Abstracts Category : Other

An Analysis of the Attitudes, Beliefs, and Perceptions that Impact the Selection of Interscholastic Athletic Funding Methods Amongst High School Athletic Departments in the Northeast United States

by Matthew Trevor Baltz

The positive impact athletic participation has on an individual has been well established. Over the past decade, however, budgetary challenges presented by the public school financial crisis have adversely influenced opportunities for participation in interscholastic athletics. This study summarizes the existing research, including the benefits associated with interscholastic athletic participation, the financial challenges associated with interscholastic athletics, and the funding mechanisms currently used to finance interscholastic athletics. The purpose of this study was to use a mixed-methods approach, including a survey, a focus group, and individual interviews, to explore the attitudes, beliefs and perceptions that impact the selection and effectiveness of non-traditional funding methods for interscholastic athletics to achieve the possibility of long-term sustainability of such programs in the northeast United States. A 30-item survey instrument was created by the researcher and distributed electronically to athletic administrators at 18 different high schools in the northeast United States. A total of 10 surveys were completed and usable for this study. Descriptive statistics were generated to identify the frequency with which selected non-traditional funding methods are being used by participating athletic administrators. The researcher also conducted a focus group and three individual interviews to explore the strategies for and the barriers to successful implementation of non-traditional funding methods for interscholastic athletics. Ultimately, this study provided answers to the following questions: 1) How do the attitudes, beliefs and perceptions of athletic directors impact the selection and effectiveness of non-traditional funding methods for interscholastic athletics in the northeast United States? 2) What non-traditional funding methods are used to successfully support interscholastic athletic departments in the northeast United States? 3) What considerations must be in place for specific non-traditional funding methods to be successfully implemented by interscholastic athletic departments in the northeast United States? 4) What barriers to success exist when selecting and implementing non-traditional funding methods for interscholastic athletic departments in the northeast United States? The data generated through this study will help address attitudes and perceptions that impact the selection of specific resources and recommend best practices or strategies for developing sustainable interscholastic athletic budgets. Ed.D., Educational Leadership and Management Drexel University, 2017Advisors/Committee Members: Hammrich, Penny, School of Education.