OVERCROWDED NYC
PUBLIC SCHOOLS:
PROBLEMS AND
SOLUTIONS
The Problem: You are an incoming
regional superintendent of Region 2 in the eastern Bronx of New York City, a
district of over 100,000 students. While classroom space for students has
remained the same over the past ten years, student enrollment has grown by at
least 20 percent from 1990-2002. This tremendous growth has led to overcrowded
schools across your district. This
overcrowding has led to more disruptive behavior from students in the school,
decreased effectiveness of instruction, and lower staff morale. It has also led
to an overall dissatisfaction in the community with
the performance of the schools. In this WebQuest you should evaluate and
research several different policy solutions to this problem and decide, as a
group, which policy is the best for your region.
The Task:
In this WebQuest you will be expected to research and
explore the issue of overcrowded schools in Region 2 of the
The Process:
Follow the following links in order, and
read each page. At the end of each page, fill out the example worksheet with
your group to learn more about the policy analysis that you will be asked to
perform in this WebQuest.
1. Define the problem
: Take a look at these articles to understand more about the issue of
overcrowded schools. After you have read the articles, complete the worksheet.
http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/frss/publications/2000032/8.asp
http://www.pta.org/ptawashington/issues/modernization.asp
http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/pdf/pub/schlbronx.pdf
http://www.thirdworldtraveler.com/Third_World_US/Malign_Neglect_Kozol.html
3. Identify causes
Take a look at the following links to
identify some of the causes of school crowding. Then complete the worksheet.
http://www.pubadvocate.nyc.gov/pdf/school_crowding.pdf
4. Evaluate a policy
After thoroughly researching your issues, develop a list of possible solutions
to school overcrowding and complete the following worksheet.
http://www.edpriorities.org/Info/Facilities/facil_5WaystoEndOvercrowd.html
http://www.salemschooldistrictnh.com/sau57/current_issues/solutions.htm
http://www.classsizematters.org/Capitalplan.html
http://www.ruraledu.org/misc/riley.htm
http://www.bayces.org/newsletter/august/aug_policy.htm
Developing Public Policy Solutions:
5. Develop solutions
Use your research into possible policy solutions to choose three solutions. Complete
the following worksheet.
Choosing the Best
Public Policy Solution:
6. Select best solution
Using the feasibility/effectiveness
matrix and worksheet, select the best policy solution or set of solutions to
deal with school overcrowding.
7. Benefits &
Costs Use this link to examine how the benefits and costs of a solution
affect your choice of policy. Complete this worksheet to
choose the best solution.
Evaluation: After examining each of the above links and completing
the worksheets for each, you will complete a three to five page policy memo in
which you present your findings in written form. Consult the following rubric
to self-evaluate your performance on this project and to make sure you have met
all of its requirements.
Criteria for the Written Project:
|
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
|
Introduction |
All
questions were answered completely and rationales for the answers were
clearly stated. |
All
questions were answered completely, but rationales for the all the answers were
not clearly stated. |
Not all
questions were answered completely, or greater than 2 rationales for the all
answers were not clearly stated. |
All
questions were not answered completely. |
4 |
Task |
All
areas of the task were addressed and handled with a high degree of
sophistication. The plan followed by the team demonstrated a great deal of
thought. |
At
least one area of the task was not addressed. The plan followed by the
team demonstrated a great deal of thought. |
At
least two areas of the task were not addressed. The plan followed by
the team demonstrated a moderate level of thought. |
The
task is incomplete and/or it is apparent that little effort went into the
development of the task. |
4 |
Public Policy/ Solution Originality |
The ideas expressed by the body of work demonstrate a high
degree of originality. |
The
ideas expressed by the body of work are mostly original. The group may have
improved upon a previous idea. |
The ideas expressed by the body of work demonstrate a low
degree of originality. |
There were no original ideas expressed in this project. |
4 |
Grammar,
Format, and Spelling |
The
final body of work was free of grammar, spelling, and formatting errors. |
The
final body of work had 1 error related to grammar, spelling, and formatting
errors. |
The
final body of work had 3-5 grammar, spelling, and formatting errors |
The
final body of work had major grammar, spelling, and formatting errors. |
4 |
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Total: |
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Standards:
Language
Arts
Reading E1c: Read and comprehend informational materials.
Writing E2a: Produce a report of information
Applied Learning A3a: Gather information to assist in completing
project work
Conclusion:
In this WebQuest you have evaluated and researched several
different policy solutions to this major city-wide problem and hopefully have
decided with your group, which policy is the best for your region. With your
help, the schools in your region will be less crowed and thus instruction in
these buildings will be more effective.