Degree Date
12-2020
Document Type
Dissertation - Public Access
Degree Name
Ed.D. Doctor of Education
Academic Discipline
Educational Leadership
First Advisor
Dr. Susan Moxley
Second Advisor
Dr. Carla Sparks
Third Advisor
Dr. Daniel Buckman
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of departmentalization as a strategy at the elementary upper grades to affect gains in the school’s accountability and gains in achievement performance. Based upon standardized testing measures, accountability for student achievement has dramatically increased in elementary schools; rigorous standards have increasingly affected teachers to become highly skilled in subject content areas. This increase in teacher content knowledge expertise requirements have caused many administrators to seek alternative instructional strategies to meet this need. Departmentalization is one of many potential methods that administrators and educators may implement in order to provide expert subject area instructors at the elementary grades. This study determined if there was a significant difference in the success of students in the fourth and fifth grades when departmentalizing versus maintaining a traditional classroom organizational structure. Research, interviews and state assessment data looked at determining the success of departmentalizing. Results of this study did not definitively suggest that departmentalization was the answer to increase student achievement, but the research, surveys and interviews do suggest that departmentalization is effective when implemented with several additional supportive factors such as, teacher buy-in, communication and sufficient professional development.
Recommended Citation
Crabb, Pamela, "Program Evaluation of Departmentalizing in Upper Elementary" (2020). Dissertations. 504.
https://digitalcommons.nl.edu/diss/504
Comments
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT....................................................................................................................... iv
PREFACE............................................................................................................................ v
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.............................................................................................. vii
DEDICATION ................................................................................................................. viii
Figures............................................................................................................................... xii
CHAPTER ONE.................................................................................................................. 1
Introduction......................................................................................................................... 1
Purpose of the Program Evaluation......................................................................... 2
Rationale.................................................................................................................. 7
Goals...................................................................................................................... 11
Research Questions............................................................................................... 13
Conclusion............................................................................................................. 14
CHAPTER TWO............................................................................................................... 16
Review of Literature.......................................................................................................... 16
History of Departmentalization............................................................................. 17
Classroom Environments....................................................................................... 19
Advantages in the Traditional Classroom............................................................. 20
Advantages in the Departmentalized Classroom................................................... 22
Student Perception of the Departmentalized Classroom Model........................... 24
Conclusion............................................................................................................. 25
CHAPTER THREE........................................................................................................... 27
Methodology...................................................................................................................... 27
Research Design Overview................................................................................... 27
Participants............................................................................................................ 30
Data Gathering Techniques................................................................................... 31
........... Survey........................................................................................................ 32
........... Individual interviews................................................................................. 33
State Test Scores........................................................................................ 34
Ethical Considerations........................................................................................... 34
Data Analysis Techniques...................................................................................... 36
Survey........................................................................................................ 36
........... Individual interviews................................................................................. 36
State Test Scores........................................................................................ 37
Conclusion............................................................................................................. 37
CHAPTER FOUR............................................................................................................. 38
Results............................................................................................................................... 38
Findings................................................................................................................. 39
........... Teacher Surveys......................................................................................... 40
........... Administrative Surveys............................................................................. 58
Fourth Grade Student Surveys................................................................... 72
Fifth Grade Student Surveys..................................................................... 78
Teacher Interview Questions..................................................................... 84
........... Administrative Interviews......................................................................... 89
State Results.............................................................................................. 94
As Is....................................................................................................................... 98
Context...................................................................................................... 98
........... Culture....................................................................................................... 99
Conditions................................................................................................ 101
Competencies.......................................................................................... 102
Interpretation....................................................................................................... 103
Judgments............................................................................................................ 106
Recommendations............................................................................................... 109
Conclusion........................................................................................................... 111
CHAPTER FIVE ............................................................................................................ 113
To-Be Framework............................................................................................................ 113
Envisioning the Success To-Be............................................................................ 113
Context..................................................................................................... 114
........... Culture..................................................................................................... 115
Conditions................................................................................................ 116
Competencies........................................................................................... 118
Conclusion........................................................................................................... 119
CHAPTER SIX............................................................................................................... 120
Strategies and Actions..................................................................................................... 120
Objective 1: Planning for the Departmentalization Shift................................... 120
Objective 2: Create a Communication Plan to Promote Departmentalization... 122
Objective 3: Develop a Built in Planning Time and Ensure
Teacher Collaboration is Specialized............................................. 123
Objective 4: Develop a School Wide Professional Development Plan.............. 123
Objective 5: Create a Structural Change of Logistics........................................ 124
Objective 6: Goal: Assessment of the Effectiveness of Implementation of the Departmentalization....................................................................................................... 125
Conclusion........................................................................................................... 125
CHAPTER SEVEN......................................................................................................... 127
Implications and Policy Recommendations.................................................................... 127
Policy Statement.................................................................................................. 128
Analysis of Needs................................................................................................ 129
Educational Analysis............................................................................... 130
Economic Analysis.................................................................................. 131
Social Analysis........................................................................................ 132
Political Analysis..................................................................................... 132
Legal Analysis......................................................................................... 133
Moral and Ethical Analysis..................................................................... 134
Implications for Staff and Community Relationships......................................... 134
Conclusion........................................................................................................... 136
CHAPTER EIGHT.......................................................................................................... 138
Conclusion....................................................................................................................... 138
Discussion............................................................................................................ 138
Leadership Lessons............................................................................................. 140
Conclusion........................................................................................................... 142
References....................................................................................................................... 145
Appendices...................................................................................................................... 151
Appendix A: Teacher Survey........................................................................................... 152
Appendix B: Administrator Survey................................................................................. 161
Appendix C: 4th Grade Survey........................................................................................ 168
Appendix D: 5th Grade Survey........................................................................................ 170
Appendix E: Teacher Interview....................................................................................... 172
Appendix F: Administrator Interview............................................................................. 174
Appendix G: Email Invitation Teacher Survey............................................................... 176
Appendix H: Email Invitation Administrative Survey.................................................... 177
Appendix I: Informed Consent for Participation Parental Consent for Child................. 178
Appendix J: Informed Consent for Participation Child Assent Form............................. 182
Appendix K: Email Invitation Interview Participation................................................... 185
Appendix L: Informed consent for Survey: Individual Adult Participant....................... 186
Appendix M: Informed Consent Participant Interview................................................... 187
Appendix N: Informed Consent Administrator School Site Survey:
Individual Adult Participant....................................................................... 188
Appendix O:AS IS Analysis............................................................................................ 189
Appendix P: TO BE Analysis.......................................................................................... 190
Appendix Q: Strategies and Action Chart....................................................................... 191