Transcript Action Research Project: How School Uniforms and Dress

Action Research Project:
How School Uniforms and Dress
Codes Affect student achievement
and the school climate.
Presented by:
Jason W Gavin
Chapter One:
Introduction
• Problem Statement:
– Students are not
following dress codes
in schools, because of
this many students
have low tests scores
and a high rate of
disciplinary referrals.
Not Appropriate for School
Chapter One:
Introduction
• Purpose of the Study:
– The purpose of this
study is to show a
correlation between the
way a student dresses
and the grades and
discipline referrals that
a student receives.
Dress for Success
• Problems:
– The administration is not enforcing the
dress code policy in the school.
– Students are harassed because of what
they wear.
– Classrooms are a distracting
environment because of students
clothing.
• Description of the
Community:
– Lee-Davis High
School is located in
Mechanicsville, VA.
• Description of the
Community:
– LDHS is part of the
Hanover County
School District.
– Hanover County is
located in Central
Virginia.
• Description of the Community:
– County population is approximately
86,000.
– It has doubled since the 1980 census.
• Description of the Community:
– Population is a mix of rural and
urban lifestyles.
• Description of the Community:
– Very historical county.
• Civil War Battlefields
• Randolph Macon College (founded
1830)
• Richmond, VA is a short drive away
• Description of the Community:
– Ethnic Backgrounds:
• White (88%)
• African American (9%)
• Asian American (<1%)
• Description of the
Community:
– Top Employer:
• Hanover County
Schools: 2,128
employees
• Description of the Community:
– Student Population:
• District:
–
–
–
–
16,683 students
4 high schools
4 middle schools
14 elementary schools
• Description of the Community:
– Student Population:
• Lee-Davis High School
–
–
–
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1,692 students
89% Caucasian
9% African American
2% other
• Description of the Community:
– Lee-Davis High School Recognitions:
• Recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School
• 1st school in the county to be awarded the
International Baccalaureate Program
• 1st school in the county to implement the
NJROTC program.
• Description of the Community:
– Mission Statement:
– To prepare students for success in
future academic, social, and business
endeavors by providing an atmosphere
that supports the cooperation of
teachers, students and parents in a
variety of learning activities
Chapter 2: Study of the
Problem.
• Problem Description:
– Students were not following the dress
code.
– Administration did not enforce dress
code.
– Dress code was distracting.
• Problem
Description:
– Those who did not
follow dress code
had low test scores.
– Those who did not
follow dress code
had more discipline
problems.
• Problem Documentation:
Quarter
Grade
Quarter
Grade
Exam
Grade
Quarter
Grade
Quarter
Grade
Exam
Grade
State Test
Score
Student A
94%
89%
92%
87%
92%
96%
95%
Student B
53%
50%
66%
62%
57%
60%
59%
• Problem Documentation:
– Student A followed the dress code.
– Student B did not follow the dress code.
• Grades were given from a Biology Teacher.
• Literature Review:
– Long Beach School District
(CA) implemented a uniform
policy in 1994.
•
•
•
•
Crime declined 36%
Fighting down by 51%
Vandalism decreased by 18%
Attendance rates rose each year
to a high of 96%
• Literature Review:
– South Carolina Middle
School
• Children at a school with
a uniform policy rated
their school climate as
“very positive”
• Children felt safer in
the school that had a
uniform policy
• Literature Review:
– Maryland Schools
• Dress code instituted to improve
discipline and achievement
• Obscene clothing was considered a
distraction
• Literature Review:
– Boston Schools
• Implemented a dress code
to stop the fashion
competition among
students
• Reduce violence
associated with gang
related colors
• Literature Review:
– New York Schools
• Implemented a dress code
to promote “discipline,
unity, and seriousness of
purpose” in schools
• Causative Analysis:
– Why don’t students follow the dress
code?
•
•
•
•
•
Students might have self-esteem issues.
Rebellion against authority
No community support
Need for self-expression
Can not afford “appropriate” clothes
Chapter 3: Outcomes and
Evaluations
• Goals and Expectations:
– Have all students follow dress code
– Have a positive school climate
– Have fair enforcement by
administration
– Improved focus on test scores and
student achievement
• Expected Outcomes:
– 80% of students who followed the dress
code would pass all of their tests
– 80% of students who followed the dress
code would pass all of their quizzes
• Expected Outcomes:
– 80% of the students who followed the
dress code would turn in 100% of their
homework
– Dress code violations would drop by 75%
• Measurement of Outcomes:
-Weekly surveys handed out to
teachers and administrators.
• Analysis of the Results:
– Charts will be created after the study
was completed
– The writer will analyze the information
to see if any correlation exists
Chapter 4: Solution
Strategy
• Discussion for Implementing a Dress
Code:
– Make sure parents are involved in
creating a dress code
– Decide on how “strict” of a dress code
policy would be best for the district
• Discussion for Implementing a Dress
Code:
-Provide assistance to any family that may
need help in purchasing clothing
•
•
•
•
Funding from businesses
Donations from other students
Opt out option
Free of charge
Chapter 5: Results
• NOTE: The results of this study
have been “fabricated”. The actual
implementation stage of this plan was
not conducted.
• Results:
– All 20 students turned in 100% of their
homework during the study.
– 10 of the students came for extra help
from their teachers (before or after
school)
• Results:
– Test and quiz scores rose by an average
of 20%
– 9 out of 10 students passed all of their
tests
– 8 out of 10 students passed all of their
quizzes
• Results:
– There were only 7 discipline
referrals to the administration,
compared to 53 during the same
time period last year.
• A drop of 87%
• Recommendations for Replication of
the study:
– 1. Find and use a large population of
students.
• Recommendations
for Replication of
the study:
– 2. Make sure to have
permission from
everyone involved in
the study.
• Recommendations for Replication of
the study:
– 3. Start the research in the middle of
the year or at the beginning of the year.
• Plan for Dissemination of Information:
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Web-Page
Presentation to PTA
Presentation to School Board
Presentation to teachers