Action Research Plan

I am ready to post my plan for the world to see.  The more I thought of this plan, the more it has grown in my mind.  I can see a lot of different directions this thing could go. It will be interesting to see how it turns out.  Please feel free to comment and offer any suggestions.


In the previous three years our campus has under gone some major organizational and leadership changes.  These changes have included a new superintendent, curriculum director, principal and new curriculum.  The middle school’s rating went from recognized to exemplary in two years and maintained the exemplary rating the next year.  The numerous changes in leadership on the middle school campus and in the district has made it hard to determine the school’s climate and culture both in the district and how it is perceived in the community.

Research Goal:  To conduct research to assess our current campus climate and culture and target areas of weakness to improve community involvement and student success.

1.     A committee of volunteer parents and faculty members and I, will meet to develop a survey to be sent out to middle school parents and community leaders.  This survey will identify the demographics of the participants, their connection with the school and number of their children (if any), enrolled in the middle school.  This will be an anonymous survey to promote participation. 

2.     After the survey has been developed, it will be sent out via e-mail through a survey program.  The questions will based on a rating system and target the goals of the middle school both academically and socially. The participants will be given 5 days to respond.   I will then gather the responses together.

3.     The data will be analyzed to determine if there are other areas that need to be addressed. What are the major areas of concern? What are we doing well?  How can we do better?  How can we improve our relationship with the parents and the community?  I will present the results to the committee. 

4.     I will conduct research based on the results of the survey over the top areas of concern and ways to address that need.  I will use published articles over school climate and culture and interview principals in the area to gather information concerning ways they may have improved their school climate and culture.  I will look for programs that other schools have used and if they were beneficial.

5.     After researching these areas, I will present a plan for improvement to the committee.  We will discuss the plans and if they feel they would be appropriate for our school.  Will the plan meet the goal? How long will it take to determine if our plan is working?  How can we monitor the results? How will the plan improve student performance or attitude?

6.      Upon their approval and adding any suggestions they might make, I will present the plan to my site supervisor.  We will analyze the plan and determine the resources necessary (if any) that are needed to implement the plan the time line for implementation and what it should look like.  It will be presented to the faculty for their endorsement.

7.     Upon agree upon the plan we will develop a criteria to monitor the plan and make adjustments as it is implemented or as needed based on the goal of the project. 

8.     The committee will meet periodically to monitor the progress and look for other areas of concern or opportunities for growth.