Students become familiar with the current research on effective schools and the values and efforts that brought them into being. Central issues in reform such as state control, accountability, curriculum, resistance, and community-building are examined. Students research the specific challenges in California school reform, particularly language and cultural diversity. Leaders of social change in organizations are studied and their methods identified and analyzed in terms of applicability to school reform. Communication, presentation, persuasion, and interpersonal effectiveness skills are identified and practiced.
Students develop a school reform plan and explore their own roles as agents of change.
In this course, students finalize their thesis design and begin the data collection phase of their projects. They act as peer mentors to each other, providing both support and critique. Students complete the literature review for their thesis project and expand their skills in the use of descriptive and inferential statistics in data analysis. Students are instructed in professional writing skills, and produce a short research article, proposal, or newspaper editorial. Students learn about professional development opportunities nationally and internationally, on-line, on campus, and on school sites.