Date of Award
9-2012
Culminating Project Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Educational Administration and Leadership, K-12: Ed.D.
Department
Educational Administration and Higher Education
College
School of Education
First Advisor
John Eller
Second Advisor
Frances Kayona
Third Advisor
Nicholas Miller
Fourth Advisor
Roger Warner
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Keywords and Subject Headings
staff perceptions, change process, school calendar
Abstract
The purpose of this study was a program evaluation to describe the staff perceptions of the overall implementation of the flexible learning year (FLY) initiative and the perceived impact on students and staff as a result of the project. Variables of the study include respondents' job role, tenure during the FLY project years, overall tenure, age, vision of the project, initial and current perception of the project goals, staff opportunities and challenges, professional development hours prior to FLY and during FLY, redirection of district personnel and financial resources, and the overall perception of the program to date.
Data from 265 licensed instructional staff and administrators from thirteen flexible learning year schools were analyzed to discover an overview of the perceptions of this restructuring program. The perceptions were measured using an online survey. Using analysis of frequency data, correlations, an analysis of Pearson's Chi-Square, and qualitative data, a comprehensive overview of the current implementation process of the flexible learning year and recommendations for future improvements to the program were developed.
This study found that there was a significant difference between the perceptions of licensed instructional staff and administrators in the implementation process of the flexible learning year program. There was also a positive perception on the professional development experiences of the staff, the quality of the training, and benefits to the survey respondents' jobs. The current overall perception of the program was split evenly between being positive, neutral, or negative by the respondents.
There were no statistical differences or correlations between the perceptions of the various flexible learning year components and the demographic variables of the participants. The study of the flexible learning year program is important to improve the current implementation of the existing program and to provide other school districts with recommendations on implementing a similar program in the future. The flexible learning year initiative, or a program similar to it, can be used as a restructuring program to assist with increasing student achievement through a collaborative, data-driven process.
Recommended Citation
Arndt, Sandi J., "Staff Perceptions of the Implementation of the Flexible Learning Year" (2012). Culminating Projects in Education Administration and Leadership. 128.
https://repository.stcloudstate.edu/edad_etds/128
