Proposed Topic

State the Problem: How is the problem (topic) identified? Use data:

· Accountability data

· Student Grades

· Formative and Summative Assessments

· District Benchmarks

(meet expectations)

Proposed Topic

Improving the Reading Comprehension Skills of ninth-grade Student through Effective Reading Strategies.

Rationale

This action research project will be conducted to improve the students reading comprehension through effective reading strategies, which will be identified through a literature review. I chose this topic because based on the reading scores of my students, they are performing below grade level in reading. [although this student did not indicate the data source; most likely, the reading scores from an informal reading inventory (or the school accountability data) were used.]

(above expectations)

Proposed topic: Improving Performance in Mathematics of Eighth Grade Students

Rationale for Topic Selection

The purpose of this proposed project is to improve the mathematics performance of eighth grade students at the proposed target school. The setting for this proposed project will be a middle school located in an urban area of South Florida. The community population consists of 2,554,766 according to the 2011 U.S. Census Bureau, with a per capita income of $22,957. The ethnic groups which comprise the community include approximately 63% Hispanic Americans, 20% Black Americans, (Non-Hispanic) White Americans 15%, and 2% Asian Americans. The School district consists of 55 high schools, 59 middle schools and 172 elementary schools. District enrollment is approximately 356,086 at the time of this project.

The State of Florida annually assesses student performance in Reading, Mathematics and

Science and writing through administration of the Florida Comprehensive Achievement Test (FCAT). The mathematics test is scored by levels ranging from a low score of Level 1 to a high score of Level 5. A Level 3 is considered “meeting expectations,” and schools are expected to show that at least 50% of the students meet that expectation. From 2008 to 2010 the mathematics scores and skills of the eighth-grade students at the target middle school have been steadily declining (see Table 1). Basically, the problem is that eighth grade students are performing below grade level in mathematics.

Table 1

Results of Eighth Grade, 2008 – 2010, Florida Comprehensive Achievement Test

Students	Year	Expectation	Observation	Discrepancy
8th Grade N = 30	2010	50% or more will score a Level 3 or higher	27%	23%
8th Grade N = 30	2009	50% or more will score a Level 3 or higher	32%	18%
8th Grade N = 30	2008	50% or more will score a Level 3 or higher	39%	11%

Source. Florida Department of Education – Demographics Report