Date of Award
1987
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Psychology
Abstract
This investigation examines the perceptions of elementary principals and preschool directors in the areas of (a) communication and coordination, (b) child-related information, and (c) program and professional development opportunities. A Likert scale was used to record the levels of agreement, and a formality scale was used to record the presence or absence of practices or policies. Thirty-five elementary principals and thirty-seven preschool directors responded to the survey mailed to each licensed preschool program director and public elementary school principal in a major metropolitan county of Indiana. The two-tailed independent t -test (p $<$.05) was used to determine if significant difference existed between the two groups. The chi-square analysis (p $<$.05) was used to analyze frequency data. As a result of the survey analysis several conclusions were reached. The importance of planning and coordinating children's transitions between preschool and kindergarten is perceived to be important. Information about children's previous experiences is useful in planning for children's entry into school. Program and staff development opportunities are important to preparing for children's transitions between settings. Information about child development and its implications for appropriate practices are known to both groups of respondents, but the information is not used in planning for children's transitions. Preschool directors feel the most useful sources of information about program practices and guidelines are teacher training institutions, while elementary principals prefer school corporation inservices. One recommendation based on this study is to replicate the survey with a larger and more diverse sample to examine the interactions between subgroups of independent variables. Also, the goals and uses of readiness tests and screening instruments should be studied in the preschool and elementary settings. The nature of teacher training and leadership development programs in higherEducation should be examined to determine how they promote the development of skills related to planning for children's transitions.
Recommended Citation
Greene, Edward Mitchell, "A Study Of Preschool Directors' And Elementary Principals' Perceptions Of Planning For Children'S Transitions From Preschool To Kindergarten" (1987). All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 749.
https://scholars.indianastate.edu/etds/749