1. Action Research Proposal

2. Problem Statement
The problem is for extra curricular activities limiting social interaction with peers.
Homeschooled children have limited access to local public schools for extracurricular activities which would help to increase social interactions. This is an unfair advantage because it holds students back from participating in social activities such as sports, clubs, and the arts simply because they are attending school in an alternative environment. In today’s educational system, all students, regardless of their schooling choice, should have access to extracurricular activities. Without this, homeschooled students will not learn important social skills such as socialization, teamwork, and an appreciation for art and culture. Upon narrowing the problem, an intervention will be implemented and solutions will be discussed.
Action Research Proposal

3. Problem Description
Homeschoolers have limited access to social encounters during the school year; yet, public schools has ample extracurricular activates available to their students
The problem is not addressed because the doors are often not open to home school children for extracurricular activates in local public schools or the process is over complicated.
The implementation of this action research process, will provide access to current literature on the topic. Additionally, all homeowners/renters pay taxes for public schools, and all children should have equal access to utilize activities not available at home
The research will also open other avenues for social interactions including developing more activities specifically for home schooled children .
Action Research Proposal

4. Purpose of the Project
The purpose of this project is to determine if local public schools should be required to open their doors to homeschooled children for extracurricular activities.
If this were to happen, would it increase homeschooled student social interactions? If this is not feasible, are there other ways homeschooled children can feel like part of the community through other initiatives which promote such interactions?
Action Research Proposal

5. Writer’s Role
This topic relates to homeschooled children in a small town where social interactions is important
This topic was picked because it is important for students’ to have an opportunity to socialize with other children their age and be able to utilize the school house for extracurricular activities
There are many extracurricular activities that cannot be offered at home but are available at the local school like playing on the football team, cheerleading, band, drama, clubs, and participating in the school’s band.
Action Research Proposal

6. Problem Documentation
Homeschooled children that have access to local public schools to participate in extracurricular activities benefit both the student as well as the community. Teachers will be surveyed to understand their stance on the subject. Homeschooled students will be surveyed to understand what activities they would want to gain access to. School administration will be surveyed to see if there are any ideas or hope for inclusion.
Teachers Survey:
What extracurricular activities for homeschooled children do you support in your school, if any? Choices could include the band, vocational studies, library use, or other extracurricular activates.
Do you feel that there are any benefits or disadvantages to allowing homeschooled children to participate in extracurricular activities at the local school?
Action Research Proposal

7. Problem Documentation
This school offers vocational training for one hour a day for regular students, do you feel that this could be open to other local homeschooled children so that they can also gain needed vocational skills to support local jobs?
Do you support a parent’s right to chose homeschooling as an alternative to public schools? If you do is there a way to include them in extracurricular activities at the school?
Student’s Survey:
Are there any extracurricular activities your local school offers that you would like to participate in? Chose from this list or add your own preference(s):
Sports, cheerleading, vocational training, band, arts, or choir
If the local schools opens their doors for homeschooled children to participate in extracurricular activities would you participate regularly as required by their rules?
Are there any extracurricular activities that you now participate in to support social interactions with other children your age?
Action Research Proposal

8. Problem Documentation
Are there any extracurricular activities that you now participate in to support social interactions with other children your age?
School Administration Survey:
Would you be willing to review other states decisions on this subject and consider allowing homeschooled students to participate in extracurricular activities at this school?
Are there any extracurricular activities offered at your school that you think could benefit this school, local businesses, and this county by allowing homeschooled children more inclusion to the programs offered?
What are your views on homeschooling? Do you support it or are you against it, and why?
Action Research Proposal

9. Literature Review
Romanowski (2006) reveals the common myths about homeschooling and why some people are against it.
Teacher Magazine (1995) had good information on parents of homeschooled children fighting for their rights for access to schools.
Hawkins (1996) relates the argument of homeschoolers having limited equal access to schools and shows examples of schools that are having success with the open door policy.
Action Research Proposal

10. Literature Review
Williams and Guenzler (1997) argues for and against homeschoolers inclusion into music classes at Florida schools who have opened their doors to include homeschoolers to participate in band.
Plencnik (2007) looks at how North Carolina schools have opened their doors to homeschoolers and the positive affects.
Lines (200) shows examples in Washington State where partnerships are forming between homeschoolers and public schools.
Action Research Proposal

11. Literature Review Literature Review Authors of the study11
Authors of the study
Williams, K E;
Guenzler, r
Plencnik, J
Title of the study
Point
EQUAL ACCESS TO PUBLIC EDUCATION
Purpose of the study
Presents arguments for and against homeschooled students to participate in music programs
State constitutional and statutory rights of private and homeschooled students to participate in public school programs
Pertinent findings that support your project
The State of Florida is allowing homeschooled students inclusion into non-sports activities
The article shows examples of how homeschooled students fought for their educational rights
Literature Review
Action Research Proposal

12. Literature Review Hawkins, D Teacher Magazine Terpstra, M12
Hawkins, D
Teacher Magazine
Terpstra, M
Homeschool Battles
Homeschoolers seek open-door policy
A Homeschool/
school district partnership
Discusses how homeschoolers across America would like to participate in some activities available at traditional schools
Parents who educate their children at home want access to public schools
Discusses a partnership in Ames, Iowa
Shows how some schools have opened their doors to homeschoolers for activities
This article shows arguments for and against opening the doors to public schools
Shows the benefits of an open door policy and also some of the problems
Action Research Proposal

13. Literature Review Lines, P Romanowski, M13
Lines, P
Romanowski, M
When Homeschoolers go to school: a partnership between families and schools
Undoing the “Us vs. Them” of public and homeschooling
Focuses on the partnership between public school professionals and home schooling parents
Discusses the growth of homeschooling, problems, the competition, and the need to understand each other
Several schools are opening their doors for specific classes and activities
Shows both sides of the story and a need to understand each other’s responsibilities
Action Research Proposal

14. Action Goal
The goal of the intervention is to increase awareness to the community so that homeschooled children have more access to the public schools extra curricular activities. A four-pronged intervention will be implemented to meet the goal which includes home schooled student surveys, teacher surveys, school administration surveys, and discussing the plan and the benefits of the plan with local businesses.
Action Research Proposal

15. Selected Solutions
To accomplish the goal of this plan the following instructions will be used. Allowing the school administration to take the survey will show the school that there is a need to open the doors for certain extracurricular activities for homeschooled children. The surveys for the homeschooled children will be shared with the administration so they can see what the local homeschooled children would like to be included in at the school. Teachers will also see that there is need for these homeschooled children to have some access to the activities that they can not get anywhere else. Creating interest by the local business owners will increase awareness at the school board meetings.
Action Research Proposal

16. Calendar Plan Week 1: August 1 - August 5: Initial reflection.
Week 2: August 6 – August 8: Review of literature.
August 9 – August 10: Contact principal and school district review board to secure permissions for study.
Week 3: August 13 – August 17: Gather baseline data (extracurricular activities available at the school)
Conference with school board on August 17th.
Week 4: August : Phone parents to discuss action research study. Meet local homeschooled children and parents at the library to complete permission forms. Give surveys to the children. Follow-up phone calls to parents if necessary.
August 23 : First contract phase. Give surveys to teachers and administrative staff.
August 24: Collect surveys from staff and teachers.
Week 5: August 27: Meet with local business to discuss goals of the action research.
August 28: Meet with local school board to discuss findings.
August : Writing results and putting the action research report/paper together.
Week 6: September 4 – 8: Revisions of the paper.
Action Research Proposal

17. References
Hawkins, D. (1996). Homeschool battles. U.S. News & World Report, 120(6), 57.
Homeschoolers seek open-door policy. (1995). Teacher Magazine, 6(8), 10.
Lines, P. M. (2000). When Home Schoolers Go to School: A Partnership Between Families and Schools. Peabody Journal Of Education ( X), 75(1/2),
Plencik, J. T. (2007). EQUAL ACCESS TO PUBLIC EDUCATION: AN EXAMINATION OF THE STATE CONSTITUTIONAL & STATUTORY RIGHTS OF NONPUBLIC STUDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN PUBLIC SCHOOL PROGRAMS ON A PART-TIME BASIS IN NORTH CAROLINA & ACROSS THE NATION. Texas Journal On Civil Liberties & Civil Rights, 13(1), 1-30.
Romanowski, M. H. (2001). Undoing the 'Us vs. Them' of Public and Home Schooling. Education Digest, 66(9), 41.
Terpstra, M. (1994). A home school/school district partnership. Educational Leadership, 52(1), 57.
Williams, K., & Guenzler, R. (1997). Point. Music Educators Journal, 83(6), 10.
Action Research Proposal

18. Section 4: Outcomes and Evaluation
Please read before proceeding with this section!!
Complete the following for Week Seven:
Expected Outcomes
Measurement of Outcomes
Analysis of Results
References
Note: You may add additional slides if necessary.
Action Research Proposal

19. Expected Outcomes Expected Outcomes
Present specific outcomes that include the change expected at the end of the implementation phase.
The outcomes should be stated in observable, measurable terms.
The outcomes should relate specifically to the documentation you provide.
Each goal may have several outcomes; therefore, number each outcome and present in list form.
Action Research Proposal

20. Measurement of Outcomes
Describe how you plan to measure each projected outcome. Be specific about particular instruments and methods you will use. This information is intended to aid another researcher interested in replicating your study.
Note: Where possible, include copies of tests, questionnaires, or other instruments as an appendix.
Action Research Proposal

21. Analysis of Results Analysis of Results Describe the following:
How you plan to analyze your results
How you will determine if your solution strategy was effective
How you will present your findings and to whom you will present them
You should answer questions like, “How will I know if the implemented plan has impacted the problem? How will I present results to the reader?” (Sapp, 1994, p. 23).
Action Research Proposal

22. References
List your resources (e.g., Web sites, articles, books, etc.) used to complete your instructional plan.
Your resources should follow APA requirements.
A minimum of two references are required to complete this proposal plan.
Action Research Proposal

23. Action Research Proposal
Template End
You have completed the four sections of the action research proposal assignment.
Remember to remove the direction slides from this template for your final project submission.
Personalize your PowerPoint so it will engage your audience of stakeholders in your Action Research Proposal.
Action Research Proposal