Revisions and Suggestions to Action Plan

The site supervisor was pleased with my action research plan. He is in agreement that the current tardy policy is not working as well as it should and is in need of improvement. He also recognizes that tardies are a big issue on our campus. Last school year they accounted for more than 75% of all discipline referrals. The one concern that my site supervisor expressed was the time frame. He felt that trying to get this done before the beginning of school was premature and that more time would be needed to gather a committee and discuss possible changes. Therefore his recommendation was to try to implement a new tardy policy sometime after the first six weeks.

My colleagues have been very supportive of my plan as well. Many recognize this issue and are also looking for possible solutions. Some helpful suggestions have been to include students in the interview/research process and to implement a possible rewards program for students who are in compliance with the tardy policy. I intend to take both of these recommendations under consideration as I begin the action research process.

Action Planning Template

Goal: The main goal of this action research project is to find an effective tardy plan that will decrease the amount of students arriving late to class. The new plan should be easy for teachers to implement and also manageable for administrators to enforce. Students are safer in the classroom rather than loitering in the hallways unattended. Tardiness also increases classroom interruptions and decreases instruction time.

Action Person(s) Timeline: Needed

Step(s) Responsible Start/End Resources Evaluation

1. Read current articles and research current data. Investigate other school policies.	Jana Williams	Present – August 15, 2010	Internet, Reflective Journals/ Literature, and Weblogs	Obtain possible solutions to start generating ideas.
2. Interview school personnel.	Jana Williams	August 1 – 20, 2010	Assistant Principal and 3-4 Experienced Teachers	Gather data from experienced educators.
3. Develop a site-based committee.	Jana Williams & Assistant Principal	August 16 – 27, 2010	Assistant Principal, 4-5 Teachers, Attendance Clerk	Meetings to discuss and create new tardy policy.
4. Implement revised tardy policy.	Assistant Principal	1st Six Weeks of 2010 School Year	SHS staff	Daily tardy records.
5. Assess progress and achievement.	Site-based Committee.	End of 3-week period.	SHS staff	Staff surveys. Evaluate tardy records.
6. Evaluate revised tardy policy.	Site-based Committee.	End of 1st Six Weeks.	Weekly tardy records and discipline referrals.	Feedback on the effectiveness of new tardy policy.
7. Implement necessary changes.	Assistant Principal	2nd Six Weeks	SHS staff	Daily tardy records.
8. Implement rewards program.	Principal/ Assistant Principal	2nd Six Weeks	Prizes such as gift cards, i-pods, etc.	Improvement in tardy records.

Purpose and Significance

The purpose of my proposed action research plan is to find a more effective tardy policy. To do this I will look at current research strategies and study other school's policies to find a better procedure for dealing with this issue. This is a common problem that all schools face and one that must have a workable solution. It is important that students be taught the value of being prompt at a young age.

I believe that solving this problem will benefit all stakeholders. Getting to class on time will benefit students because they are safer in the classroom rather than roaming the halls unattended. Teachers will benefit from less disruptions and more instruction/learning time in the classroom. Administrators will benefit from fewer discipline referrals and students being sent to the office for tardy slips. The school will then benefit from higher test results due to increased learning from less time spent out of the classroom. The school will also run more efficiently and provide a quality educational experience.

The benefits of blogs

Blogs are yet another advancement in technology that can make communication and collaboration easier for educational leaders. With just a few minutes each day, administrators can log on and connect with others who can provide useful insights and solutions to everyday problems. Blogs are also a good opportunity to pose questions and gain support from other professionals.

What is Action Research?

According to the Dana text, "Leading with Passion and Knowledge", action research is a systematic process in which one evaluates his/her own practice and takes action for change based on the results of the inquiry. While evaluating the action or change, the administrator should pose questions or “wonderings”, and then analyze data and research relevant literature to seek new understandings before making any changes in practice. After implementation, the administrator should evaluate the effectiveness of the new strategies and set aside a time for reflection that may lead to new problems or areas for improvement. This process offers administrators the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations with colleagues, become role models for teachers and students, and encourages the use of best practices to help improve the school. I intend to use action research to improve the tardy policy at my own school. Many strategies have been implemented, but seem to all be ineffective with high school students. Excessive tardies leads to increased discipline problems and decreased learning in the classroom. Small problems begin to escalate into major issues if not addressed appropriately. It is my hope to find a solution that can motivate students to be prompt to class while not consuming all of the administrators' time.