The relevance of the effective school correlates, to alternative education settings, for student in a correctional system, as identified by the teachers and adminstrators in selected charter schools, in Harris County, Texas

Abstract

The State of Texas accepted the Effective School Research model and its correlates as a way of determining whether the state’s schools are effective. This included all juvenile justice alternative educational facilities. The purpose of the study was to assess the relevance of the Effective School Correlates to alternative educational settings for students in a correctional system as identified by the teachers and administrators in selected charter schools in Harris County, Texas. Secondly, the study was to suggest modification to the Effective School Correlates to make them relevant to an alternative educational setting for students in the correctional system in selected charter schools in Harris County, Texas. The literature revealed a potential lack of fit between the Effective School Correlates as the “Key Characteristic of Effective Schools” and their relevance to the context of alternative schools for students in the correctional systems. This study led to the postulation that the Effective School Correlates as written may need altering to meet the needs of the specialized correctional school setting. However, it is not clear what shape or direction this alteration would take. Findings of this study indicated that problems existed with the application of the Correlates as they related to the selected Charter Schools in Harris County, Texas. The population size limited the study and caution should be taken not to over-generalize the data.