EFFECTIVE CITIZEN PARTICIPATION STRATEGIES FOR EDUCATIONAL LEADERS

This study examined the effectiveness of citizen participation
strategies occurring most frequently in the administration of educational
programs.
Determining the most frequently occurring citizen participation
strategies required an exhaustive search of case studies noting the frequency
of occurrence of the various strategies. A second search of the
case studies yielded twenty critical criteria or issues which were frequently
mentioned in the selection of a particular citizen participation
strategy. Strategies found to occur most frequently were the public
hearing, advisory committees, organizations and workshops.
A panel of experts was randomly selected from a list of educational
leaders with experience in citizen participation. A questionnaire
was drafted, field tested and then mailed to each expert.
It was found that educational leaders rank the advisory committee
strategy as the most effective strategy followed by the workshop, organizations
and public hearings. Another conclusion reached was that when specific criteria are suggested, the preferred strategy is subject to
change based on the criteria and circunstance of the situation.
The study further revealed that when a specific criteria or issue
is weighted most heavily, the educational leaders identify different
strategies as being most effective for the various circumstances. Differences
in the frequencies of first choice responses within the demographic
categories were also interpreted to be significant by the chi-square
test.