| The purpose of this study was to examine the practice and explore perceptions of the value and effects of sabbatical leave as a model of professional development for educational administrators in public school districts in Washington state. All Washington districts were surveyed to determine whether they have an administrative sabbatical leave policy and, if so, whether and to what extent they utilized it in the period 1970-1984. Personnel directors in districts which had granted administrative sabbatical leave were then surveyed to collect data regarding specific leave practices and the value and effects of leave from a district perspective. Finally, leave recipients were surveyed to gather detailed information regarding their leaves and to assess their perceptions of the value and effects of leave.;On the basis of the study, it was concluded that there is strong evidence to support the positive value of administrative sabbactical leave to both recipients and districts, to support the positive effects of leave on job effectiveness, job attitudes, and continuing interest in professional development, and to indicate no less than a neutral leave effect on career development. It was further concluded that districts, individual administrators, and professional administrator organizations should give serious considerations to the use of administrative sabbatical leave as a professional development strategy. Moreover, districts should provide maximum opportunity for contribution of leave-acquired growth and carefully evaluate communication strategies with sabbaticants.;The most significant results of the study were that both leave recipients and their respective districts were found to hold strong positive perceptions of the value of sabbatical leave as a professional development strategy for educational administrators. Furthermore, both groups expressed strong positive perceptions regarding the effect of leave on job effectiveness, job attitudes, continuing interest in professional development, and on the ability to make the transition back to service following leave. Leave was also seen to exert a positive effect on career development from the district perspective, although sabbaticants viewed this effect more neutrally. Additional findings included the extent of leave availability and utilization and their relationship to district size, patterns of practice, and a profile of administrative sabbaticants. |
