Invitation to participate in the research study titled

Local Schools, Local Decisions Reform Agenda: Exploring the impact of the reform on NSW
Public School Educational Leader.

I am currently conducting a research study that explores the impact that the Local Schools
Local Decisions Reform Agenda has/is having on a school principals’ capacity to be an Instructional Leader and to explore the relationship between the reform agenda and accountability and autonomy. The research is seeking school principals’ who have fulfilled the role of principal-ship prior to the 2012 release of the Local Schools, Local Decisions Reform Agenda and post the implementation.

As part of the research, a questionnaire will be administered with questions relating to the three elements of a principal role mentioned above. In addition, a sample of the questionnaire respondents will be asked to participate in an interview as part of the research study to enhance the level of understanding that the Local Schools, Local Decisions has had on the role of a school principal.

As a school principal who has fulfilled the principal role prior to the release of Local Schools, Local Decisions in 2012 and post the implementation of the reform agenda, you are in an ideal position to give valuable first-hand information from your own perspective.

The questionnaire will approximately take 20 minutes to complete and if chosen via random sample for the interview stage, this will take around 30 minutes and will be informal.

The purpose of the research is to try to capture your thoughts and perspectives on the Local Schools, Local Decisions Reform Agenda and to explore what support systems would assist principals to better utilise the agenda.

Your responses to the questionnaire and interview questions will be kept confidential. Each interview will be assigned a number code to help ensure that personal identifiers are not revealed during the analysis and write up of findings.

There is no compensation for participating in this study. However, your participation will be a valuable addition to the field of research and findings could lead to greater understanding of the impact of the Local Schools, Local Decisions Reform Agenda at a system level.

If you are willing to participate and meet the criteria, please complete the questionnaire via the link below prior to the 30th June 2021.

Exploring Local Schools, Local Decisions Reform Agenda Questionnaire

Please note if you have indicated in the questionnaire to be happy to engage in the interview process you may be contacted shortly after the closer date listed above.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me on the email address lauren.sten@det.nsw.edu.au.

Thank you in advance for your support,
Lauren Sten