Examples of Successful Proposals
Proposal for Research on Charter School Networking Group
Purpose
The purpose of this proposal is to enable faculty from across the University to join together and develop plans to carry out research at a new multicultural/bilingual school setting. The interdisciplinary team will explore various research possibilities that could advance knowledge about the social and cognitive development of language-minority and majority children along with their families and communities, the processes of staff development in a new school, and innovative approaches to teaching and learning.
Background and Description of Activities
A multicultural, two-way bilingual elementary charter school will open in Fall 2001 in Reading, PA with about 250 children in two classes per grade level. It is being proposed that this charter school will serve as a research site to investigate the multiple dimensions of a dual-immersion bilingual/multicultural educational approach to learning with respect to staff, students, families, and community. Children from Hispanic and non-Hispanic families will attend and all the students will learn Spanish and English in a two-way approach to language development and education. In addition, there will be an emphasis on infusing technology into the educational process and using the arts as modes of learning. After-school and extended year programs will be developed. The school is a project of the Penn State Berks-Lehigh Valley College/Albright College Partnership in cooperation with the Hispanic Center and with linkages to other community organizations such as local churches and the public library. It is anticipated that linkages with other educational programs will be developed including paraprofessional training/career ladders, GEAR UP, bilingual training for teachers as well as connections to the faculty and students of the two colleges and cooperative efforts with the Reading School District.
The possibilities for research (quantitative, qualitative, ethnographic, etc.) could include:
- Basic research in gender and culture roles, academic achievement, after school and extended year programs, community and organizational cooperation, family/school ties, identity formation, at-risk children, achievement and motivation, intergroup dynamics, mentor and tutoring, migration, curriculum, literacy and language development, learning styles, etc.
- Applied research including trials and controlled studies that could investigate various types of interventions and curriculum.
- Evaluation related to the assessment of students' achievement and the goals of the charter school necessary to meet state mandates.
Activities
- Bender and Meister will meet in Fall 2000 to develop research plans related to staff development.
- Bender and Johnson will meet in Fall 2000 to discuss Johnson's research on charter schools and future directions related to this project.
- Bender will communicate with collaborative investigators to update them on planning for the charter school and timeframe for research plans.
- Continued exploration via email of members' interests; establish connections with other interested faculty; develop preliminary plans for research directions; meetings with charter school administrator in order to maintain linkage and familiarity with development of school.
- Decide on a limited number of research initiatives to pursue for 2001-2002; meet with staff of charter school when they are appointed to share goals and ensure awareness.
- Identify grants that could be sought based on research goals. Bender is looking into these through COS and Internet sites.
- Explore with faculty who have graduate students the possibility of research away from UP and with Hispanic community.
- Consider Level II funding from CYFC.
Relevance to CYFC Goals
This project is relevant to the fourth theme of the Consortium: Understanding and Promoting Cognitive, Social, Civic, and Academic Development. The multicultural context of a duel-immersion school recognizes the cultural and linguistic backgrounds of at-risk youth and continues to support their cultural heritage while fostering the development of the English language. Bringing together children from different backgrounds in a task-oriented setting can encourage better cultural understanding and enhance the development of social skills.
There may also be an opportunity to relate the research to the second theme of the Consortium: Family Change in a Changing World. We may be able to investigate the school/family linkages and intervene in the family setting to better support the achievement of the youth or influence the literacy skills of the parents and family members.
Budget
| 1. Travel for in-person meetings of group members: | $600 |
| 2. Pictel costs for two distance meetings: | $100 |
| 3. Travel for 2-3 person meetings | $300 |
| 4. Background materials (books, etc.) | $100 |
| 5. Photocopying | $ 50 |
| TOTAL BUDGET | $1,150 |
Timeline
| Summer 2000: | Identification of initial group members |
| September 2000: | First in-person meeting of group members to explore directions, share interests, discuss other possible interested faculty and links |
| Fall 2000: | Proposal submitted to CYFC for Level I funding |
| Fall 2000: | Continued exploration via email of members' interests; establish connections with other interested faculty; develop preliminary plans for research directions; occasional meetings with Charter School administrator in order to maintain linkage and familiarity with development of school. |
| Early Spring 2001: | Decide on a limited number of research initiatives to pursue for 2001-2002; meet with staff of charter school when they are appointed to share goals and ensure awareness. Identify grants that could be sought based on research goals. |
| Late Spring 2002: | Consider Level II funding from CYFC. Apply for grants most appropriate to research; more regular contacts with Charter School Administration. Fine- tuning of first research activities. |
| Summer 2001: | Research on staff development may begin as soon as staff is appointed. |
Investigators Information Sheet
| Name: | David S. Bender (Lead investigator) |
| Title: | Assistant Professor of Educational Psychology |
| Address: | P. O. Box 7009 |
| City: | Reading |
| State/ Zip: | PA 19610-6009 |
| College: | Berks-Lehigh Valley College |
| Campus: | Berks |
| Phone: | (610) 396-6090 |
| Fax: | (610) 396-6026 |
| Email: | dsb@psu.edu |
| Name: | Denise Meister (Collaborating investigator) |
| Title: | Assistant Professor of Education |
| Address: | Penn State Harrisburg |
| City: | Middletown |
| State/ Zip: | PA 17057 |
| Department/ or Organization: | School of Behavioral Sciences and Education |
| College: | Capital College |
| Campus: | Penn State Harrisburg |
| Phone: | (717) 948-6539 |
| Fax: | (717) 948-6062 |
| Email: | dgm122@psu.edu |
| Name: | Wendy Middlemiss (Collaborating investigator) |
| Title: | Assistant Professor of Health and Human Development |
| Address: | 0147 SHARON HALL |
| City: | Sharon |
| State/ Zip: | PA 16146 |
| College: | Commonwealth College |
| Campus: | Shenango Valley |
| Phone: | 724 983 2953 |
| Fax: | |
| Email: | wlm6@email.psu.edu |
| Name: | Carol Hammer (Collaborating investigator) |
| Title: | Assistant Professor of Communication Disorders |
| Address: | 110 Moore Building |
| City: | University Park |
| State/ Zip: | PA 16802 |
| Department/ or Organization: | Department of Communication Disorders |
| College: | Health and Human Development |
| Campus: | University Park |
| Phone: | 814-865-1849 |
| Fax: | 814-863-3759 |
| Email: | cjh22@psu.edu |
| Name: | Adele Miccio (Collaborating investigator) |
| Title: | Assistant Professor of Communication Disorders |
| Address: | 222 Moore Building |
| City: | University Park |
| State/ Zip: | PA 16802 |
| Department/ or Organization: | Department of Communication Disorders |
| College: | Health and Human Development |
| Campus: | University Park |
| Phone: | 814-863-2018 |
| Fax: | 814-863-3759 |
| Email: | awm4@psu.edu |
| Name: | Addie Johnson (Collaborating investigator) |
| Title: | Assistant Professor of Education |
| Address: | 30 East Swedesford Road |
| City: | Malvern |
| State/ Zip: | PA 19355 |
| Department/ or Organization: | Curriculum and Instruction |
| College: | Graduate School |
| Campus: | Great Valley |
| Phone: | 610-648-3380 |
| Fax: | 610-648-3377 |
| Email: | amj8@psu.edu |
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