Date of Award

4-1-2007

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (Ded)

Department

Educational Leadership

First Advisor

Dr. John W. Hill

Second Advisor

Dr. Karen L. Hayes

Third Advisor

Dr. Neal F. Grandgenett

Fourth Advisor

Dr. Larry L. Dlugosh

Abstract

This study examined the impact of public elementary principal supervision, and prior prekindergarten coursework/experience on the measured quality of public prekindergarten classrooms and students' developmental outcomes. Pretest-posttest results indicated that students' developmental outcomes significantly improved across six early learning domains in all three of the independent variable principal conditions where (a) principals supervised and had prior prekindergarten coursework/experience or (b) principals supervised and did not have prior prekindergarten coursework/experience or (c) principals who did not supervise their prekindergarten classrooms. However, posttest-posttest results comparing student's developmental outcomes indicated no patterns of significant differences between the three principal conditions. Furthermore, posttest-posttest classroom quality measures were also found to be equivalent. Spearman rank order correlation coefficient analysis indicated no significant relationship between the rank order of the measured quality of classrooms and the rank order of mean classroom gains for student developmental outcomes. Results suggest scale up of prekindergarten classroom at a pace that ensures continued quality program development.

Comments

A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of the Graduate College of the University of Nebraska in Partial Fulfillment of Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Education. Copyright 2007 Lisa St. Clair.

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