| This is a descriptive study on the results of a statewide survey of Nevada public school parent/guardians on their perception of accountability legislation initiated between 1989 and 1993. The legislation mandated school accountability reports (SARs) designed to inform policymakers as well as the general public of the status and progress of every public school in the state.; Questionnaires were distributed to parents through K–12 students who represented a 10% sample of the enrollment at every public school in Nevada. There were 4,840 usable returns from the distribution of 31,017 surveys. Results were analyzed using frequency distributions, cross tabulations and chi square.; Key findings include the following: (1) 74.2% of respondents read all or most of their individual SAR; (2) Respondents indicated they placed highest importance on the SAR reporting categories of class size ratio, test score summaries, school progress toward goals, teacher experience, incidents of violence, computer access, and possession of drugs or weapons; (3) Lowest response for importance were in the categories of migrant education, transiency, high school graduates enrolled in remedial college courses, English as a Second Language, and free and reduced lunch; (4) 84.9% agreed the information in the SAR was what the respondent was interested in knowing about their child's school, and 72.8% felt they were more informed because of the SAR; (5) 50.5% indicated there was enough information in the SAR and 20.3% disagreed; (6) 60.4% felt the SAR had about the right amount of detail; (7) 55% felt the SAR did not change their opinion of their child's school and 29% felt the SAR change their opinion for the better; and (8) Open response tallies revealed 63% positive comments to 37% negative.; Statistically significant differences were found in demographic variables of gender, age, family head, education, income, and urban/rural setting when compared to responses on six Likert scale questions. Significant differences were found most often in variables for education and income. |
