August 2009
Our researchers began the new school year by presenting deeper research ideas on the topics listed above. In an 80-minute presentation, the eight researchers reviewed the best practices in the strategy areas and approaches to try with each. Each staff member then selected one strategy area (for example, “incorporate more technology”) to focus on for this school year and a particular approach or technique of that strategy to incorporate into their instructional practices during the first semester (“classroom blogs”).

During our first Professional Development Day in September, staff members were divided into strategy groups to get started and set individual goals. Strategy groups will meet periodically to discuss efforts, successes, obstacles, and new individual goals pertaining to the strategy each chose to focus upon.

Further inquiry into our Graduation Rates became a primary concern when we received the new data from the school district.

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Spring 2009
The Part III: Inquiry section of the accreditation process has involved several steps.

1. Our identified "areas of concern" were determined at the end of Part I with all stakeholders having the opportunity to share their input. Those concern areas are:

- IMPROVE INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES to increase student engagement and make curriculum more relevant; this will reduce class failure and retention rates and increase graduation rates.

- Focus on SPECIAL POPULATION GROUPS to increase achievement on tests, reduce retention and failure rates, and increase graduation rates.

2. Next we needed to verify why these are our concerns - should they be?
A summary of our data on achievement levels and concerns was shared at a faculty meeting and is attached above. See 2.VERIFYING OUR CONCERNS link.

3. Next we asked, "What do we have in place already to tackle these concerns?"
To answer this we asked each department to summarize their programs in place.
See 3.DOING ALREADY attachment above.

4. At our May 13-14 Meetings, we asked all staff to brainstorm possible solutions to these concerns; we had also asked our Focus Group of student similar questions May 6. On May 19 we had each staff member go through these complete lists to vote on best ideas. See 4.SOLUTION IDEAS AND VOTES above.

5. Finally, our task is to RESEARCH what ideas are working out there to see what might work for us. A group of nine staff researchers gathered articles on relevant topics (engagement, connecting with Hispanic culture, interdisciplinary ideas, study skills, relevance). The entire staff then each selected one article to read; on May 19 they shared those articles in our Professional Development training day. Common topics were discussed in groups and summarized for the whole staff. This summer (2009) further research is being conducted to take the next step and go deeper on each major topic. This research will be shared with all stakeholders when we return to school in August.

All these steps are needed to help us determine which solution ideas we want to commit ourselves to developing and implementing in our five year school improvement plan (Parts IV and V of this accreditation process).