Summary of Intent for Action Research Plan

Last school year 2011-12 was the first year that our campus administered the STAAR test.  We have conducted remediation and retesting on students who failed the initial Algebra One test.  I am researching our remediation program to include data on the students who failed (previous scores on math TAKS tests and course grades in previous math courses), what was taught/learned during the tutorial sessions, what were the costs of the remediation program (transportation, teachers’ pay, materials).  I am also looking into the possibilities of developing a peer tutorial system to put into effect next year in the algebra one classes and expand to the geometry and math models classes the following year. 

Related to this, I must investigate tutor recruitment, training, and payment.  I will observe a math specialist meeting and see the planning process for STAAR administration and STAAR retesting. I will look at the practices of the elementary schools to see how they prepare students for junior high and at the practices of the junior high schools to see how they prepare students for high school, with a special focus on technology implementation.

I will also create Parent Tutorials for those parents of students moving from 8^th grade into 9^th grade to educate parents on how to make their students successful in math classes at the high school level.  I will investigate other factors that may make the remediation successful, get administrative insight into these changes, interview district PR people, and examine the current policy for parent involvement.

Finally, I will collect current information from articles on remediation programs in this country and related articles on how to increase parent involvement and student buy in.  I will summarize what changes should be made to next year’s program.