Article of Interest
NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND: Determining the Impact of Policy on Music Education in Ohio
Published in No. 179, Winter 2009
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to ascertain the impact of No Child Left Behind on music education in the State of Ohio. Survey research methods were employed to obtain the desired data. A 25-item questionnaire was created by the researcher, validated by experts, and pilot tested with a small group of Ohio principals. Six Likert-type items were utilized to measure principals' attitudes while the remaining items helped the researcher detail the status of music programs with regard to staffing, student access, instructional time, and course offerings. The questionnaire was sent to a random sample of 246 public school principals in Ohio. Usable returns were received from 179 principals, resulting in a response rate of 73%.
The overall attitude toward music education among Ohio principals was favorable, with a mean attitudinal score of 25.1 (SD = 3.1). Significant differences between the attitudes of principals serving in "excellent" or "effective" schools and the principals of "academic watch" or "academic emergency" schools were revealed. Ultimately, 43% of Ohio's public school music programs were determined to have weakened since the passage of No Child Left Behind.
