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Factors affecting E-rate funding in Arkansas public school districts
DISSERTATION

, University of Arkansas, United States

University of Arkansas . Awarded

Abstract

The purposes of this study were to determine if E-rate funds were being distributed to Arkansas public school districts in a disproportionate manner relative to each district's local poverty per pupil measures and to determine the factors that influenced the districts' participation or non-participation in the E-rate program.

A survey instrument was distributed to the 310 Arkansas public school districts. Five-point Likert-type scales were used to measure the effect respondents' attitudes towards components of the E-rate program had on E-rate funds received. There was no evidence that any of these attitudes effected district E-rate funding.

The 214 districts receiving E-rate funding were grouped using univariate procedures according to district enrollment into 3 categories: 125 small districts (79–974 pupils), 64 middle districts (1,010–2,932 pupils), and 25 large districts (3,082–25,308 pupils). ANOVA revealed a statistically significant effect for the size of district, F(2, 211) = 11.48; p < .0001.

The 214 funded Arkansas districts were divided using into two groups: low poverty group with 146 districts (8% to 30% poverty) and the high poverty group with 68 districts (31% to 91% poverty). ANOVA revealed a significant difference in the E-rate funding between low poverty and high poverty groups, F(1, 208) = 4.37; p = .03.

ANOVA was non-significant for free/reduced rate, F(1, 208) = 3.26; p = .07, full-time technology person, F(1, 126) = 0.05; p = .82, technology person's education, F(1, 126) = 0.00; p = .96, and knowledge of E-rate program, F(2, 126) = 2.29; p = .11.

Arkansas school districts were receiving E-rate funding in an equitable manner with poorer districts ($42.04) receiving a greater per pupil commitment than were wealthier districts ($26.18) based on poverty rates. Smaller districts ($40.43) received greater per pupil E-rate funding than did medium districts ($20.02) or large districts ($13.82).

Citation

Harris, J.D. Factors affecting E-rate funding in Arkansas public school districts. Ph.D. thesis, University of Arkansas. Retrieved March 28, 2024 from .

This record was imported from ProQuest on October 23, 2013. [Original Record]

Citation reproduced with permission of ProQuest LLC.

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