An Action Research Plan

Action Research Plan – Implementing strategies to increase parental involvement

Objective:
To improve students’ academic achievement parents will actively participate in curricular activities.

Goal:
Increase parental involvement through the implementation of two strategies patterned on Epstein’s Framework of Six Types of Involvement.

Action Step(s)
1. Gather information on reasons for lack of parental involvement, Epstein’s Framework of Six Types of Parent Involvement and the relationship between parental involvement and student achievement.
*Person Responsible:
R. Railey
*Timeline:
Start- August 2, 2010 End- August 20, 2010
*Needed Resources:
Books, magazines and journals which contain literature related to the research topic.
*Evaluation:
Summary of information gathered from 5-10 sources explaining the reasons for lack of parental involvement, Epstein’s framework of six types of parent involvement and the relationship between parental involvement and student achievement.

2. Conduct a staff development on Epstein’s Framework of Six Types of Parent Involvement.
*Person Responsible:
R. Railey
*Timeline:
August 30, 2010 3:30-5:30 P. M.
*Needed Resources:
- Power point on Epstein’s Framework of Six Types of Parent Involvement
- Venue for staff development.
- Technology support- computer & ELMO
*Evaluation:
Teachers’ completed evaluation form at the end of the workshop.

3. Implementation of two strategies, Learning at Home (Family Literacy) and Increased Communication with parents patterned on Epstein’s Framework of Six Types of Parent Involvement. One week in every grading period a group of 6-10 parents/guardians at a time will be invited by each teacher to attend a group conference during the teacher’s conference time in order to learn how to help students at home with homework and other curriculum related activities.
*Persons Responsible:
Homeroom teachers, skills specialists, principal, assistant principals
*Timeline:
- September 7 to September 10, 2010- 1st 6 weeks session.
- October 12 to October 15, 2010- 2nd 6 weeks session.
- November 29 to December 3, 2010- 3rd 6 weeks session.
- January 24 to January 28, 2011- 4th 6 weeks session.
- February 22 to February 25, 2011- 5th 6 weeks session.
- April 11 to April 15, 2011- 6th 6 weeks session.
*Needed Resources:
- School newsletter written in English and Spanish disseminating the information about the Family Literacy activities.
- Generic invitation letters for parents.
- Homework calendars and materials for curricular activities.
- Flyers to remind parents of the group conferences.
*Evaluation:
Documentation of parent sign in sheets and teachers’ agenda for the group conferences.

4. Data analysis- collect data from each classroom at the end of each group conference session and create a graph to show percentage of parent participation in every grade level.
a. Which grade level had the most and which had the least percentage of parent participation?
b. What is the total percentage of parent participation in the entire school?
c. What is the level of participation of parents of Hispanic students which is 90% of the population?

The class with the highest percentage of parent participation will be recognized and will receive a prize from the school principal.
*Persons Responsible:
R. Railey, skills specialists, principal
*Timeline:
- 1st 6 weeks session- September 15 to September 17, 2010
- 2nd 6 weeks session- October 21 to October 23, 2010
- 3rd 6 weeks session- December 9 to December 10, 2010
- 4th 6 weeks session- February 3 to February 4, 2011
- 5th 6 weeks session- March 3 to March 4, 2011
- 6th 6 weeks session- April 19 to April 20, 2011
*Needed Resources:
- Data of parent attendance from each classroom.
- Title 1funds for parent involvement.
*Evaluation:
Data analysis is complete and results posted on the school’s bulletin board.

5. Share my work in a meeting with the faculty and staff through a power point presentation and share my findings with other educators through my blog.
*Person Responsible:
R. Railey
*Timeline:
May 2 to May to May 6, 2011
*Needed Resources:
- Power point of findings.
- Technology support- computer & ELMO.
*Evaluation:
Result of action research is published in the school’s newsletter and in http://rfrailey.blogspot.com.