Date of Award
1-1-1992
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Department
Child and Youth Care Administration
Advisor
Ronald A. Newell
Committee Member
David S. Flight
Committee Member
Joan Mignerey
Keywords
achievement, advisor-advisee programs, at-risk students, counseling, drop out prevention, failing grades, Hispanic students, interdisciplinary teaching teams, limited English proficiency, middle school concept, middle/junior high school, minorities, parent involvement, retention, staff development, student achievement, student counseling, summer school, teacher-student ratio, teaching techniques, overage students, parental support groups, school retention, student support services, interdisciplinary instruction, consultant training
Abstract
This report describes a program to reduce the number of students failing classes and subsequently being retained at Palm Springs Middle School. The number of students considered to be "at-risk" as determined by country-developed criteria has been historically high in relation to other middle schools. It is believed that the needs of the Hispanic student, in this predominately Hispanic school, are not being adequately addressed or met.
Probable causes of problems include the limited-English proficiency of many of the students and the inability of the curriculum to assist them the many students who enter school after school has begun, and all thought the school year; the lack of individual attention afforded these youngsters; and the outdated and inappropriate teaching styles used by the teachers. Solution strategies include increased student counseling, increased parental involvement, a significantly Improved limited-English proficiency program, decreased teacher-student ratio, and improved teaching techniques.
It was anticipated that, as a result of intervention strategies, the number of students receiving failing grades, being retained, and subsequently dropping out of school would be reduced. The number of students considered to be at-risk as determined by county criteria would also be reduced due to a reduction in the number of overage students. Teachers were working in a collegial atmosphere as part of interdisciplinary teaching teams and were counseling students during common planning time as well as during daily advisor-advisee period. Staff development activities, which began early in the development phase, continued throughout implantation and expanded during the latter stages witch training provided by national consultants. Parental involvement activities were enhanced during the second half of program development with the formation of a special parent’s group. The culminating portion of this project was the expanded summer school session which provided special opportunities for the at-risk, population.