llinois K-12 public education administrators' attitudes about, participation in and support of the fine arts were investigated to determine what impact those experiences might have on the inclusion of fine arts in the schools they lead. A secondary consideration was if attitudes toward the fine arts played a role in the inclusion of the fine arts in the curriculum. The study also focused on any geographical and financial information, which might also have had an impact on administrator decisions regarding the fine arts in K-12 public education. Data for the study were gathered by using a researcher developed survey instrument of factors contributing to administrators' attitudes toward the fine arts. Using a survey and conducting follow up interviews with administrators were the means of collecting data for the study. The sample population for this study was 160 public school administrators from Illinois. Descriptive statistics and comparison of means were applied to examine the factors associated with the fine arts participation and fine arts attitudes of the administrators. Correlational analysis between the administrator attitudes and numbers of fine arts activities the respondents attended within and beyond a 60 mile radius were significant. Other areas of significance in the data were related to the funding inequities in public education in the state of Illinois as well as background the administrators had as a student, participant or supporter of the fine arts. The results of this study discuss the overall belief systems of the administrators, where they may have obtained those beliefs and how those beliefs impacted their attitude when considering the presence of the fine arts in K-12 public education in Illinois. [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.]