Date Approved

2011

Degree Type

Open Access Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Department or School

Leadership and Counseling

Committee Member

Ronald Williamson, EdD, Chair

Committee Member

James Berry, EdD

Committee Member

Ella Burton, EdD

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine what relationship exists between school climate and student growth in Michigan charter schools. Data were collected through the use of a school climate survey and standardized assessment results. The Organizational Climate Descriptive Questionnaire for Elementary Schools (OCDQ-RE) developed by Hoy, Tarter, and Kottkamp (1991) was used to assess teacher perceptions of school climate. Student growth data were calculated using the fall and spring reading and math results from the Performance Series test by Scantron, and the MAP test by NWEA.

The population of this study consisted of 355 teachers from 11 participating schools serving students in grades 3 through 8, selected from a purposeful sample of 35 charter schools in Michigan. Data were analyzed through the Pearson Product-Moment correlation analysis and linear regression analysis.

The results indicated a significant relationship between both principal openness and student growth, and teacher openness and student growth with p-value <0.01. Additionally, these results indicated a significant relationship between whether a school was open or closed and student growth. In short, the results of this study conclude that there is a significant relationship between school climate and student growth with p-value < 0.01.

Comments

Additional committee member: Nelson Maylone, EdD

Download

Included in

Education Commons

Share

COinS