Degree Name

Education Specialist (EdS)

Semester of Degree Completion

1992

Thesis Director

Beverly Findley

Abstract

In the fall of 1992, P.L. 87-559 will change the way schools and districts in Illinois are evaluated for the purpose of recognition. This is commonly known as Illinois' new accountability law. This law shifts recognition from solely legal compliance to include school performance and school improvement.

Five educational indicators were chosen for Illinois' new accountability law by the State Legislature in conjunction with the Illinois State Board of Education. This research study measured administrators perceptions about the five educational indicators used in Illinois' new accountability law. In addition, ten national educational indicators were selected and administrators were requested to rank their perceptions of the effectiveness of each. Subsequently, the five educational indicators from Illinois' new accountbility law were combined with the ten national educational indicators selected by the researcher and administrators were again asked for their perceptions in importance by rank. Finally, administrators were asked if they would change Illinois' new accountability law and, if so, how?

The research study focused on determining which educational indicators administrators felt were most important by rank so that the Illinois General Asssembly in conjunction with the Illinois State Board of Education might use the results to determine if Illinois' new accountability law is using the best possible educational indicators.

Procedures

State and national educational indicators were researched through the Administrator Opinion Questionnaire designed by the researcher. It was administered in East-Central Illinois to all 134 administrators in the Educational Service Center #15 area. The return rate of the survey was 64.2%. Descriptive statistics and the t-test were used to analyze the data.

Results

The results of the research study varied as to what educational indicators administrators felt should be included in Illinois' new accountability law (P.L. 87-559). Most administrators felt that student performance is the best educational indicator for measuring the effectiveness of a school or district for the purpose of recognition. Student attendance and student graduation rate were judged moderately important educational indicators. Student retention rated poorly (fourth) and student expulsion ranked last (fifth) of all of the state educational indicators and national educational indicators rated.

Seven of the ten national educational indicators selected by the researcher were ranked highly by administrators in East-Central Illinois (ESC #15) and might merit inclusion in Illinois' new accountability law. The highest ranking of the ten national educational indicators was teacher competency followed in order by critical thinking skills, funding equity, responsibility, honesty, community educational support, and workplace competency. Tolerance of ideas, preschool programs, and international awareness ranked poorest of the national educational indicators selected by the researcher.

The research study revealed administrators' perceptions on key factors about educational indicators and their effects on schools. The opinions expressed by administrators should serve as a basis of discussion about what national educational indicators might be included in Illinois' new accountability law.

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