Factors related to rural school administrators’ satisfaction with distance education

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine rural school district administrators’ satisfaction with distance education in the United States and to identify factors that may contribute to their satisfaction. Telephone interviews were conducted with administrators in randomly selected rural districts across the country. Analyses revealed that students’ preparation in their study and computer skills as well as the use of synchronous delivery formats were related to administrators’ satisfaction with distance education. Results imply that students’ study and computer skills should be addressed as needed and, when feasible, synchronous delivery formats used in order to possibly bolster districts’ satisfaction with and effective use of distance education.

Keywords:

• distance education
• rural
• secondary education
• administrator satisfaction

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by grant R305A04056 from the Institute of Education Sciences.