Draft Action Research Progress Report

EDLD 5397 - Week 3 Assignment, Part 3

Draft Action Research Project Progress Report

Stacy Garner

March 2013

a.    Title – Does the retention of failing students increase academic performance in future grade levels?

b.    Needs Assessment – Each year, there are usually a few students in a school who have not performed at a satisfactory academic level. If a student does not earn passing grades, then there is a possibility of retention in their current grade level. In my current school, both boys and girls have been retained, but there are usually more boys than girls that fall into this particular area of risk.

c.    Objectives and Vision of the action research project. (ELCC 1.1) – Based on the needs of our campus and the growing number of students who are at risk of being retained, I would like to track students’ academic progress for several years following retention in a previous grade level. I want to find out if their academic progress remained at risk or if their performance increased to a satisfactory or passing level. Students end of year averages following retention will be used to determine if retention was beneficial or not.

d.    Review of the Literature and Action Research Strategy – After reviewing an article, “Retention Revisited: Can Staying Back Move Students Forward?” (Canon, 2011), which highlighted a few benefits of retention and some negative effects of retention. The article also addresses a few key factors that are linked to retention rates. The article sites specific aspects to consider when thinking about retaining a student and the effects of retention in the short term and long term.

Canon, G. (2011). Retention Revisited: Can Staying Back Move Students Forward? Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/19/retention-revisited_n_837877.html on March 17, 2013.

During the creation and selection of my action research project, I brainstormed a list of topics which our school could benefit from. My principal and I discussed the ideas and agreed retention was an area in which we needed to take a closer look. We knew students we had students retained each year and we wanted to see how they have been doing since the retention occurred. We considered many factors and discussed the possible aspects to address. We decided that I would track several students over the years following retention to see if their academic performance increased, decreased, or fluctuated. We were also interested to see if the effects were short term or long term. In order to track students’ progress, grades would be retrieved from their permanent record which documents their end of year grades.

e.    Articulate the Vision (ELCC 1.2) – The sharing of my research findings would be shared with faculty during  a faculty meeting and during a conference when the possibility of retention is at hand. This information could be published and shared with the community in the form of an article. I doubt that it would be beneficial for students to know this information, but it may be insightful to a parent who is in favor of retaining a student against the advisement of the teacher or administrator.

f.     Manage the organization (ELCC 3.1) – Prior to the implementation of this project, I discussed the necessary information with my principal. I gathered student data for ten students who had been previously retained. Using end of year grades taken from the students’ permanent records, academic performance will be tracked for the years following retention. I would only need the assistance of my principal in identifying students who had been retained in the past. The office staff will be able to direct me in locating the permanent records of various students meeting the criteria of past retention. The ultimate goal in this research project is to determine if retaining students is beneficial to them.

g.    Manage Operations (ELCC 3.2) – In the past, when a student has been in danger of failing, conferences involving the student, parents, teachers, and principals have occurred. If there is a true need in retention, then the process is carried out. Effective communication and procedures are critical anytime a student is involved. The priority of this research is the academic success of the students. In the event of conflict, I would base my argument on what previous and current research dictates. The goal of our school is to provide students with the best education possible and helping students find success is a shared vision of the faculty and administration of our school. This shared vision is a basis for my research project.  

h.    Respond to Community Interest and Needs (ELCC 4.2) – The finding during my research project will serve as a basis for determining the benefits of retaining students regardless of ability levels or backgrounds. Due to the growing number of students who are not performing at satisfactory levels, this research may also spark the need for new or additional strategies for reaching students to help them find success before they reach the “at-risk” level. There are students with special needs who may not be performing to their full potential even with various accommodations in place. It is possible that the need for motivational strategies could be lacking which may be the additional push that some students may respond to in order to help them perform at higher levels.