Action Research TeamsAction Research Teams

Cedar Rapids Community SchoolsCedar Rapids Community Schools

2003-20042003-2004

District Focus District Focus 2003-30042003-3004

• The District Focus for The District Focus for the ’03-04 school the ’03-04 school year is to improve year is to improve the performance of the performance of low achieving low achieving students in reading students in reading comprehension and comprehension and mathematics.mathematics.

This does not mean we take resources away from other students… It simply means we will strategically focus on some identified achievement gaps as a system.

A Vehicle for System A Vehicle for System ChangeChange

• Action Research is a Action Research is a proven strategy for proven strategy for school improvement school improvement and has been and has been implemented (in a implemented (in a variety of forms) in variety of forms) in schools throughout schools throughout the country.the country.

Actions for System ChangeActions for System Change

• Continual monitoring of student Continual monitoring of student performanceperformance

• Continual adaptation of instructionContinual adaptation of instruction• Learning environments that are Learning environments that are

engaging to students and familiesengaging to students and families• Use of researched, best-practice Use of researched, best-practice

instructional and support strategiesinstructional and support strategies

The CRCSD Working Definition of The CRCSD Working Definition of Action ResearchAction Research

Our district is defining action research as the implementation of a systematic Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle targeted at closing identified student achievement gaps.

Reasons for an Action Reasons for an Action Research ProcessResearch Process

• To close identified gaps in To close identified gaps in student achievementstudent achievement

• To utilize the expertise of To utilize the expertise of educatorseducators

• To develop a common To develop a common language for sharinglanguage for sharing

• To access a proven process To access a proven process that systematically that systematically addresses our District focusaddresses our District focus

High Performing Action Research High Performing Action Research Team CompetenciesTeam Competencies

• Accessing data & Accessing data & best–practice/ best–practice/ research-based research-based informationinformation

• Identifying gaps in Identifying gaps in student achievementstudent achievement

• Collecting, analyzing, Collecting, analyzing, & interpreting data & interpreting data using researched-using researched-based methodsbased methods

• Using a systems Using a systems approach that views approach that views the building as part the building as part of a larger system & of a larger system & involves the involves the community in a community in a variety of meaningful variety of meaningful waysways

• Implementing action Implementing action from research from research

Common Process & LanguageCommon Process & Language

• A Plan-Do-Study-A Plan-Do-Study-Act Cycle will be Act Cycle will be used as a used as a common process common process across the Districtacross the District

ACT

PLANSTUDY

DO

ACT

DO

Team OrganizationTeam Organization

• Teams will be Teams will be designed at each designed at each building building

• They will evolve They will evolve over timeover time

• They may also They may also involve ad hoc involve ad hoc members as members as neededneeded

Team MembershipTeam Membership

• Teams will include Teams will include school staff who are school staff who are appropriate for the appropriate for the projectproject

• Community members, Community members, AEA staff, outside AEA staff, outside experts, parents, central experts, parents, central office staff, students, office staff, students, paras, etc., are a few paras, etc., are a few examples of team examples of team members who might be members who might be utilized on a short or utilized on a short or long-term basislong-term basis

Identifying GapsIdentifying Gaps

• Teams at the Teams at the building level will building level will identify student identify student achievement gaps achievement gaps using the District using the District Focus as a guide.Focus as a guide.

Tools Teams Will Use Tools Teams Will Use

• Process Process tools assist tools assist teams in decision-teams in decision-making, asking good making, asking good research questions, research questions, & group interaction& group interaction

• Technical Technical tools assist tools assist teams in identifying teams in identifying gaps and measuring gaps and measuring resultsresults

• Data collectionData collection tools tools assist teams in assist teams in knowing what data to knowing what data to collect and how to collect and how to collect itcollect it

• Content Content tools include tools include best-practice best-practice research in the area research in the area in which the team is in which the team is workingworking

Ongoing LearningOngoing Learning

• Many team members Many team members will already be able will already be able to use some of the to use some of the toolstools

• Opportunities to Opportunities to acquire skills will be acquire skills will be provided in a variety provided in a variety of flexible learning of flexible learning opportunities so opportunities so teams can move at teams can move at their own pacetheir own pace

TOOLS CAN BE LEARNED OR ACCESSED

Examples of Learning Examples of Learning OpportunitiesOpportunities

• National consultant National consultant workshops for school workshops for school leadershipleadership

• A seminar on research A seminar on research toolstools

• Consultation at the Consultation at the building levelbuilding level

• Intranet site at CRCSDIntranet site at CRCSD• New AEA websiteNew AEA website• Written resources & Written resources &

materialsmaterials

The resources for The resources for teams will continue teams will continue to evolve as specific to evolve as specific needs are identified needs are identified and resources and resources become available.become available.

SharingSharing

• The District will The District will create multiple create multiple ways for buildings ways for buildings to share with other to share with other buildings, the buildings, the district, and the district, and the communitycommunity

A Multi-Year JourneyA Multi-Year Journey

• Buildings and Buildings and teams will be at teams will be at various points of various points of learning & learning & implementation implementation throughout the throughout the next few years. next few years.

• This is expected This is expected and encouragedand encouraged

For information about the contents of this presentation or about action research teams in the Cedar Rapids Community Schools contact:

Jane Caraway (319) 558-2966

Paula Vincent (319) 558-2961

Jim Thornton (319) 558-2963

Gregg Petersen (319) 558-2962

Sandy Stephen (319) 558-2967