Absenteeism at New Design Middle School
Daniel Randhare
New Design Middle School
New Design Middle School students are chronically late or absent from school.
Introduction
New Design Middle School has a problem with students regularly attending school and showing up on time. Teachers would like the input and help from students to investigate causes and identify possible solutions that encourage students to come to school every day and on time. Your group has been chosen to help create possible solutions for New Design Middle School students regarding absenteeism and tardiness.
Task
For this project your group will create a new attendance policy for New Design Middle School that will help ensure students come to school every day and on-time. Your assignment involves three tasks:
1. Completion of Public Policy Analyst
2. A five page report including all aspects of your research and your findings, as well as a suggestion for a new policy. (See rubric)
3. A three to five minute presentation on the topic using either Prezi or PowerPoint.
Process
1.) Students will be placed into small groups of 4-5 by the teacher.
2.) Identify the problem. (Students at NDMS are chronically absent and late to school.) Problem WS 1
3.) Identify three undesirable effects of this problem. (See Resource section for articles and use the)
4.) Gather evidence of the problem. graphic organizer here (Survey students to find correlation between absenteeism/tardiness and academic achievement.)
5.) Identify the causes of the problem. (from research and use the graphic organizer here to collect your responses)
6.) Evaluate existing public policy. (NYC DoE absence policy, NDMS absence policy.)
a. State one of the major existing policies that attempt to deal with the problem.
b. Advantages of this policy?
c. Disadvantages of policy?
d. Should policy be replaced, strengthened, or improved? What advantages, if any, from the current policy be kept? What disadvantages should be eliminated?
Note* Here is a graphic organizer for you to answer the questions above*
7.) Propose at least three new/original public policy alternatives. (Use the graphic organizer attached here and here)
8.) Write a defense for the best public policy solution. (Feasibility Matrix)
New York City Department of Education Attendance Policy: http://schools.nyc.gov/StudentSupport/StudentAttendance/default.htm
Ways to increase Attendance (according to NYS DoE): http://www.everystudentpresent.org/
5 Key Findings of Middle School Attendance Habits: http://www.attendanceworks.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/5-Key-Findings-MG-Final.pdf
Better Picture of Poverty: http://www.attendanceworks.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/BetterPictureofPoverty_PA_FINAL_001.pdf
Effects of absenteeism: http://www.attendanceworks.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Absenses-Add-Up_September-3rd-2014.pdf
Childtrends.org: Indicators of student absenteeism: http://www.childtrends.org/?indicators=student-absenteeism
Conducting Surveys: http://www.brighthubeducation.com/help-with-writing/83557-tips-on-how-to-put-together-surveys-for-school-projects/
Evaluation
|
Element |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
|
Introduction
______/4 |
The introduction clearly and identifies social problem, previews the structure of the paper and includes effects of social problem. |
The introduction identifies the social problem but may not preview the set-up of the paper or the social effects of the problem. |
The introduction is missing both the preview of the paper and the effects of the social problem. |
Introduction is missing. |
|
Gathering Evidence
________/2 |
|
|
Students discuss process of how they obtained information about New Design Middle School students absentee and tardiness habits and findings obtained from surveys |
Students discuss survey itself but not what the results show. |
|
Survey
_____/2 |
|
|
Students include a master copy of the survey questions distributed to obtain results. |
Students do not include a template copy of the survey questions asked. |
|
Evaluation of existing policy
________/4 |
Students demonstrate in-depth understanding of the current policy of New Design Middle School and identify advantages and disadvantages of the policy. |
Students demonstrate a surface level understanding of the current policy of New Design Middle School and identify either advantages or disadvantages of the policy |
Students show an understanding of the current New Design Middle School attendance policy but do not discuss advantages and disadvantages of the current policy. |
Students do not identify or discuss the current policy regarding attendance at NDMS. |
|
Solution Proposal
________/4 |
Students utilize the Feasibility Matrix for three proposed solutions, identify the most feasible attendance policy for New Design Middle School with a rationale for this choice. |
Students utilize the Feasibility Matrix for less than three proposed solutions, identify a new attendance policy for New Design Middle School with a rationale for this choice. |
Students identify the new policy they would like to see put in place at New Design Middle School but skip the Feasibility Matrix process. |
Students do not propose a solution to combat Chronic Absenteeism and Tardiness |
|
Total: _______ /16 = ________ %
|
||||
PowerPoint/Prezi Rubric:
|
Element |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
|
Introduction
_______/4 |
Presentation tells the audience what the social issue is and why it matters. The presentation invites the audience to reflect on the condition by asking interesting questions and stating the goal. |
Presentation tells the audience what the social issue is and why it matters, yet does not invite reflection and audience participation. |
Presentation tells the audience what the social issue is. |
No introduction of PowerPoint. |
|
Content
_________/4 |
Presentation contains all content of Public Policy Analysis (including: Gathering Evidence; Survey; Evaluation of Current Policy; 3 Possible Solutions; Identify Best Solution; Defend Best Solution) |
Presentation is missing only 1 or 2 of the required content sections from the Public Policy Analysis. |
Presentation contains 1-2 of the required content sections from the Public Policy Analysis. |
Presentation contains none of the required content from the Public Policy Analysis. |
|
Layout
_______/3 |
|
The PowerPoint or Prezi Presentation is visually appealing and helps the audience’s understanding of the material. |
The PowerPoint or Prezi Presentation is visually appealing but contains no visual graphics, or aids. |
The PowerPoint or Prezi Presentation has a template or color scheme that is visually unappealing (color scheme makes it hard to read, small fonts, extra large fonts), and no images. |
|
Resources
________/2 |
|
|
Presentation includes all resources students used. |
Presentation does not contain a slide listing resources students used. |
|
Writing Conventions
_______/4 |
Presentation contains no more than 1 grammatical or spelling error. |
Presentation contains between 2 and 3 grammatical or spelling errors. |
Presentation contains between 4 and 5 grammatical or spelling errors. |
Presentation contains many grammatical and spelling errors that hinder comprehension. |
|
Total: _____________ / 15 = ________%
|
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Conclusion
The goal of this assignment is to help you understand that your attendance in school matters greatly on your academic and future success. By completing this WebQuest you are taking attendance issues into your own hands and creating a system that will encourage students like yourself to attend school every day and to show up on time, every day.
Common Core Standards
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.WHST.6-8.2
Write informative/explanatory texts, including the narration of historical
events, scientific procedures/ experiments, or technical processes.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.WHST.6-8.7
Conduct short research projects to answer a question (including a
self-generated question), drawing on several sources and generating additional
related, focused questions that allow for multiple avenues of exploration.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.1
Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary
sources.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.2
Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source;
provide an accurate summary of the source distinct from prior knowledge or
opinions.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RH.6-8.7
Integrate visual information (e.g., in charts, graphs, photographs, videos, or
maps) with other information in print and digital texts.