Date of Award
2004
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Department
Fischler Graduate School of Education and Human Services
Advisor
Barbara Gerard
Committee Member
Donna Blaess
Committee Member
Maryellen Maher
Keywords
african american, African American parents, Caucasian, diversity training, eighth-grade students, family influence, Florida, Florida Norm Reference and Criterion Reference Test, gap, grade point averages, inter cultural communication, Jewett Middle Academy School, minority students, parent involvement, parent participation, parenting classes, partnership in education, standardized test scores, staff diversity training, student performance, student achievement, targeted students
Abstract
This dissertation was based on the overall student performance at Jewett Middle Academy School on standardized test scores of identified 8th-grade students. These students were identified in 6th grade as scoring below the state norm on the Florida Norm Reference and Criterion Reference Test. The majority of these students, 90%, were African American. This dissertation addressed the disproportional percentage of minority students scoring below the norm. This disproportional number is known across this nation as the gap. Jewett Middle Academy School is among the thousands of schools in this nation with a 30% gap in standardized test scores between Caucasian and African American students.
The researcher proposed to reduce this gap of disproportional representation by 10% using parent involvement and staff diversity training. The researcher’s strategies involved researching the literature on African American parents, conferring with colleagues, and obtaining a consultant to assist with diversity training for the school staff. The researcher provided students and parents with skills classes on Saturdays and parenting classes.
Only 50% of the targeted students and their parents participated in the researcher’s project. However, the 33 students who participated in the project did increase their standardized test scores and their grade point averages during the 2002 school year. The researcher did not meet the goal of narrowing the gap by 10%; however, the staff, parents, and the researcher have learned that diversity training, parent participation, and parenting classes are 3 elements that will eventually eliminate the gap.