A COMPARISON OF ATTITUDES TOWARD AND KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE WEST CHESTER AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT HELD BY PARENT AND NON-PARENT RESIDENTS OF THE DISTRICT (PUBLIC RELATIONS; PENNSYLVANIA)

The purpose of this research was to determine if there is a distinction between parent and non-parent residents of the West Chester Area School District regarding their attitudes toward and knowledge about the District. Currently a number of state and national studies have identified a distinction between parent and non-parent responses to questions regarding attitudes and knowledge about public education. This study, conducted at the local district level, was meant to establish as similar distinction between parent and non-parent responses to questions specific to the District, and to provide information necessary for decision making and planning for the District. The methodology for the study consisted of a probability survey of 412 selected West Chester Area School District households, conducted between October 3 and October 10, 1983. The questionnaire used in the study included demographic, factual an opinion questions. The results of the study were analyzed to determine differences between the parent and non-parent groups. Specific results included: (1) As a group, non-parents appear to have less knowledge about the District and receive their information from different sources than does the parent group. (2) In the West Chester Area School District approximately 70 percent of the households have no children attending District public schools. (3) There is a difference in parent and non-parent attitudes toward the District as noted specifically in the difference in percentage of each population grading the District an A or B (72 percent of parents gave the District an A or B , while 49 percent of non-parents provided a similar grade) and the difference in percentage of each population\u27s answering Don\u27t Know (1 percent of parents were unable to answer, and 26 percent of non-parents were unable to answer)