Date of Award

4-1983

Degree Name

Doctor of Education

Department

Educational Leadership

First Advisor

Dr. Lawrence Schlack

Second Advisor

Dr. John Nangle

Third Advisor

Dr. Donna Schmitt

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to review the relationship between the operation of a full-time community information/relations program and citizen financial support in Michigan local school districts. The study also identified and investigated model components of successful full-time community information/relations programs.

Financial support records of 11 local school districts identified as operating full-time community information/relations programs (community information/relations districts) were compared to those records established by a comparable sample group of local school districts which did not operate a program (traditional districts) during a five year period, 1977-1982. This was done to determine whether districts operating community information/relations programs experienced greater citizen financial support during the review period than those that did not.

The findings of the statistical tests performed on the research hypotheses of the study indicated that there were no significant relationships between millage issue passage rates for community information/relations districts when compared with traditional districts during the review period. No associations were found between the two groups of districts in respect to passage of renewal, additional, or overall millage issues from 1977-1982.

Among the 11 districts identified as operating full-time community information/relations programs, five Michigan local school districts were evaluated by use of selected criteria as being successful community information/relations programs. From responses on a primary review instrument and a secondary listing of questions administered during indepth interviews, a number of model program components were identified by successful community information/relations program administrators and were reported in the study.

The investigation revealed that the operation of a community information/relations program had positive impact upon citizen financial support in selected local school districts. By conducting a careful analysis of local conditions and developing a greater understanding of the composition and structure of community information/relations program components, and by careful, directed implementation of selected components, benefits related to maintained and increased citizen support can be experienced by Michigan local school districts.

Access Setting

Dissertation-Open Access

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