The willingness to accept school choice voucher money by school heads of private and parochial schools in the state of Texas

The purpose of this study was to examine private and parochial school principal and superintendent attitudes (as representatives of their schools or school systems) toward school choice vouchers. Characteristics of schools favoring school choice vouchers were compared with the characteristics of schools opposing them. The following questions were investigated: (1) To what extent does the grade level of the school affect the school head's willingness to accept state voucher money? (2) To what extent does the religious affiliation, if any, of the school affect the school head's willingness to accept state voucher money? (3) How does the cost of tuition affect the school head's willingness to accept state voucher money? (4) How does the ethnicity of the student body affect the school head's willingness to accept state voucher money? (5) To what extent does the school's current building capacity affect the schoolhead's willingness to accept state voucher money? (6) How does the financial stability of the school affect the school head's willingness to accept state voucher money? (7) To what extent do enrollment changes over the past five years affect the schoolhead's willingness to accept state voucher money? (8) How does the size of the school affect the school head's willingness to accept state voucher money? (9) How do schools that cover a large percentage of their costs by tuition differ from those schools that only cover a low percentage of their costs by tuition with regard to their school head's willingness to accept state voucher money?;A survey instrument was developed using indicators to measure attitudes toward the acceptance of vouchers and collect data about several demographic variables including current enrollment, religious affiliation, tuition, ethnicity of student population, percent of capacity, enrollment trends, and financial position.;This study surveyed school heads from all accredited non-public schools in the state of Texas as listed in the Texas School Directory, 1995-96 Edition. Two hundred and twelve questionnaires were returned and analyzed.;Results of the study indicate that private and parochial school heads in the state of Texas would accept voucher money from the state provided there were few restrictions or obligations placed on the acceptance of the voucher money. Any restriction of religious practices would significantly lower their willingness to accept voucher money. In general, the size of the school, the enrollment trend of the school, the capacity of the school, the financial stability of the school, the cost of tuition, and the percentage of costs covered by tuition made no difference in the school head's willingness to accept state voucher money.