Date of Award
2004
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Department
Fischler Graduate School of Education and Human Services
Advisor
Lucille Beisner
Committee Member
Karen Kimball
Committee Member
Barbara Packer
Keywords
achievement, absenteeism, accountability, absent students, academic gains, assessment, attendance, curriculum, diversity, mailings, MAP preparation, Missouri Assessment Program (MAP), note taking, parent conferences, parent notifications, performance-based assessment, Performance Learning Institute, principal, professional development, progress reports, science, science curriculum, science grades, science teachers, semester grades, state assessment, student absenteeism, student achievement, student responsibility, study skills, teacher professional development, test scores, The Universe
Abstract
The purpose of this applied dissertation was to increase student achievement in science, as measured by the 2002- 2003 the performance-based assessment known as the Missouri Assessment Program (MAP).
Several factors exist that could adversely affect student achievement in science. This study looked at student absenteeism, student responsibility, and professional development as possible factors hindering student achievement on the Science MAP test and the students’ semester science grades.
During this study, strategies for absent students included: phoning parents; mailings indicating dates of absences; and parent/student conferences held with the principal. Science teachers taught appropriate note taking/study skills for science with one class per week devoted to MAP review. Student work was monitored for assignment completion via progress reports. All science teachers were sent to Professional Developmental activities on Diversity, Accountability, and the Performance Learning Institute (for MAP preparation) throughout the school year.
The results from this study during the 2002-2003 school year, showed some academic gains on the Science MAP test. A 3% increase on the State MAP science scores was not fully achieved. In comparison to previous years a 12% growth was noted in the subject area of “The Universe”. Student attendance increased by 2.3% in 2002-2003.