1. Which additional data did you gather to inform your thinking on the problem? I started to look closer at the other demographics included in the data sets that I first analyzed. My goal was to see if my group was an outlier in their scores and data or to see if they were aligned in their scores with another group. After looking at the data, it seems clear that while other groups will score near them on standardized test, overall other groups with on a whole score higher then African American students.
I also think that since there is such a small sample at my school that the data might be getting skewed in a direction that does not represent the whole of the African American population at my site, rather a few individuals who may need more support to achieve academic success. With this in mind I am starting to research other schools in the district to see if the data at my site is district wide, also to see how my group compares to other demographic groups within the district. While our goal is to design an SMART plan for our site, I might also be creating a supplemental plan for our district.
2. After analyzing all data, what do you believe are the root causes of the problem you have identified? *Comment on each of these points - organizational culture, external factors, organizational structure, student demographics, instruction and preparation, and curriculum.
-I think that the organizational culture has a clear affect on these students. The reason being that they are a minority on the site. I think that this affects their academic achievement being such a small percentage of the schools population. While the culture at the school is a school of choice, I believe that having a small amount of peers of the same ethnicity can affect their ability to have a culture that could be inclusive as their needs as learners.
-External factors based on what I have seen, seem to be not that influential on their abilities. After looking at their dropout rates, and CAHSEE passing rates. The African American students seem to be passing at a very high rate on their first time taking the CAHSEE, and have the lowest dropout percentage in the school. Leading me to believe that external factors may not be the root cause of their low scoring on the API.
-I think that the root cause of the problem may lie in the structure of the organization. It shows in the data that student enrollment by African Americans in higher level math and science classes is extremely low. Showing a handful per year who are in an upper science or math class. I think that this has a correlation that relates to why our students may not be achieving as high as their peers, they are not being pushed to the next level of their academic potential.
-They are a definite minority when it comes to the demographics on the campus. They are less then 5% of the total population. I think that this can lead to a problem in the classroom, if we imagine the entire school as one classroom of 30 students, 1.5 students would be African American. I think that it could be hard for teachers to make sure that 5% is getting the support they need (which may be more then some other groups), leading to African American students not getting what they need.
-When it comes to Instruction and preparation I don't think this is a root cause of the problem. I have observed many different classrooms and watched teacher teach and I don't think that they are leaving anything out, or not providing something for the students.
-Curriculum may be an issue. Based on how Common Core is changing many of our students are having to adjust. Yet I don't know if curriculum is the problem, for if it was would it not affect all of the students who have been learning strategies pre-common core? What I mean is that all students would be having troubles not just African Americans.
3. Based on an outcome you would like to attain for the target group, write 1 goal and 2-3 objectives that support that goal. (Create a SMART goal – specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, timely.)
-Increase Mathematics enrollments and testing scores for the 2014-2015 school year and continue into the 2015-2016 school year. The first two years will be a platform from which to build off of.
-We are going to have 25% increase in student enrollments in a higher math class, eventually equaling enrollment rates for the other demographics at our school. We are also going to have an increase of 10% in mathematics scores on standardized state testing. As our enrollments increase so will our testing scores.
-The main goal is to increase the API score of our students, yet we see an increase in higher level mathematics will result in a higher API score. We plan on increasing tutoring for our students before or after school in order to make sure that their needs are met.
-We will increase our API goal, by increasing our enrollments and our scores.
-Our tutoring will be starting at the first of May. It will be offered twice a week and will be offered before and after school. We are going to be actively trying to recruit more African American students into higher classes starting the 1st of May for scheduling 2015-2016 school year.
We are also going to be trying to recruit incoming freshmen into higher math classes when they enter our school.
I also think that since there is such a small sample at my school that the data might be getting skewed in a direction that does not represent the whole of the African American population at my site, rather a few individuals who may need more support to achieve academic success. With this in mind I am starting to research other schools in the district to see if the data at my site is district wide, also to see how my group compares to other demographic groups within the district. While our goal is to design an SMART plan for our site, I might also be creating a supplemental plan for our district.
2. After analyzing all data, what do you believe are the root causes of the problem you have identified? *Comment on each of these points - organizational culture, external factors, organizational structure, student demographics, instruction and preparation, and curriculum.
-I think that the organizational culture has a clear affect on these students. The reason being that they are a minority on the site. I think that this affects their academic achievement being such a small percentage of the schools population. While the culture at the school is a school of choice, I believe that having a small amount of peers of the same ethnicity can affect their ability to have a culture that could be inclusive as their needs as learners.
-External factors based on what I have seen, seem to be not that influential on their abilities. After looking at their dropout rates, and CAHSEE passing rates. The African American students seem to be passing at a very high rate on their first time taking the CAHSEE, and have the lowest dropout percentage in the school. Leading me to believe that external factors may not be the root cause of their low scoring on the API.
-I think that the root cause of the problem may lie in the structure of the organization. It shows in the data that student enrollment by African Americans in higher level math and science classes is extremely low. Showing a handful per year who are in an upper science or math class. I think that this has a correlation that relates to why our students may not be achieving as high as their peers, they are not being pushed to the next level of their academic potential.
-They are a definite minority when it comes to the demographics on the campus. They are less then 5% of the total population. I think that this can lead to a problem in the classroom, if we imagine the entire school as one classroom of 30 students, 1.5 students would be African American. I think that it could be hard for teachers to make sure that 5% is getting the support they need (which may be more then some other groups), leading to African American students not getting what they need.
-When it comes to Instruction and preparation I don't think this is a root cause of the problem. I have observed many different classrooms and watched teacher teach and I don't think that they are leaving anything out, or not providing something for the students.
-Curriculum may be an issue. Based on how Common Core is changing many of our students are having to adjust. Yet I don't know if curriculum is the problem, for if it was would it not affect all of the students who have been learning strategies pre-common core? What I mean is that all students would be having troubles not just African Americans.
3. Based on an outcome you would like to attain for the target group, write 1 goal and 2-3 objectives that support that goal. (Create a SMART goal – specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, timely.)
-Increase Mathematics enrollments and testing scores for the 2014-2015 school year and continue into the 2015-2016 school year. The first two years will be a platform from which to build off of.
-We are going to have 25% increase in student enrollments in a higher math class, eventually equaling enrollment rates for the other demographics at our school. We are also going to have an increase of 10% in mathematics scores on standardized state testing. As our enrollments increase so will our testing scores.
-The main goal is to increase the API score of our students, yet we see an increase in higher level mathematics will result in a higher API score. We plan on increasing tutoring for our students before or after school in order to make sure that their needs are met.
-We will increase our API goal, by increasing our enrollments and our scores.
-Our tutoring will be starting at the first of May. It will be offered twice a week and will be offered before and after school. We are going to be actively trying to recruit more African American students into higher classes starting the 1st of May for scheduling 2015-2016 school year.
We are also going to be trying to recruit incoming freshmen into higher math classes when they enter our school.