Time Line
A detailed timeline has been developed to help communicate the
variety of tasks that need to be completed for this study. The timeline
includes details ranging from the preparation and planning of the
study to the final analysis and dissemination of results.
Preparation and Planning (Jan,
‘99 – Aug, ‘99)
- Initiation: The project would begin in January 1999
with consolidation of the team and the implementation of continuous
communication procedures.
- Indicator Development: The first task would be an
intensive literature review and analysis to translate the drivers
and the science and mathematics standards into indicators and
ultimately into data collection devices.
- Sample Identification: In spring as the theoretical
grounding is proceeding, we will be working with the states
to identify schools that would be sent surveys and visited during
the 1999-2000 school year.
- Student Achievement Data: Final negotiations about
how to obtain and transfer the student achievement data would
take place.
- Instrument Finalization: During the summer there
would be extensive exchanges of information and review of draft
instruments among the team members. Final draft forms would
then be submitted to a small group of external experts to obtain
their input. Instruments would also be pilot tested with students,
teachers and principals to obtain feedback and make improvements.
- Team Training: The finalized forms would serve as
the basis for a training session with all the team members to
consolidate information, procedures and understandings that
would underlie the data collection effort.
Data Collection and Analyses (Sept,
’99 – Aug, ’00)
- Finalized Sample: Final identification of schools
will take place in collaboration with the within state team
members and the state’s SSI directors. Districts will be contacted
and permission to conduct the survey will be obtained.
- Collect Survey Data: Data collection instruments
would be mailed to the selected schools for completion. The
presence of the within state liaisons and the prior approval
of the districts involved would help to insure careful responses
and optimize response rates.
- Site Visits: Site visit teams of one in-state and
one out-state member will visit six schools in LA and MT (three
with high levels of SSI interaction and three with low levels
of SSI interaction) and six schools in IL (three high schools
and three middle schools). The schools will be selected by the
state SSI staff and/or the within state team member. Site visits
would take place during the early winter and will be used to
verify survey responses. In addition site visit reports on the
unique characteristics of each site would be prepared by the
visiting team.
- Data Analyses: All data would be processed into databases,
cleaned and verified as soon after they were collected. A meeting
of all team members to discuss data analysis and project management
would take place in late spring. Student assessment information
would be transferred from the state data banks in the late spring
or early summer and merged with the survey, interview and observational
data. The data from the three states would be analyzed and preliminary
hypotheses formulated.
- Modifications: Any unanticipated questions or emerging
theories would be incorporated into the data collection for
the replication in Colorado.
Replication in Colorado (Sept,
‘00-Aug, ‘01)
1. Finalized Sample: Final identification of schools will
take place in collaboration with the within state team members and
the State SSI director. Districts will be contacted and permission
to conduct the survey will be obtained.
- Collect Survey Data: Data collection instruments
would be mailed to the selected schools for completion.
- Site Visits: Site visit teams of one instate and
one out-state member will visit six schools in CO (three with
high levels of SSI interaction and three with low levels of
SSI interaction). The schools will be selected by the state
SSI staff and/or the within state team member. Site visits would
take place and site visit reports on the unique characteristics
of each site would be prepared by the visiting team.
- Data Analyses: Data would be processed into databases,
cleaned and verified. A meeting of all team members to discuss
data analysis and project results would take place in late spring.
Student assessment information would be transferred from the
state data banks in the late spring or early summer and merged
with the survey, interview and observational data. The data
from the CO would be analyzed to verify findings from LA and
MT.
Final Analyses and Dissemination (Sept,
‘01-Dec, ’01)
- Final Analyses: Final data analyses will be conducted
and results translated into reports, newsletters, and monographs.
- Dissemination: The results of this study will be
widely distributed through multiple channels including the CAREI
website, professional journals, newsletters, monographs and
presentations at professional meetings.
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