Action%20Research%20Project:%20How%20School%20Uniforms%20and%20Dress%20Codes%20Affect%20student%20achievement%20and%20the%20school%20climate.

1
Action Research ProjectHow School Uniforms and
Dress Codes Affect student achievement and the
school climate.

• Presented by
• Jason W Gavin

2
Chapter One Introduction

• Problem Statement
• Students are not following dress codes in
  schools, because of this many students have low
  tests scores and a high rate of disciplinary
  referrals.

Not Appropriate for School
3
Chapter One Introduction

• Purpose of the Study
• The purpose of this study is to show a
  correlation between the way a student dresses and
  the grades and discipline referrals that a
  student receives.

Dress for Success
4

• Problems
• The administration is not enforcing the dress
  code policy in the school.
• Students are harassed because of what they wear.
• Classrooms are a distracting environment because
  of students clothing.

5

• Description of the Community
• Lee-Davis High School is located in
  Mechanicsville, VA.

6

• Description of the Community
• LDHS is part of the Hanover County School
  District.
• Hanover County is located in Central Virginia.

7

• Description of the Community
• County population is approximately 86,000.
• It has doubled since the 1980 census.

8

• Description of the Community
• Population is a mix of rural and urban lifestyles.

9

• Description of the Community
• Very historical county.
• Civil War Battlefields
• Randolph Macon College (founded 1830)
• Richmond, VA is a short drive away

10

• Description of the Community
• Ethnic Backgrounds
• White (88)
• African American (9)
• Asian American (lt1)

11

• Description of the Community
• Top Employer
• Hanover County Schools 2,128 employees

12

• Description of the Community
• Student Population
• District
• 16,683 students
• 4 high schools
• 4 middle schools
• 14 elementary schools

13

• Description of the Community
• Student Population
• Lee-Davis High School
• 1,692 students
• 89 Caucasian
• 9 African American
• 2 other

14

• Description of the Community
• Lee-Davis High School Recognitions
• Recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School
• 1st school in the county to be awarded the
  International Baccalaureate Program
• 1st school in the county to implement the NJROTC
  program.

15

• Description of the Community
• Mission Statement
• To prepare students for success in future
  academic, social, and business endeavors by
  providing an atmosphere that supports the
  cooperation of teachers, students and parents in
  a variety of learning activities

16
Chapter 2 Study of the Problem.

• Problem Description
• Students were not following the dress code.
• Administration did not enforce dress code.
• Dress code was distracting.

17

• Problem Description
• Those who did not follow dress code had low test
  scores.
• Those who did not follow dress code had more
  discipline problems.

18

• Problem Documentation

Quarter Grade Quarter Grade Exam Grade Quarter Grade Quarter Grade Exam Grade State Test Score
Student A 94 89 92 87 92 96 95
Student B 53 50 66 62 57 60 59
19

• Problem Documentation
• Student A followed the dress code.
• Student B did not follow the dress code.
• Grades were given from a Biology Teacher.

20

• Literature Review
• Long Beach School District (CA) implemented a
  uniform policy in 1994.
• Crime declined 36
• Fighting down by 51
• Vandalism decreased by 18
• Attendance rates rose each year to a high of 96

21

• Literature Review
• South Carolina Middle School
• Children at a school with a uniform policy rated
  their school climate as very positive
• Children felt safer in the school that had a
  uniform policy

22

• Literature Review
• Maryland Schools
• Dress code instituted to improve discipline and
  achievement
• Obscene clothing was considered a distraction

23

• Literature Review
• Boston Schools
• Implemented a dress code to stop the fashion
  competition among students
• Reduce violence associated with gang related
  colors

24

• Literature Review
• New York Schools
• Implemented a dress code to promote discipline,
  unity, and seriousness of purpose in schools

25

• Causative Analysis
• Why dont students follow the dress code?
• Students might have self-esteem issues.
• Rebellion against authority
• No community support
• Need for self-expression
• Can not afford appropriate clothes

26
Chapter 3 Outcomes and Evaluations

• Goals and Expectations
• Have all students follow dress code
• Have a positive school climate
• Have fair enforcement by administration
• Improved focus on test scores and student
  achievement

27

• Expected Outcomes
• 80 of students who followed the dress code would
  pass all of their tests
• 80 of students who followed the dress code would
  pass all of their quizzes

28

• Expected Outcomes
• 80 of the students who followed the dress code
  would turn in 100 of their homework
• Dress code violations would drop by 75

29

• Measurement of Outcomes
• -Weekly surveys handed out to teachers and
  administrators.

30

• Analysis of the Results
• Charts will be created after the study was
  completed
• The writer will analyze the information to see if
  any correlation exists

31
Chapter 4 Solution Strategy

• Discussion for Implementing a Dress Code
• Make sure parents are involved in creating a
  dress code
• Decide on how strict of a dress code policy
  would be best for the district

32

• Discussion for Implementing a Dress Code
• -Provide assistance to any family that may
  need help in purchasing clothing
• Funding from businesses
• Donations from other students
• Opt out option
• Free of charge

33
Chapter 5 Results

• NOTE The results of this study have been
  fabricated. The actual implementation stage of
  this plan was not conducted.

34

• Results
• All 20 students turned in 100 of their homework
  during the study.
• 10 of the students came for extra help from their
  teachers (before or after school)

35

• Results
• Test and quiz scores rose by an average of 20
• 9 out of 10 students passed all of their tests
• 8 out of 10 students passed all of their quizzes

36

• Results
• There were only 7 discipline referrals to the
  administration, compared to 53 during the same
  time period last year.
• A drop of 87

37

• Recommendations for Replication of the study
• 1. Find and use a large population of students.

38

• Recommendations for Replication of the study
• 2. Make sure to have permission from everyone
  involved in the study.

39

• Recommendations for Replication of the study
• 3. Start the research in the middle of the year
  or at the beginning of the year.

40

• Plan for Dissemination of Information
• Web-Page
• Presentation to PTA
• Presentation to School Board
• Presentation to teachers