An Empirical Investigation of the Correlates of Satisfaction in Public Schools

Abstract

Parents’ satisfaction with their children's school has become an important area in research, practice, and policy. Correlates of parent satisfaction were examined using an online survey. Six school districts in West Virginia, Alabama, Georgia, and North Carolina were randomly selected to participate in the study. Parents were asked to read the consent form and agree to participate in the study. A total of 475 completed the survey. Results suggested that the data were distributed normally. Pearson correlation tests were conducted among parent satisfaction and several independent variables, such as parent empowerment, parent involvement, school service quality, school ethical climate, school climate, parent loyalty, parent voice, and parent exit. Parent satisfaction was significantly and positively correlated with school climate, school ethical climate, school service quality, parent empowerment, and parent loyalty. Parent loyalty was significantly and negatively correlated with parent exit and parent voice. Reliability tests were conducted on all scales using Cronbach's alpha. Significant predictors of parent satisfaction in order of importance were school climate, parent loyalty, parent exit, student overall grade, school ethical climate, parent empowerment, school service quality, and student grade level. The findings have several useful implications for school leaders. School leaders need to better understand predictors of parent satisfaction by (a) implementing strategies in such areas as school climate, school ethical climate, and school service quality; and (b) providing training for parents, teachers, and staff.

KEYWORDS:

• Customer relationship management
• K–12
• parent empowerment
• parent exit
• parent loyalty
• public schools
• school climate
• school ethical climate
• school service quality