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Period: to
Transformation of an ineffective tardy policy
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Data Gathering - verification
The committee meets to verify the nature of the problem and the occurrence of the problem. They develop a survey to be sent to all of the staff to determine any patterns in the tardy problems. Are certain blocks more problematic? Are the teachers following the consequences? Is the current policy too cumbersome? -
Confrontation with the problem
The principal has assigned one of the assistant principals to lead in the transformation of the tardy procedures. The assistant principal has invited members of the staff to serve on the tardy committee. The assistant principal and the ten teachers serving on the committee meet in the professional development studio. The assistant principal presents the inquiry procedures that will be used over the next 3 months to prepare for a new tardy policy with the beginning of the new school year. -
Data Gathering - experimentation
The committee meets at the school library to isolate the relevant variables according to the staff survey. They also survey the campus including stairwells and hallways to determine any relationships between traffic flow and tardy issues. -
Organizing, Formulating an Explanation
The committee meets to determine the new tardy policy. After a survey of the staff and research into what other districts are doing to minimize student tardiness, the committee decides to modify the schedule to include a 15 minute social break between first and second block. They also put up signs on the halls and stairwells to encourage efficient traffic flow. The tardy consequences have been streamlined to make it easier for teachers to discipline students. -
Analysis of the Inquiry Process
The committee meets to determine the effectiveness of the new tardy policy. At the beginning of September, a new survey was sent to the staff to get their input on the effectiveness of the new schedule and new tardy policy. The committee also compares the tardy rate for August and September to August and September of the previous year. The committee will then determine any additional changes that need to be made for the beginning of the second semester in January of 2017.
