Characteristics and preparation of alternatively and traditionally certified Oklahoma school principals

Abstract

Scope and Method of Study: Quantitative Study with an On-line Survey.

Findings and Conclusions: This study draws together survey results from an on-line instrument administered to Oklahoma principals who are members of the Cooperative Council of Oklahoma School Administrators. This study is one of the first to evaluate how alternative certification is affecting the profile of the principalship in Oklahoma. Following are some of the study's findings: (1)a larger percentage of females serve in the principalship than in previous years in comparison with national studies; (2)traditional principals have more administrative experience than do alternative principals; (3)traditional principals' schools have a larger percentage passing all of the performance standards than do alternative principals' schools; (4)alternative principals on the average are older than traditional principals; (5)alternative principals are more likely to work in larger school districts than traditional principals; (6)alternative principals are more likely to work in schools with a higher poverty level than traditional principals; (7) there were more minorities from the alternatively certified group of participants than from the traditionally certified group of participants when analyzing by gender and ethnicity.