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 Bronx. In a 3-5 page paper you will define the problem, propose a set of possible solutions and recommend one best solution or a combination of solutions to the overcrowding problem. In order to better plan for your paper, follow each of the following links and complete the worksheets to learn more about the policy analysis that you will be expected to perform.

 

 

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

 

2. Gather evidence

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

Max Points

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total:

 

 

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.