ERIC Number: ED665248
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2024
Pages: 124
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: 979-8346870869
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
The Impact of School Building Conditions on School Climate, Student Attendance, and Teacher Job Satisfaction in an Urban School District
Omar Mitwally
ProQuest LLC, Ed.D. Dissertation, Caldwell University
The study examined the impact of school building conditions on school climate, student attendance, and teacher job satisfaction in an urban school district in northern New Jersey. The following research questions were analyzed using a t-test and regression analysis: (a) To what extent do school building conditions affect the school climate in an urban environment? (b) To what extent do school building conditions affect student attendance? (c) To what extent do school building conditions affect teacher job satisfaction? Data were collected from the eight selected schools in the district through surveys completed by school administrators and certified staff. Each school's administrator evaluated its school building by completing the Commonwealth Assessment of Physical Environment (CAPE). 143 certified staff members from the eight selected schools completed the school climate survey. Additionally, focus group interviews provided qualitative insights into the educators' work experiences. Student attendance and chronic absenteeism data were collected and analyzed for each school in the study. Quantitative findings revealed no significant difference between school building conditions and student attendance. The school climate survey was disaggregated into five dependent variables to examine teacher job satisfaction. A t-test was used to determine the difference in the variables between the old and new buildings. The results revealed no difference between old and new schools in job satisfaction, attitudes toward student success, and respect. However, old schools scored significantly higher on physical environment, representing poor physical conditions. Newer schools scored higher on safety, which indicates that teachers and other employees feel safe at and around the school buildings. Qualitative results from the focus group interviews revealed that teachers who work in the new schools feel their school is well-maintained, and that cleanliness contributes to a positive and comfortable environment. The acoustics, security features, and central air-conditioning made them feel safe and comfortable. However, teachers who work in the old school buildings felt the lack of heating/cooling, dirtiness, and disrepair negatively impacted their ability to deliver lessons effectively. Most teachers from both groups felt they looked forward to going to work due to the people they worked with, especially school leadership. The study concludes with the implications of practice and lays the groundwork for future studies, including longitudinal investigations to isolate the effects of building conditions from leadership influences. Establishing a standards-based physical environment and indoor air quality inspection tools will improve the quality of the school facility, which can result in higher student attendance and teacher retention rates. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
Descriptors: School Buildings, Disadvantaged Schools, Teaching Conditions, Educational Environment, Attendance, Urban Schools, Teacher Attitudes, Job Satisfaction, Principals, School Safety, Facility Improvement, Climate Control
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Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: New Jersey
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A