An Empirical Approach to Understanding and Analyzing the Mission Statements of Selected Educational Institutions.

Abstract

Content analysis was used to examine the mission statements of 267 educational institutions over 4 clusters (elementary, middle, secondary, and postsecondary). In selecting the sample, the practical population was defined as all of the American K-12 schools and colleges whose Web sites were linked to one of two comprehensive sites (one for K-12 schools, one for colleges). Ten major themes emerged from the data. The relative frequencies of each major theme were computed across the sample. The results of the study indicate that the purpose of school shifts from emotional development in the early levels of schooling to cognitive development at the college level. In addition, mission statements vary greatly both within and between school levels with most schools emphasizing four different themes in their mission statement. Relevant policy implications and suggestions for further research are discussed. (Contains 15 references.) (Author/MLF) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. Analysis of School Missions I Running Head: Understanding School Mission Statements An Empirical Approach to Understanding and Analyzing the Mission Statements of Selected Educational Institutions Steve Stem ler and Damian Bebell Boston College Paper Presented at the Annual Conference of the New England Educational Research Organization (NEERO): Portsmouth, New Hampshire, April 9, 1999 Descriptors: mission statements, content analysis, emergent coding, purpose of school, philosophy of education U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) &This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it. Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality. Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy. 1 PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY S. S-feion -erice..1 I TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)