Degree Name

Education Specialist (EdS)

Semester of Degree Completion

1988

Thesis Director

Larry Janes

Abstract

One purpose of this study was to develop model policies for school districts to use in dealing with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). A second purpose was to identify which school districts in the Educational Service Region (ESR) comprised of Clark, Coles, Cumberland, Edgar, Moultrie, and Shelby counties had addressed the issue of AIDS policies. The population surveyed in the initial phase consisted of 22 superintendents within the ESR. A survey was developed utilizing many items from a national study (Keough and Seaton, 1987). The survey was administered during a monthly meeting of superintendents hosted by Regional Superintendent Rosemary Shepherd. A Likert scale was used where possible and means and positive percentages were calculated. Comparisons with the national results were made. The results clearly showed that local superintendents were representative of their national counterparts. 86% of the districts surveyed had developed or were developing AIDS policies. In developing model policies, the author gathered 14 national, state, and local policies dealing with AIDS. These policies were rated excellent, average, or poor on 13 different criteria suggested by the Illinois State Board of Education and the Illinois Department of Public Health. The results showed that most districts addressed AIDS within the context of a Chronic Contagious Disease Policy, that distinct student and employee policies were preferred, and that the policies were generally weak concerning student and employee rights. Model policies were then developed relying heavily on information gathered in the policy evaluation process.

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