes in their practices to improve the performance of their students when faced with the threat of losing students to other schools through vouchers or opportunity scholarships.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2004
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FADT12107
- Subject Headings
- School choice--United States, School management and organization--United States, Educational equalization--United States, Charter schools--United States, Privatization in education--United States
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Florida's School Choice Policies and Democracy: Origins and Destinations.
- Creator
- Miller, Adam, Mountford, Meredith L., Florida Atlantic University, College of Education, Department of Educational Leadership and Research Methodology
- Abstract/Description
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School choice is a fast growing alternative to traditional public school education across the nation. According to the Florida Department of Education, school choice policies and laws are rapidly moving Florida away from more traditional forms of schooling toward an increasingly evolving school choice state landscape. The purpose of this study was to examine school choice in Florida by investigating the school choice policies enacted by the Florida legislature leading to the school choice...
Show moreSchool choice is a fast growing alternative to traditional public school education across the nation. According to the Florida Department of Education, school choice policies and laws are rapidly moving Florida away from more traditional forms of schooling toward an increasingly evolving school choice state landscape. The purpose of this study was to examine school choice in Florida by investigating the school choice policies enacted by the Florida legislature leading to the school choice environment in Florida today. Specifically, this investigation was limited to legislation in Florida between 1997 and 2014 and further limited to charter schools, home schooling, virtual education, and two choice options specific to Florida in which public dollars follow students to private schools, the Tax Credit and McKay Scholarship programs. These particular school choice options were chosen as the focus of this study because they change the where of education outside of tradit ional public schools. Other choice options such as magnet schools, inter-district choice, and intra-district choice simply move students among traditional public schools but keep them enrolled in traditional public schools. Ultimately the study hoped to provide a possible road map for the future of school choice policies in Florida. This study utilized a qualitative methodology utilizing document reviews and interviews. This study found that school choice policies in Florida have continued to expand and evolve over the years to increase the liberty available to families to choose the education of their children. This study also found that the Florida legislature has laid the groundwork for Florida school districts, through a focus on equality, to take advantage of a portfolio management model to increase student achievement. Although a focus on equality led to the enactment of various school choice options, some of these options have moved away from their original intent to financially benefit specific organizations and groups. Finally, as reported by Holme, Frankenberg, Diem, and Welton (2013), Florida's charter school, virtual education, and home education policies have been enacted as race-neutral policies that have no regard for diversity, which could lead to resegregation.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2015
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004522, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004522
- Subject Headings
- Education and state -- Florida, Educational change -- United States -- Florida, Educational equalization -- United States -- Florida, John M. McKay Scholarship Program for Students with Disabilities, School choice -- United States -- Florida, School districts -- Florida -- Management
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- School choice and Florida’s McKay scholarship program for students with disabilities: an analysis of parental satisfaction.
- Creator
- Black, David B., Sapat, Alka K., Florida Atlantic University, College of Design and Social Inquiry, School of Public Administration
- Abstract/Description
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The purpose of this dissertation was to add to the literature on the school choice debate and educational voucher programs through an analysis of Florida’s John M. McKay Scholarship Program for Students with Disabilities. This dissertation looked at the major aspects of school choice theory, parental satisfaction, and reasoning for choice. A theoretical framework for analyzing school choice programs was put forth in this dissertation through an analysis of the over-arching dynamical elements...
Show moreThe purpose of this dissertation was to add to the literature on the school choice debate and educational voucher programs through an analysis of Florida’s John M. McKay Scholarship Program for Students with Disabilities. This dissertation looked at the major aspects of school choice theory, parental satisfaction, and reasoning for choice. A theoretical framework for analyzing school choice programs was put forth in this dissertation through an analysis of the over-arching dynamical elements that have shaped the administrative and political arguments for and against these programs. A comprehensive review of the literature on school choice comprised a substantial part of this study due to the need for citizens to better comprehend the origins and evolution of school choice planning and programming.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2015
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004428, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004428
- Subject Headings
- Educational equalization -- Florida, Educational vouchers -- Florida, John M. McKay Scholarship Program for Students with Disabilities, Parents of students with disabilities, School choice -- Florida, Special education -- Parent participation -- Florida, Students with disabilities -- Education -- Florida
- Format
- Document (PDF)
