The perspectives of rural Oklahoma superintendents, school board members, and state department of education employees: How policy discretion influences the focus of rural Oklahoma school district

Scope and method of study. The purpose of this study was to better understand how individual school districts were affected by policy discretion from superintendents, school board members, and employees of the state department of education. Participants in the study included eight rural school superintendents, three school board members, and three employees of the state department of education. All participants were interviewed and data that emerged were synthesized into common categories.;Findings. Research indicated the amount of policy discretion allowed at the district level was dependent upon the type of policy and whether or not it was in conflict with community values. Research indicated SDE employees were more interested in allowing policies to work for the betterment of the districts rather than enforcing policies that would negatively affect the education of children. Research also indicated new board members did not have the training necessary to deal with complicated issues.;Conclusions. Additional studies in policy discretion should be explored. These studies should explore whether a relationship exists between board member gender/employment and policy discretion.