Participatory decision-making: Principals' perceptions and teachers' perceptions

This study focuses on the process of participatory decision making as it applies to the functioning of the Professional Personnel Advisory Committees (PPACs) in the Chicago Public Schools. The researcher employed a mixed methodological approach to providing an understanding of the perceptions of both principals and PPAC members as related to the involvement of that group in decision making. Participants provided descriptions related to the level of the groups' awareness of the legislation which created the PPAC, activities that facilitate or impede their operation and the degree of support provided by the principal.Data were collected through the use of a survey and interviews. Surveys were sent to 48 schools. In each school separate surveys were provided for the principal and three members of the schools' PPAC. Interviews of the principal and three members of the PPAC were conducted at one the schools that responded to the survey.U of I OnlyETDs are only available to UIUC Users without author permissio