After seeking advice/input from a couple of principals I worked with in the past years, we came to the consensus that it is best for me to proceed with the investigation the question of: What is the impact of early grade retention on the academic achievement and self-esteem of students on later grade level? The reason why I chose this question to investigate is that I am curious to know the short and long-term effect it has on the student by retaining him or her at such an early age and how effective it is in preparing the student for the next grade level and so on. As educators, we know that retention as a remedy for poor academic performance has been hotly debated and extensively studied for decades.
Tool 7.1 Action Planning Template
Goal: To reduce the failure/retention rate for every grade level by 50% this school year.
Action Step: 1) Develop specific, grade-level and subject-oriented curriculum objectives and adopt rigorous academic standards for meeting those objectives.
Person(s)Responsible: Principal, dean of instructions, and district specialists, and all core content teachers.
Timeline - Start/End: June-August
Needed Resources: Support from curriculum department/
personnel
Evaluation: Classroom walkthrough and checking of lesson plans
Action Step: 2) Teachers attend on-going collaborative training through with region 4 to be trained in the art of teaching reading to school with large numbers of at-risk students in order to meet the need of those students.
Person(s)Responsible: Dean of instruction and all core content teachers.
Timeline - Start/End: June-December
Needed Resources: Grants from region 4 and US Department of Education
Evaluation: Classroom observations and data from bimonthly common benchmark test
Action Step: 3) District specialists provide model lessons, observe and provide feedbacks, lead PLC team meeting, and provide general support to teachers.
Person(s)Responsible: District specialists and dean of instructions
Timeline - Start/End: Entire school year
Needed Resources: District special allocated "Apollo 20" budget
Evaluation: Classroom observations and data from bimonthly common benchmark test
Action Step: 4) Develop procedure/policies to prevent early school failure and intervene immediately and vigorously when students show signs of falling behind.
Person(s)Responsible: Principal, Dean of Instruction, and Site-Based Decision Making Committee
Timeline - Start/End: June-August
Needed Resources: Title I and “Stimulus” funding.
Evaluation: Data from six weeks grading cycle
Action Step: 5) Develop a support program available for students in danger of failing, including individual tutoring, extended-day programs, after-school and summer school programs, and parent counseling services.
Person(s)Responsible: Principal, Dean of Instruction, and Site-Based Decision Making Committee
Timeline - Start/End: June-August
Needed Resources: Title I and “Stimulus” funding
Evaluation: Data from six weeks grading cycle, tracking student discipline, and data from CBA
Action Step: 6) Pre-school and all-day kindergarten programs should be available to all high-risk students and class size should be reduce in the early grades.
Person(s) Responsible: Principal and dean of instruction
Timeline - Start/End: Entire school year
Needed Resources: Title I and the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation grant
Evaluation: Long term data gathering of student success in the upper grades (2-3 years)
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I see this issue occurring more and more. I think you will gain valuable information and students will greatly benefit from your action research plan. I can tell you are passionate about this issue and will do a great job presenting the information. My district has Care Teams for students at risk. The Care Team consists of the referring teacher, an administrator, the counselor, and the parent or parents. We then develop a plan to help the student. Care Teams have assisted many of my students and we have collaboratively found ways to address the student's needs and avoid retention.
ReplyDeleteAngela, can you ellaborate on the types of strategies the "Team" came up with and are they effective in reducing the retention rate? Thank you for sharing your thought. I like the idea of forming a committee/team to address this need.
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