School Leadership Practices and Perceived Effectiveness of English Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program: A Cluster-Wide Analysis in South Cluster of Schools

Authors

  • Mark Vincent L. Fernandez University of La Salette, Inc. Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21725489

Keywords:

school leadership, English ARAL Program, literacy intervention, instructional leadership, learning-centered leadership, program effectiveness

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between school leadership practices and the perceived effectiveness of the English Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program in the South Cluster of Schools, Schools Division of Santiago City. A descriptive-correlational research design was employed among 92 elementary teachers and ARAL program implementers selected through proportionate random sampling from nine public elementary and integrated schools. Data were gathered using a structured questionnaire covering instructional, transformational, distributed/shared, and learning-centered leadership and four program-effectiveness dimensions. Mean and Pearson product-moment correlation were used for data analysis. School leadership practices were strongly implemented (grand mean = 3.87), with learning-centered leadership receiving the highest summary rating. The English ARAL Program was perceived as very effective (grand mean = 3.80), with reading interventions ranked highest and community/parent involvement ranked lowest. A moderate positive and statistically significant relationship was found between school leadership practices and perceived program effectiveness (r = 0.409, p < .001). The findings indicate that stronger leadership practices are associated with more effective literacy-recovery implementation, while also showing the need to strengthen stakeholder engagement, resource support, and sustained monitoring.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Avolio, B. J., & Bass, B. M. (2015). Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ) 5X Short. Mind Garden. https://www.mindgarden.com/16-multifactor-leadership-questionnaire

Batistis, M., & Siat, A. (2025). Experiences of teachers in the implementation of the ARAL Program. International Journal of Research Publication and Reviews. https://ijrpr.com/uploads/V6ISSUE11/IJRPR56310.pdf

Battad, J. L. (2024). Instructional leadership skills of school heads and its relation to the self-efficacy of elementary teachers in Castillejos District. International Journal of Multidisciplinary: Applied Business and Education Research. https://doi.org/10.11594/ijmaber.05.08.12

Bete, R. (2025). Bridging reading gaps: Analyzing the impact of the National Reading Program on Grade 1 to 3 learners in Kiliog Elementary School. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science. https://doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2025.905000275

Black, P., & Wiliam, D. (2018). Classroom assessment and pedagogy. Assessment in Education: Principles, Policy & Practice, 25(6), 551-575. https://doi.org/10.1080/0969594X.2018.1441807

Blancia, R. (2021). Impact of school transformational leadership on the teacher efficacy of the public junior high schools in the Division of Digos City. The Rizalian Researcher. https://ejournals.ph/article.php?id=20179

Bonita, J. (2025). The relationship between instructional leadership practices of school heads and learners’ reading abilities. International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation, 12(6), 243-255. https://doi.org/10.51244/IJRSI.2025.12060022

Camus, K. (2024). Principals’ leadership style, teachers’ commitment and performance among secondary schools. Psychology and Education: A Multidisciplinary Journal. https://ejournals.ph/article.php?id=28317

Caputolan, A. M. (2025). Teachers’ preferred leadership styles of school leaders. Psychology and Education: A Multidisciplinary Journal. https://ejournals.ph/article.php?id=28497

Cariaso, B. (2025). DepEd starts ARAL program vs learning crisis. The Philippine Star. https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2025/08/03/2462742/deped-starts-aral-program-vs-learning-crisis

Castro, M., Exposito-Casas, E., Lopez-Martin, E., Lizasoain, L., Navarro-Asencio, E., & Gaviria, J. L. (2015). Parental involvement on student academic achievement: A meta-analysis. Educational Research Review, 14, 33-46.

Ciocon, L. A. (2022). Professional characteristics and instructional leadership of school heads: Their relationship to the implementation of Special Education (SPED) Program. AIDE Interdisciplinary Research Journal. https://ejournals.ph/article.php?id=18302

Dacpano, E. B. (2022). The influence of school heads’ transformational leadership on schools’ performance: The case of City Schools Division of San Fernando, La Union. International Journal of Multidisciplinary: Applied Business and Education Research. https://ejournals.ph/article.php?id=18358

Department of Education. (2025). DepEd strengthens commitment to literacy as FLEMMS results show gains, opportunities. https://www.deped.gov.ph/2025/04/04/deped-strengthens-commitment-to-literacy-as-flemms-results-show-gains-opportunities/

Donegan, R., Casale, G., & Torelli, J. (2025). Teachers’ self-reported knowledge and perceptions of intensive interventions: Perceptions of effectiveness and feasibility. Reading and Writing. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11145-025-10650-y

Duke, N. K., & Cartwright, K. B. (2021). The science of reading progresses: Communicating advances beyond the simple view of reading. Reading Research Quarterly, 56(S1), S25-S44. https://doi.org/10.1002/rrq.411

EDCOM II. (2026). ARAL Program shows early wins, with top schools reporting 30-40% increases in students’ reading proficiency. The Second Congressional Commission on Education. https://edcom2.gov.ph/aral-program-shows-early-wins-with-top-schools-reporting-30-40-increases-in-students-reading-proficiency/

Esogon, J., Gumban, M., & Guitche, R. (2024). Practice of transformational leadership of school heads and work performance of teachers in public elementary schools. Journal of Interdisciplinary Perspectives. https://ejournals.ph/article.php?id=24259

Hallinger, P. (2018). Bringing context out of the shadows of leadership. Educational Management Administration & Leadership, 46(1), 5-24. https://doi.org/10.1177/1741143216670652

Hallinger, P., & Murphy, J. (1985). Assessing the instructional management behavior of principals. The Elementary School Journal, 86(2), 217-247. https://doi.org/10.1086/461445

Harris, A., Jones, M., & Ismail, N. (2022). Distributed leadership: Taking a retrospective and contemporary view of the evidence base. School Leadership & Management. https://doi.org/10.1080/13632434.2022.2109620

Hernandez, J., & Decena, M. (2024). Parental involvement in the implementation of reading programs and reading achievement of elementary school learners in the Division of Quezon: Basis for policy formulation. Psychology and Education: A Multidisciplinary Journal. https://www.ejournals.ph/article.php?id=27800

Hernandez, R., Mendoza, M., & Pachero, J. (2023). Innovative leadership practices and management styles of school heads in the Schools Division of Bulacan. International Journal of Multidisciplinary: Applied Business and Education Research. https://doi.org/10.11594/ijmaber.04.06.16

Jeynes, W. H. (2019). A meta-analysis on the effects of parental involvement on students’ academic outcomes. Urban Education, 53(1), 3-28. https://doi.org/10.1177/0042085915573272

Manguiat, K. M. (2025). Teacher-led instructional leadership practices and student learning outcomes in senior high school: Input to training program. Psychology and Education: A Multidisciplinary Journal. https://ejournals.ph/article.php?id=28474

Noceto, R. R. (2022). Instructional leadership for information and communication technology towards the development of a strategic plan for ICT. International Research Journal of Science, Technology, Education, and Management. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7243676

Rance, D., Certifico, A., Ibaya, R., Lucernas, J., & Rance-Rigon, M. (2025). Enhancing collaborative decision-making in public schools through distributed leadership. Psychology and Education: A Multidisciplinary Journal. https://www.ejournals.ph/article.php?id=28470

Tomlinson, C. A. (2017). How to differentiate instruction in academically diverse classrooms (3rd ed.). ASCD. https://files.ascd.org/staticfiles/ascd/pdf/siteASCD/publications/books/HowtoDifferentiateInstructioninAcademicallyDiverseClassrooms-3rdEd.pdf

Vaughn, S., Denton, C. A., & Fletcher, J. M. (2022). Effective reading instruction for students with reading difficulties. Reading & Writing Quarterly, 38(2), 87-104. https://doi.org/10.1080/10573569.2021.1899919

Downloads

Published

2026-08-01

How to Cite

Fernandez, M. V. (2026). School Leadership Practices and Perceived Effectiveness of English Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program: A Cluster-Wide Analysis in South Cluster of Schools. International Journal of Education, Research, and Innovation Perspectives, 2(7), 2399-2408. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21725489

Similar Articles

1-10 of 623

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.