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Dissertation
Principals' Use of Data in Small and Rural School Districts of Florida
University of West Florida Libraries
Doctor of Education (EDD), University of West Florida
2008
Abstract
Federal and state legislation require greater attention and effort on the part of schools to meet higher student-achievement standards. Principals are the driving force at the school level to direct that needed attention and effort. Developing strategies for continuous school improvement requires constant collection and analysis of data for better decisions that produce effective outcomes. National and state standards for school leaders include the use of data as a resource for instructional leadership. Florida has an increasing need for new principals with data analysis skills. Little is known about the use of data by current principals in small and rural school districts. This study replicates the research by Torrence (2002) and updates prior research while contributing a rural Florida perspective of the use of data by principals. Two questions guided (a) a description of how principals use data in their roles as instructional leaders and (b) the determination of the relationship(s) between predictor variables and principals’ use of data. A sample of 164 principals out of 240 from the 33 legislatively designated small and rural school districts in Florida responded to a questionnaire developed by Torrence (2002) and used in this study with permission. Findings of the survey were similar to those of the Torrence study, in that principals are using data in various ways and are embracing the role of instructional leader. Additionally, this study indicated that principals’ attitudes, principals’ personal competencies in using data, and the characteristics of the school proved statistically significant in predicting principals’ use of data. However, principals’ self-perceptions, principals’ professional development, and characteristics of the school district did not prove to be statistically significant. The results of this study are important because individuals planning continual professional development for current principals and developing preparation programs for teacher leaders or aspiring principals will be able to target effective strategies to the attributes shown to be the best predictors of principals’ use of data for school improvement.
Details
- Title
- Principals' Use of Data in Small and Rural School Districts of Florida
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Publisher
- University of West Florida Libraries
- Format
- pdf
- Number of pages
- 199
- Copyright
- ©2008 Hubert O'Neal Meadows
- Identifiers
- 99380090848806600
- Academic Unit
- School of Education
- Language
- English
- Awarding Institution
- University of West Florida; Doctor of Education (EDD)
- Theses and Dissertations
- Doctor of Education (EDD), University of West Florida