scholarly journals Homework Policy and Student Choice: Findings from a Montessori Charter School

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Catherine M Scott ◽  
Nelda Glaze

The use of homework has been a controversial topic in education for many years: what types of homework to give, how much, and how often. In previous years, Ocean Montessori School (a pseudonym), the site of this study, offered homework like that of traditional public schools, such as worksheets and rote skill practice. Feeling conflicted about the misalignment between traditional homework and Montessori practices, the school administration changed the homework policy for the 2016–2017 academic year. The new policy encouraged students to choose what they wanted to do each night for homework. This study examines the views and practices of the teachers, students, and parents involved in the new homework policy. Data were collected from parent surveys, teacher focus groups, student interviews, observations, and student work samples. The findings indicate that, although students enjoyed the proposed homework change, it lacked sufficient structure for parents, and students needed support from teachers and parents to engage in meaningful homework tasks.

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 53-59
Author(s):  
Chusniyati Nurfadhilah

The purpose of this paper is to describe the implementation of "Papa Pusing", the results and impact, constraints, and supporting "Papa Pusing" in SD Negeri Karanganyar 1.The method in this research is descriptive method. The population in this study were students of SD Negeri Karanganyar 1. The sample in this study were students of class VI SD Negeri Karanganyar 1 in the 2015/2016 academic year. The data analysis used was descriptive quantitative.The result of the implementation “Papa Pusing" is very effective in improving the creativity, knowledge, interest, and competence of students where from the initial conditions the average national exam of 65.2 to 72, the highest score of 26.4 UN initially increased to 28.75 and initially there are no students who scored 100 in the UN increased to two children who obtained a 100 in the UN. The effects are a lot of students who are enrolled in school favorite in the district of Kudus, students became increasingly religious, honest, disciplined and responsible, the confidence level of parents and the community increased due to the accountability of public schools also increased, the image of the school in the community the better and become an example and references other schools in the cluster-level national exam preparation. Obstacles encountered include too much pressure from parents to their children on reaching the maximum value, the absence of UN facilitation for students with special needs and excessive anxiety. Factors supporting namely the support and concern of all the school community and stakeholders to realize high quality graduates and good communication between teachers and parents


2016 ◽  
Vol 55 (8-9) ◽  
pp. 1203-1223
Author(s):  
Jane Beese ◽  
Jennifer Martin

The privatization of public funds for education through school choice programs has fueled the expansion of virtual online charter schools. This redirection of funds contributes to the idea that virtual school success is comparable or even superior to the performance of traditional public schools. The schools most adversely affected are the schools with the highest need, those serving children living in poverty and already underserved minority student populations: urban public schools. The purpose of this article is to investigate the performance of virtual schools and the redistribution of public monies from public to online community schools in Ohio.


2017 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernando Chacón Fuertes ◽  
Carlos A. Huertas Hurtado

AbstractThe objective of the study was to determine the causal effects of school failure (SF) among secondary school students, belonging to five public schools within the region of Girardota, Colombia, through the validation of a psychosocial model with structural equations. A total of 319 students, 25% more males, enrolled in classes between 6th and 11th year, with an average age of 14 years. Furthermore, 265 parents and 200 teachers were also included in the sample. Participants answered the questions raised in 9 instruments. Of the total number of students, 63.8% were surveyed. The instruments were subjected to a pilot test and to the judgment of experts. In order to reduce the amount of data, exploratory and confirmatory factorial analyses were used. Other techniques of multivariate analysis such as decision trees and linear regressions were also used in order to previously evaluate the relationships between the independent variables (IV) and the dependent variable (DV). Afterwards, the Full SEM was calculated, yielding a model consisting of 34 variables (10 latent and 24 observable), with the following indexes of goodness of fit: CMIN/DF = 1.146, p = .058, IFI = 0.974, TLI = .970, CFI = .974, RMSEA = .027 and PCLOSE = 0.998. Theoretically, the model confirms the predictive value of the selected variables, with respect to school failure. The results are applicable to both the design of educational policies and the direct intervention in the classroom. In both contexts, strategies can be developed that reduce factors that negatively affect school performance, actively linking students, teachers and parents.


2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 854-869
Author(s):  
Fathi Mohsen Shamma ◽  
Reem Al-Zu’bi

This study reveals the correlations between high diploma student’s perceptions of the level of organisational justice exhibited by Jordanian school principals and their own level of organisational commitment. To achieve these objectives, the researchers employed a descriptive correlation design. A 44-item questionnaire comprising four fields was administered to a sample of (354) high diploma students working as teachers in (15) public schools. The results show there is evidence of perceived justice and a high level of commitment among teachers; additionally, it identified a strong connection between teachers’ commitment and all aspects of organisational justice. These findings have implications for Jordanian school administration; accordingly, the researchers propose relevant recommendations for further investigation.   Keywords: organisational justice (OJ); organisational commitment (OC); high diploma.


PLoS Medicine ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. e1003596
Author(s):  
Mika Matsuzaki ◽  
Brisa N. Sánchez ◽  
R. David Rebanal ◽  
Joel Gittelsohn ◽  
Emma V. Sanchez-Vaznaugh

Background Obesity prevalence remains high among children of Pacific Islander (PI) origin, Filipino (FI), and American Indian/Alaska Native (AIAN) origins in the United States. While school nutrition policies may help prevent and reduce childhood obesity, their influences specifically among PI, FI, and AIAN children remain understudied. We evaluated the association of the California (CA) state school nutrition policies for competitive food and beverages and the federal policy for school meals (Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA 2010)) with overweight/obesity among PI, FI, and AIAN students. Methods and findings We used an interrupted time series (ITS) design with FitnessGram data from 2002 to 2016 for PI (78,841), FI (328,667), AIAN (97,129), and White (3,309,982) students in fifth and seventh grades who attended CA public schools. Multilevel logistic regression models estimated the associations of the CA school nutrition policies (in effect beginning in academic year 2004 to 2005) and HHFKA 2010 (from academic year 2012 to 2013) with overweight/obesity prevalence (above the 85 percentile of the age- and sex-specific body mass index (BMI) distribution). The models were constructed separately for each grade and sex combination and adjusted for school district-, school-, and student-level characteristics such as percentage of students eligible for free and reduced price meals, neighborhood income and education levels, and age. Across the study period, the crude prevalence of overweight/obesity was higher among PI (39.5% to 52.5%), FI (32.9% to 36.7%), and AIAN (37.7% to 45.6%) children, compared to White (26.8% to 30.2%) students. The results generally showed favorable association of the CA nutrition policies with overweight/obesity prevalence trends, although the magnitudes of associations and strengths of evidence varied among racial/ethnic subgroups. Before the CA policies went into effect (2002 to 2004), overweight/obesity prevalence increased for White, PI, and AIAN students in both grades and sex groups as well as FI girls in seventh grade. After the CA policies took place (2005 to 2012), the overweight/obesity rates decreased for almost all subgroups who experienced increasing trends before the policies, with the largest decrease seen among PI girls in fifth grade (before: log odds ratio = 0.149 (95% CI 0.108 to 0.189; p < 0.001); after: 0.010 (−0.005 to 0.025; 0.178)). When both the CA nutrition policies and HHFKA 2010 were in effect (2013 to 2016), declines in the overweight/obesity prevalence were seen among White girls and FI boys in fifth grade. Despite the evidence of the favorable association of the school nutrition policies with overweight/obesity prevalence trends, disparities between PI and AIAN students and their White peers remained large after the policies took place. As these policies went into effect for all public schools in CA, without a clear comparison group, we cannot conclude that the changes in prevalence trends were solely attributable to these policies. Conclusions The current study found evidence of favorable associations of the state and federal school nutrition policies with overweight/obesity prevalence trends. However, the prevalence of overweight/obesity continued to be high among PI and AIAN students and FI boys. There remain wide racial/ethnic disparities between these racial/ethnic minority subgroups and their White peers. Additional strategies are needed to reduce childhood obesity and related disparities among these understudied racial/ethnic populations.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-39
Author(s):  
Diah Gustina ◽  
Ilham Adbullah ◽  
Sofino Sofino

This study aims to describe: (1) The formulation of the contents of the program of the University of Bengkulu Student Working Period 86 period in Tebat Monok Village 2018 Academic Year; (2) The form of community empowerment carried out as a realization of the 86th period of the University of Bengkulu Student Work Lecture program in Tebat Monok Village 2018 Academic Year; (3) Results of community empowerment carried out through the 86th period of the Bengkulu University Student Work Lecture in Tebat Monok Village 2018 Academic Year; (4) Role of Supervising Lecturers (DPL) in assisting the activities of the 86 Year University of Bengkulu University Real Work Period 2018 in Tebat Monok Village. This study used a qualitative approach to the research subjects of Students of the University of Bengkulu in the 86 86 2018 period in Tebat Monok Village the government of Tebat Monok village as a Lapanga Advisor, and University of Bengkulu P3KKN. Data collection is done by interviewing techniques and documentation. The technique used in data analysis is data reduction, data presentation, and conclusion drawing. Triangulation is used to explain the validity of the data by using source triangulation, technique triangulation, and time triangulation. The results of the study show: (1) The process of formulating the program content is done by drafting the KKN student work program through the KKN workshop. (2) The form of implementation of community empowerment carried out is training in packaging techniques and product labeling. (3) The results of community empowerment are carried out, namely the fulfillment of the basic needs of the community of Tebat Monok Village in the field of Entrepreneurship. (4) The role of Field Advisors is to carry out their duties and functions in accordance with existing provisions, namely by holding orientation until giving objective values.  Keywords: Community Empowerment, Training, Family Welfare.  


2016 ◽  
Vol 24 ◽  
pp. 33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer C. LaFleur

This project contributes to the body of research examining the implications of the geographic location of charter schools for student access, especially in high-poverty communities. Using geographic information systems (GIS) software, this paper uses data from the U.S. Census American Community Survey to identify the socioeconomic characteristics of the census tracts in which Chicago’s charter schools tend to locate. Echoing the findings of other researchers who have examined charter school locational patterns, the present analyses found evidence of a “ceiling effect” by which many charter schools appear to locate in Chicago’s higher-needs census tracts, broadly cast, but avoid locating directly within those that are highest-need. The findings suggest that because Chicago’s charter schools face per-pupil expenditures that are often up to 20% less than those of traditional public schools, they may strategically leverage location to help shape student enrollment. By frequently locating near, but not directly within highest-need communities, charter schools may find it easier to attract a quorum of relatively higher achieving students who are less expensive to educate, therefore increasing their chances of meeting academic benchmarks and retaining their charters. By extending the findings of other researchers to the context of Chicago—where charters represent an ever-increasing share of the public school market—the present analyses may inform future revisions to the policies governing the authorization of charter schools in Chicago, with the goal of increasing access for highest-need students. 


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