The role of community schools in the society of the future, as perceived by opinion leaders in selected Texas communities

Abstract

This study was designed to generate information which might be used by school districts in Texas in planning and designing community education programs for the future. The purpose of the study was to determine the role community schools of Texas should play in satisfying the societal needs to be evident during 1976-1985. An additional purpose was to determine if community education programs influence opinion leaders perceptions of the role of community schools. The study was limited to a random sample of school districts whose average daily attendance did not exceed 10,000 students during the 1974-75 school year. It was assumed that such a study would have more impact by limiting it to school districts of this size. Most programs operating in the state were found in these districts and a very high percentage of school districts in Texas had a similar average daily attendance. In order to determine the role community schools should play in satisfying future societal needs, it was necessary to identify future events which would impact heavily on community education. A panel of experts, composed of randomly selected directors and associate directors of centers for community education development, responded to a propositional inventory which proposed the occurrence of various societal events. The panel was asked to provide opinions relative to the likelihood of occurrence during 1976-1985 and the impact the events would have on community education if they did come to pass. In addition, members of the panel were asked to suggest their own propositions and to score them in the same manner..