Date of Award

Spring 5-1-2005

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Educational Leadership

First Advisor

Bradley Balch

Second Advisor

Todd Whitaker

Third Advisor

Sarah Wannemuehler

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the reasons that influence parents to choose Catholic schools for their children and to determine which demographic and educational factors predict their importance. The study also examined how parish activity influences the importance placed on those reasons. Additionally, it explored the relationship between the reasons that influence choice and parents' overall satisfaction with the schools they have chosen for their children. The study provides an historical overview of the development of Catholic schools in the United States emphasizing the reasons why these schools were established and supported. The last twenty-five years of decline and resurgence are described along with contemporary issues affecting schools and school choice. Multiple regression studies were used to determine if demographic and educational factors would predict the importance parents placed on twelve independent variables, including such items as religious education, academic programs, and discipline. Findings indicated that eight different demographic factors could predict the importance IV parents placed on child's preference, faculty, family tradition, parent involvement, physical facility, religious education, safety, and technology. An additional multiple regression study indicated that the greater the level of parish participation of the mother, the more importance parents placed on discipline and religious education. For educational factors, only the mother's attendance at a Catholic school predicted a higher degree of importance placed on family tradition as a reason for choosing a Catholic school. The importance of the 12 reasons for choosing Catholic schools did not predict the overall satisfaction parents reported with the schools they had chosen for their children. However, the mean score for overall satisfaction reported was high. This study provides information that administrators may use to consider factors that are important to parents as they choose the schools their children will attend. Data collection was limited to the Diocese of Evansville, but included elementary and secondary schools in both urban and small town/rural areas. The sample size was 288 households with 151 respondents.

Download

Share

COinS