Levels of Environmental Uncertainty of a Site-Based Management School within a Minority/Majority Context

Abstract

The focus of this study was the perceived environmental uncertainty (PEU) of teachers in two selected elementary schools in a minority/majority context. It attempted to determine the sources of uncertainty that are perceived by teachers in a site-based management (SBM) elementary school and a non-site-based management elementary school. Specific items were examined to determine which indistrict and out-district matters were related to uncertainty and to explore whether or not the two groups of teachers in the selected schools were different regarding their perceived environmental uncertainty. A basic causal-comparative design was employed and the Perceived Environmental Uncertainty Index (PEUI) developed by Singh (1991) was used to collect data. Means, standard deviations and t-tests were calculated to quantify and summarize the data. Findings indicate that the PEU levels for the SBM school were lower than that of the non-SBM school; specific in-district and out-district items rated as most unclear and significant are different for both schools. However, both schools were concerned with the impact of state legislature on job. There is a significant difference in in-district PEU, out-of-district PEU and total PEU between the two schools. These results seem to suggest that site-based management is a viable alternative for reducing and coping with environmental uncertainty. However, further research needs to focus on other levels of school following a SBM approach. Additional studies should address correlations between perceived environmental uncertainty and student success.