Action Research Plan

Action Planning Template
Goal: To determine the impact of Career and Technology (CTE) certifications on long-term career decisions by high school students.
Action Steps(s):	Person(s) Responsible:	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
Discuss Action Research topics with site supervisor	Site supervisor (Katie Laza, Angleton ISD CTE Director) and myself	January 2011	Discussion Notes Intern Plan	Prepare Action Research topic and supporting inquiries
Research online articles and other resources regarding selected Action Research topic.	Site supervisor, myself, Angleton High School (AHS) principal, AHS librarian, various Angleton ISD (AISD) administrators as needed.	February – March 2011	Internet, library, input from AISD administrators	Evaluate data, review relevant information to begin formulating action research inquiry activities
Survey surrounding school districts as to CTE certification offerings	CTE Director/Site supervisor, myself, CTE Directors from surrounding school districts	March 2011	Survey/Questionnaire	Compile data and examine correlation to Angleton ISD – are we offering relevant certifications? Are there additional certifications other school districts are offering that would/could be beneficial to our students?
Survey Angleton ISD CTE teachers as to value and relevance of certifications in their subject areas	Myself, Angleton ISD CTE teachers	March 2011	Survey/Questionnaire, Interviews	Compile data and examine results – is AISD offering relevant certifications for college, technical school or work placement? Are students taking advantage of these certifications pre- and post-graduation?
Assemble statistics of certifications received by CTE students during past 2 years	CTE Director/Site supervisor, myself, AISD teachers, AISD information database, CATEMA database	April 2011	CTE data from Angleton ISD	Compile data and examine results – what is the total number of certifications in each CTE area? Which certifications are the most prevalent?
Survey current students pre-graduation as to plans after graduation	AISD teachers, myself, students who have received certification during current school year	April – May 2011	Survey/Questionnaire, Interviews	Compile data and examine results – are students planning to use certifications after graduation?
Contact students who have graduated as to their use of certifications post-graduation	CTE Director/Site supervisor, myself, AISD teachers, AISD CTE information database, CATEMA database	May 2011-Summer 2011	Survey/Questionnaire, phone and/or email contact	Compile data and examine results – are students utilizing certifications post-graduation? If so, how are they using certifications? If not, why?
Compilation of data in report form	Site supervisor, myself	Summer 2011	Tables, charts, spreadsheets, reports, PowerPoint – time, computer	Review, critique, revise as needed to complete inquiry in report format
Review wonderings/ inquiries for further evaluation	Site supervisor, myself	Summer 2011	Data, discussion	Add additional information to report as needed
Share/ implement findings	Site supervisor, myself, AHS principal, AISD administrators	September 2011	Final summative report, discussion	Evaluate results for continuation of relevant certifications, elimination of certifications not utilized and addition of other constructive certifications as needed

Format based on Tool 7.1 from Examining What We Do to Improve Our Schools

(Harris, Edmonson, and Combs, 2010)