An analysis of selected school community council members' attitudes toward council membership and their perceptions regarding council influence.

The general purpose of this study was to ascertain certain attitudes and perceptions held by school council members and community residents in Region VIII, of the Detroit Public Schools. These were attitudes and perceptions regarding council memberships, and the influence of school community councils. A questionnaire was used to gather the data. Within a study population of 198 persons, 109, (55%) responded. The questions were designed to examine differences in opinions between people of different ages, employment, race, sex, religion and income levels, regarding (1) who should be council members, (2) to what degree do councils already have influence on decision-making, (3) to what degree councils should have influence on decision-making, and (4) the extent to which differences exists between the degree of influence councils already have and should have on decision-making. The findings from the study indicated that most groups were satisfied with the persons who filled the six categories of council representation. However, there was significant differences between respondents of different age levels regarding the representation for community assistants; between employment groups about the representation for students and administrators/teachers; and between racial groups regarding the representation for student on the council. The data indicate that race and income have influence on opinions about the decision-making powers councils already have regarding personnel and testing/students. However, no significant differences were found by age, employment, sex and religion regarding council influence on the four categories of decision-making. The data further suggest that employment levels, race and income influence opinions about decision-making powers councils should have in all four categories; while age, sex and religion influence opinions in only one category of decision-making. When the differences between the extent of influence council already have and should have were examined, respondents generally felt that council should have more influence than they presently have. This was true regardless of respondents age, employment, race, sex, religion and income. From the study's findings, implications were drawn for further research, and recommendations were made for the development of policy and practices for school community councils in the Detroit Public Schools.PhDEducational administrationUniversity of Michiganhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/162265/1/8920639.pd