Parent Perceptions of the Efficacy of Electronic School-Home Communication Methods Used by the Faculty and Administration of a Rural High School in Southern Georgia

JSCH_V4_N2_RP3 Parent Perceptions of the Efficacy of Electronic School-Home Communication Methods Used by the Faculty and Administration of a Rural High School in Southern Georgia Arlie Parker III Dana Sparkman Journal on School Educational Technology 2230 – 7133 4 2 40 54 The purpose of this study was to determine parent perceptions of the efficacy of the use of three forms of electronic school-home communication used by faculty and staff in a rural high school in southern Georgia - e-mail, PowerSchool, and School Messenger. An anonymous survey instrument containing Likert scale questions, yes/no questions, and open-ended questions was completed by parents of students in the school. Surveys were returned by 354 of the 879 potential participants. Data were analyzed descriptively, and open-ended responses were analyzed qualitatively to identify common themes. Respondents gave overall favorable reviews to School Messenger, but found accessibility to current grades in PowerSchool to be lacking. Participants also indicated that e-mail was effective and appropriate, but cited that teachers in the school rarely used this medium of communication. September - November 2008 Copyright © 2008 i-manager publications. All rights reserved. i-manager Publications http://www.imanagerpublications.com/Article.aspx?ArticleId=621