PROJECTS

SUGGESTED RESEARCH PROJECTS:

• Testing for correlation between school-wide test results and factors like: poverty count at the school, racial demographics, and parent level of education. To answer questions such as: which schools are actually "breaking the mold" of what would be expected for the demographics of the school? And conversely, which schools are falling short of educating students in a manner that at least allows them to achieve at par given their demographics? (Charter Schools)
• What is the impact of student population growth, and special student population growth, on student performance?
• Comparison of States leave benefits (e.g. Personal leave, Annual Leave, Sick Leave)
• Study of the current curriculum, and look into the possibility of curriculum development - which would study the consequences, both intended and unintended, of developing an integrated curriculum K-12.
• Study of Professional Development: Is there a better system of professional development? Examine other methods, and suggest a set of core principles that all professional development programs should incorporate. Examine other work (e.g. Defors), and suggest policies that will follow national standards.
• Study the use of engaging technology: Are there any models for implementing contemporary technology into the classroom (e.g. Pod Casting, Smart boards, and You Tube). Is it effective? What is its impact of student performance?
• A study of the achievement gap - more specifically, how are minority schools educating their students? What is the difference between the successful schools and the unsuccessful schools?
• Suggested Common Characteristics:
  1. Principals
  2. Teachers
  3. Parental Support
  4. Academic extra-curricular activities?
• What is the relationship between school safety (e.g. the number of violent incidences in school) and the drop out rate? Also what is the effect of school safety on teacher recruitment and retention?
• What is the state of the State with regards to teaching 2nd languages and the Arts in NC Public Schools? - How do we compare to other States? Are there other options we may want to consider?
• English as a Second Language (ESL) would be interested in an analysis of State funding of limited English proficient (LEP) students and a correlation with outcomes such as Title III Annual Measurable Achievement Objectives (AMAOs) by LEA. Also of interest would be correlations between Title III AMAOs and the purchase of state-adopted texst for ESL as well as the correlation between Title III AMAOs and staff development.
• Compare the rate of suspensions and academic performance for a subset of the schools implementing PBS. We have School Evaluation Tool data for some of the schools and those are the ones that would be in the study. The School Evaluation Tool data indicates how well the schools are doing in implementation.
• A study of allotment formulas for virtual instruction.
• A study of the impact of substitute teachers on student performance.

If you would like more information about these project suggestions, please contact Intern_Research@dpi.state.nc.us.