Revised Action Research Inquiry

Goals and objectives/outcomes of the research investigation
Goal 1 – Decrease the Amount of Time At Risk and Low Income Students are removed from class for disciplinary action, including In School Suspension and Alternative Education Placement.
Goal 2 – Find Alternative Disciplinary Consequences to maximize time spent in the classroom by students in Target Population.
Goal 3 – Improve student success in classroom work and on benchmark exams by students in Target Population
Goal 4 – Create a program that encourages Teacher Buy in/Support from 85% of the staff on our campus.

Activities designed to achieve the objectives

Ø  Survey Staff on ideas for need and types of alternative discipline ideas completed in May 2012

Ø  Start of committee to come up with solutions to keeping Target Population kids in the classroom maximum amount of time. (Start in May 2012 –February 2013)

Ø  Disaggregate Data to share with committee to show need for Action Research Plan in this Area (Start February 2012-May 2012)

Ø  Self – Reflection to identify any areas of bias that may affect our results.

Resources and research tools needed for data gathering

Ø  List of At Risk and Economically Disadvantaged Students in 7^th through 10^th Grade

Ø  Quantitative Measures: 6 week Report Cards, Benchmark Scores, and TAKS Scores

Ø  Interview Students in Target Populations with parent permission

Ø  Interview Focus Group of Students not in Target Populations to see how negative student behavior affects their learning in the classroom with parent permission

Ø  Survey Staff and Parents regarding beliefs about school cultures/climate with focus on student behavior and discipline

Draft timeline for completion or implementation of activities

Ø  May 2012 – Select Sample Size of Target Population by disaggregating data of ECD/At Risk Students with multiple Discipline referrals resulting in time spent in ISS or AEP.

Ø  March-May 2012 – Look at data to chart grades throughout year in regards to time spent out of classroom serving disciplinary action in ISS or AEP.

Ø  April-May 2012 – Interview students, Survey staff and parents and form Action Committee to address needs.

Ø  August-December 2012 – Implement Alternative Forms of Discipline with ISS being reserved for severe behavior, as agreed upon by the staff.

Ø  January – February 2013 – Benchmark Data obtained

Ø  February 2013 – Review Data to see if interventions have been successful. Revise Action Plan as necessary or continue if results show progress.

Persons responsible for implementation of the action research plan

Ø  Assigning Discipline – Assistant Principal

Ø  Brainstorming Alternative Discipline – Shawn Adkins, Marquelle Adkins and the Action Committee

Ø  Data Disaggregation – Shawn Adkins and Marquelle Adkins

Process for monitoring the achievement of goals and objectives

Ø  Compare report card grades from previous year

Ø  Compare benchmark scores from previous year.

Ø  Compare number of referrals written to previous year.

Ø  Compare time spent out of classroom to previous year.

Assessment instrument(s) to evaluate the effectiveness of the action research study

Ø  Quantitative – Benchmarks, Report Card Grades, Time Spent in ISS/AEP, and Number of Discipline Referrals

Ø  Qualitative – Teacher survey, Parent Survey, and Student Interviews.

References

Dana, N. (2009). Leading with Passion and Knowledge: The Principal as Action Researcher.

             California: Corwin.