The purpose of this study was to describe the current status of computer usage for administrative purposes by the senior high school principals in the public schools of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The rationale for selecting the principal was that the administrative leader in the high school must be prepared for the computer revolution and ready to utilize the computer in school management.

Questionnaires were sent to each of the 290 senior high school principals in Virginia. Of the 238 principals responding, 216 were using computers for administrative purposes.

Approximately one-third of the senior high school principals responding to the matter of time saving by use of computers stated that such usage had freed them from routine paperwork. The amount of time that had been saved and thus available for reallocation ranged from one hour to forty hours per week. The most frequently reported estimate of time saved was approximately five hours. Principals further reported that their freed time was being devoted to a wide variety of acts that, in the main, may be characterized by classroom observation and instructional improvement tasks. However, nearly one-half the principals reported that the chief effect of computer usage had been an improvement in the quality and accuracy of their work.