DIFFERENCES IN WHAT PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOL PRINCIPALS EMPHASIZE IN THEIR SCHOOLS.

Henkel, Brittney L.; Slate, John R.

In this study, differences between public and private school principals in regard to emphasizing: (a) staff working well together; (b) achieving high standards; (c) challenges for high-achievers; (d) communicating well with parents; and (e) instructional strategies aligned with standards was examined. Data were obtained and analyzed from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study-Kindergarten (ECLS-K) surveys in which principals were queried regarding areas of emphasis in their schools. Statistically significant differences were present in that public school principals emphasized more than did private school principals at public schools: (a) achieving high standards; (b) challenges for high-achievers; and (c) instructional strategies aligned with standards. A statistically significant difference in emphasis that aligned with the literature was private school principals communicating well with parents over public school principals. Effect sizes for these statistically significant differences were small. Implications of these results are discussed.

SCHOOL principals; PARENT-school relationships; ACADEMIC achievement research; PRIVATE schools; PUBLIC schools; EARLY childhood education

Journal of Education Research, 2013, Vol 7, Issue 2, p103

1935-052X

Academic Journal