Competitive threat : rural traditional public school leaders’ understanding and preparedness for competition with charter schools
- UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Randal L. Hunt (Creator)
- Institution
- The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
- Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
- Advisor
- Kathryn Hytten
Abstract: The purpose of this study is to determine what rural traditional public school leaders know and understand about charter schools, and gauge their preparedness to compete with charter schools. In this qualitative study, I interviewed eight participants, six principals and two assistant superintendents. Participants first shared their knowledge and perceptions about charter schools, and any interactions that they have had. Participants then shared their views about marketing their schools or district, and how they would respond to a charter school opening up in their district. After interviewing participants and analyzing the data, I answered both of my research questions. First, in determining the knowledge and perceptions of rural traditional public school leaders, there is very limited interest in charter schools unless there is a direct threat. Rural traditional public school leaders are more concerned with their standing among stakeholders within their own communities, and charter schools are basically, out of sight, out of mind. Second, I examined rural traditional public school leaders’ preparedness to compete with charter schools. Overall, participants are focused internally, within their own district’s borders, and they did not believe that the communities that they serve would allow an outside force like charter schools to succeed. While there are indicators among participants that experience with charter school threats create resilience among leaders, faith in their hard work and stakeholders within the communities that they serve as their competitive strategy. For rural traditional public school leaders, where you lay your head at night is the determining factor in where a student attends school. The implications of this study will provide strategies for how traditional public schools can better prepare themselves for competition with charter schools and a more competitive educational marketplace.
Competitive threat : rural traditional public school leaders’ understanding and preparedness for competition with charter schools
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Created on 8/1/2024
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Additional Information
- Publication
- Dissertation
- Language: English
- Date: 2024
- Keywords
- Charter Schools, Competition, Marketing, Rural, School Choice, Traditional Public Schools
- Subjects
- School choice $z North Carolina
- Rural schools $z North Carolina
- Public schools $z North Carolina
- Charter schools $z North Carolina