A national assessment of the role of the community educator at the state education agency, regional center and local level

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to more clearly define the role of the community educator at the state education agency, regional center and the local level. In order to accomplish this purpose, the researcher sought answers to the following questions: 1. Do state education agency directors of community education perceive a difference in the roles of the community educator at the local, state and regional center levels? 2. Do regional center directors perceive a difference in the roles of the community educator at the local, state and regional center levels? 3. Do community education directors perceive a difference in the roles of the community educator at the local, state and regional center levels? 4. Are there differences in the role perceptions among state directors, regional center directors and community education directors concerning the roles of the community education director? 5. Are there differences in the role perceptions among state directors, regional center directors and community education directors concerning the roles of the state education agency director of community education? 6. Are there differences in the role perceptions among state directors, regional center directors and community education directors concerning the roles of the regional center director? 7. What extent of responsibility is each level community educator perceived to have for the performing of each of the 63 tasks? A role perception inventory consisting of 63 tasks statements divided into 13 major categories was developed by the researcher and mailed to all regional center directors, all state directors of community education and a simple random sample of local directors. Programs DISTAT and ANSCHEFF were used in the analysis of the data collected during this study. All tests were performed at the .05 level of significance. Based on the data obtained, the answers to the questions raised were as follows...