Student participation in administrative decision making as seen by school board presidents, superintendents and high school principals of selected public schools in Texas

Abstract

This study was designed to determine the ideal role (optimum program of involvement) and the existing role students play in the administrative decision making process as perceived by the administrative hierarchy of selected large Texas public school systems. Along with the two roles, the element of change and major factors producing it were considered over a five-year base. The sampled administrative hierarchy consisted of school board presidents, superintendents, and selected high school principals from the 166 Texas public school systems having 2,500 or more in average daily attendance for the 1970-71 school year. Approximately 40 per cent of those surveyed responded. The basic survey instrument used was Instrument for Evaluation of Student Involvement in High School Policy Making which consists of forty-eight criteria supplemented by eight additional data items. Six null hypotheses were advanced to be tested in the study. The first two compare the three groups in their perceptual difference in the existing or ideal role for student involvement in decision making. No significant difference was found. The next three state that each of the three groups would perceive no significant difference between the ideal and the existing role for students in decision making. This was disproved, with each group believing that students should have greater involvement. The final hypothesis concerned the student involvement role change concept of the three groups. Each group perceived change, with the superintendents indicating the greatest. ...