Assignment 2

REPLIES WITH 150 WORDS Each ----due sat 8 am est

REPLY 1-SS

Recommendations for Improving the Intervention and Referral Services (I&RS) Process at the Secondary Level at Glassboro Public School District

The purpose of this study is to improve the Intervention and Referral Services (I&RS) process at the secondary (7-12) level. This applied research study will use a multimethod approach to data collection that includes both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods. The first approach will be structured interviews with members of the current I&RS committees located at Glassboro Intermediate School and Glassboro High School. This will include a total of four participants, two from each school setting. Participants will be two special education teachers, one guidance counselor, and one principal. Each of these individuals are familiar with the I&RS process that is currently in place. The second approach will be a survey of teachers from both buildings. A Google Forms will be shared amongst staff with the voluntary option to participate in an anonymous format to provide current observations and opinions of the current I&RS process within each school setting, as well as the opportunity to provide suggestions for improvement. The third approach will be a data collection of current students referred to the I&RS committee. Data collection will also include a review of each school’s three-year trend on the New Jersey Learning Assessment (NJSLA), with regards to mathematics and English Language Arts. The I&RS committee will share out to faculty and staff an updated multi-tiered system of supports to utilize within the classroom, as well as within the entire school and district community. Intervention to be utilized for the research plan includes tier one, tier two, and tier three interventions regarding adamic instruction as well as social and emotional instruction and supports. The interventions within each tier will be shared amongst staff after the I&RS committee and administration team from both school settings. The interventions created will be utilized for data collection and progress monitoring of student progress during the school year to determine the success of changes regarding the I&RS process.  Due to the size constraints of the Glassboro Public School District, both settings will be used in this research study.

Central Research Question

How can Intervention and Referral Services (I&RS) be improved to assist the struggling learning at the secondary level (7-12) at Glassboro Public School District?

REPLY 2—DS

As with much applied research, the study title will closely resemble the study question. Currently the study title is, “How can the issue of low enrollment at Our Lady of Victory Regional Catholic School (OLV) in central Georgia be improved.” I am sure the actual title for the final paper will change slightly prior to submission.

            The problem being addressed is low enrollment at a small, regional, Catholic K-8 school and methods to increase enrollment. Enrollment has dropped steadily over the past 10 years at the school to a point where now viability is being questioned. The school currently (2020-2021) has 100 students enrolled with a capacity of 250. On opening in 1999 and continuing until 2008, the enrollment at OLV fluctuated between 96 and 100% of capacity.

            The purpose of this research is to evaluate and recommend solutions to school administration for increasing enrollment. Discussions with the principal have indicated that an increase of 5-10% annually is needed to maintain viability of the school and prevent closure. COVID-19 has posed an increased challenge to enrollment for the current academic year, however, the school gained three new students at the beginning of the spring semester.

            The study question is very similar to the title of the research report. The primary study question is, “How can the issue of low enrollment at Our Lady of Victory (OLV) Regional Catholic School in central Georgia be improved?” The primary study question may be changed slightly as research continues, however, the basic premise will remain the same.

            As an applied research study, my study will take a multi-method approach. In addition to research conducted through the literature review, the research plan includes surveys of the local Catholic church congregations and three focus groups. Current intent is to conduct surveys in the seven churches considered “feeder” parishes to determine if students of the current congregation attend Catholic school and if they do not, why.

I am also planning to conduct three focus groups: current teachers and administrators at OLV, current parents from OLV, and parents of families who are Catholic, but do not attend OLV or another Catholic school. The focus groups are centered on Catholic parishes and families because historically, Catholic school are comprised of 85% or more Catholic students. Together, the focus groups, surveys, and literature review will form the basis of research and recommendations to school administration.

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