Date of Award

1-1-1986

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Teaching & Learning

Abstract

There is very little published information concerning educational vouchers and whether or not they will affect parental choices of schools. The purposes of this study were (1) to determine parental attitudes concerning education vouchers and the Minnesota Postsecondary Enrollment Options Act, and (2) to examine evidence concerning the impact the Minnesota Postsecondary Enrollment Options Act will make on educational choices for parents.A random sampling of participating and nonparticipating eleventh- and twelfth-grade public school parents from twelve northwestern Minnesota counties were mailed a questionnaire which had been developed to elicit answers relating to the Minnesota Postsecondary Enrollment Options Act. The data collected in this study were computed as simple totals and percentages and analyzed using a Chi Square Test to determine the relationships between the demographic classifications and the dependent variables.Conclusions drawn from the results of this study were: (1) As the level of household income increased, the level of prior knowledge of the Minnesota Postsecondary Enrollment Options Act increased and the more likely the respondents were to believe that parents should be responsible for all college tuition costs. (2) As the distance to a postsecondary institution increased, the level of the respondent's prior knowledge of the program and the respondent's belief that high schools should not accept nonacademic college credits increased. (3) As the amount of the father's formal education increased, the level of the respondent's prior knowledge of the program and current program participation increased. (4) Respondents who indicated their religion was "other," "none," or "mixed" were significantly more in favor of the program than the Protestant or Catholic respondents. (5) "Choice of classes" was selected most frequently as a factor influencing parental decisions to utilize the Minnesota Postsecondary Enrollment Options Act. "Cost," "college credit," and "transportation" were found to be the second, third, and fourth most frequently selected factors.

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