Parental attitudes related to selected variables in selected elementary schools of the Metropolitan School District of Washington Township in Marion County, Indiana

The purpose of the study was to determine the attitudes of parents of students enrolled in non-IGE elementary schools of the Metropolitan School District of Washington Township, relative to existing educational programs provided in district non-IGE elementary schools, educational alternative preferences for elementary school students, and reporting of pupil progress to parents. The study population consisted of 1,244 parents from the 3,522 households having children enrolled in district non-IGE elementary schools. A survey instrument was developed consisting of fifty-five statement items, each utilizing a Likert scale with forced response. One instrument was sent to parents in each of the 8,522 households having children enrolled in district non-IGE elementary schools.The following summary of the findings is based on an analysis of parent responses received from the study population.1. Most responding parents expressed pride in the Washington Township non-IGE elementary schools and perceived the overall educational program quality of the schools as high, with children learning what parents preferred children to learn in school.2. Parents responding were generally satisfied with child-teacher relationships, student instruction, the degree of respect for individuals in school, and the degree of difficulty of educational materials.3. The majority of parent respondents perceived children as comfortable with the classroom atmosphere, experiencing successful school progress, and eager to go to school.4. Parent respondents generally indicated school rules, regulations, and policies were reasonable and that order and control in school should not be more strict.5. Most parents responding expressed positive attitudes toward existing parent-school relations.6. A majority of parent-respondents expressed satisfaction with the appropriateness of the report card parents received regarding student progress and did not perceive an over emphasis on grades by the school.7. Most parents preferred being kept informed of student progress through the use of parent-teacher conferences and written evaluations. The types of written evaluations most preferred by responding parents were check lists of specific skills in particular subjects and report cards utilizing A, B, C, D, and F grades.8. A majority of parents responding to survey items relative to alternative programs expressed interest in alternative educational programs for children.9. Parent respondents interested in alternative educational programs for children were almost evenly divided in opinion relative to a willingness to have children transported at least thirty minutes each way in order to attend preferred alternative educational programs.10. Parents expressing interest in alternative educational programs indicated a willingness to send children to schools with the following alternative educational programs, in descending order: Continuous Progress, Basic Fundamental, and Creative Arts.11. A majority of the parents expressing an opinion relative to the need for at least one junior high alternative educational program available to all junior high students in the township expressed a willingness to consider sending children to a junior high school with an alternative educational program.Study research and findings support the contention that school officials can advantageously survey parents as a means of securing parental attitudes, views, and expectations to plan more effectively for future educational programs.Thesis (D. Ed.