The action research project is starting to take shape!  I am happy to post the process overview, as it stands right now.  I am starting to get a little bit excited about action research.  The possibilites are endless for what can be conducted through this process.

Action Research Project

Process Overview

Special Education Inclusion in the Regular Education Classroom

• Setting the Foundation-Because special education inclusion is the focus in the classroom in our organization, the success of the special education inclusion classroom as a whole has always been at the forefront of my discussions. The purpose of this study is to determine the success not only of the special education students, but the regular education students as well.

• Analyzing Data-Test scores from past and present TAKS tests will be analyzed for regular students that were not in special education inclusion classrooms last year. Test scores for students for benchmark tests given in the fall will be analyzed and compared with the scores from the tests given for this year. Electronic searches for data on how inclusion is being conducted and the success other schools are having with the way it has been implemented, verses the way it is implemented in the school where the research is being conducted.

• Developing Deeper Understanding-The history of inclusion in the school as well as opinions of those closest to its implementation will be interviewed . Additional electronic searches based on the data collected from the Diagnostician, department head of special education, as well as the principal and vice principal will be analyzed to determine the success of special education inclusion in other districts.

• Engage in Self-Reflection-Self reflection is key to making the action research project work successfully. As a result of this research project, what would be changed about the current format? If special education inclusion is already successful, what can be done so that teachers and students alike have the tools to continue to advance? If there is not enough support in the classroom, a presentation will need to be prepared and presented to the principal, vice principal, SBDM committee, and head of the special education department in order to secure the resources needed to ensure special education inclusion is successful in the future.

• Exploring Programmatic Patterns-A meeting with the vice principal and site supervisor, along with the head of the special education department and diagnostician, will determine the necessary steps needed to implement changes to the special education inclusion classroom. Any suggestions or concerns will be discussed during this time.

• Determining Direction-The question of whether the special education inclusion classroom is successful is what is being researched. The Vice principal, site supervisor, and special education head of the department have all been asked to collaborate with suggestions and any concerns they may have established. Electronic searches have been launched in order to create a better understand of research on this topic, as well as other solutions that are already in use.

• Taking Action For School Improvement-A written plan of action will be completed in order to ensure success on the action research project. A formative evaluation and summative evaluation will be conducted in order to determine the success of the special education inclusion classroom.

• Sustain Improvement-The overall goal of the action research project of determining the success of the special education inclusion classroom is not to conduct the research, and leave the findings alone. The data collected from the research as well as electronic searches on the subject will be used to acquire new knowledge and apply it to the classroom for the betterment of the teachers and students.