Date of Conferral

1-1-2011

Degree

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

School

Education

Advisor

Michael Brophy

Abstract

As school buildings continue to age, school stakeholders are increasingly concerned about the influence school facilities have on the academic achievement of students, especially in urban low income school districts. The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to examine school building conditions through the perceptions of 12 stakeholders including teachers, facility managers, administrators, and school board members in 3 school districts. The research question involved understanding how local school stakeholders perceived or acknowledged the relevance and relationship of school building conditions to student learning, social constructivism and aspects of organizational theory severed as the conceptual frameworks for this study. A recursive coding method and a comparative content analysis of semistructured interviews was completed. Themes that emerged included thermal comfort, technology, and symbolism. Analysis of interview responses revealed stakeholders perceived that thermal comfort and the presence of stationary technology within classrooms are of primary importance to student learning. Also, the analysis highlighted a common perception supporting the premise that the condition of school facilities represents a symbolic measure of the importance placed on student achievement by the school community. Implications for positive social change include a data-driven dialogue involving policies and practices that support providing optimum school buildings and facilities to support low-income and minority student achievement.

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