| Abstract: |
In 1986-87, Schools for Quality Education, an organization of some 80 small schools in Kansas, and the Center for Rural Education and Small Schools (College of Education, Kansas State University) jointly investigated the effectiveness of representative smaller schools serving rural areas in Kansas. The study, which was conducted in two phases, determined the generally accepted quality indicators of effective schools deemed important in local communities and the extent to which these were present in their schools; the relationship between perceived quality/effectiveness and district wealth, expenditures, enrollment, pupil/teacher ratio and size; and profiles of districts having the lowest and highest quality and effectiveness. The Executive Summary contains only the data from phase 2, which determined the extent to which the indicators were found in the local schools. All of the variables were rated above the mid-point of the 5-point scale, and every respondent group seemed to be satisfied that indicators were found in their schools. Five data tables show perceptions of the 31 variables, profiles for the 5 districts perceived to be most effective and the 5 perceived to be least effective, and percentages of group perceptions of school quality and effectiveness on certain qualitative questions. An additional table summarizes overall perceived school effectiveness and related school district data. (JMM) |