Creating a Responsive Middle Level School Through Systematic Long-Range Planning

Abstract

Here's a step-by-step guide to planning for the development of an effective and responsive middle level school.

Impact of Schools' Social Bonding on Chronic Truancy Perceptions of Middle School Participants

“…This conclusion is very important, as some studies have argued that students most at-risk, living in poverty-stricken communities, and from single-headed or poor functioning families are less likely to succeed (Clark, 1994;Clark & Clark, 1984;Fine, 1991).…”

“…Of the five categories, the contextual factors have been most heavily researched (e.g. Beane,1992;Brough, 1990;Clark & Clark, 1984;Crockett, Losoff, & Peterson, 1984;DeMedio, 1991;Dorman, 1983;Dorman, et al,1985;George & Alexander, 1993;Gottfredson, 1990;Jung & Gunn, 1990;Kohut, 1976;Kuperminc, Leadbeater, Emmans, & Blatt, 1997;Manning, 1993;Milgram, 1992;Mynard, 1986;Petersen & Crockett, 1985;Petersen, Leffert, Graham, Alwin, & Ding, 1997;Stone & Baker, 1939). The category with the least research was policies and procedures with 10 of the 103 factors accounting for this study area.…”

“…Carnegie Council on Adolescent Development, 1989;Cashin, 2004;Clark, 2004;Clark & Clark, 1984;Milgram, 1992). The Department of Education and the Department of Justice (1996) reported that schools that examined their own policies and practices improved their opportunities for student and parental involvement.…”

“…However, the research reviewed thus far offers little to understand 1) the current structures and policies of middle schools, 2) the consistency of enforcement of the policies, 3) the extent that schools' structures and policies influence students' social bond to school, and 4) the association to rates of chronic truancy (Albert-Green, 2005;Beane, 1992;Brough, 1990;Brundrett, 2004;Clark & Clark, 1984;DeMedio, 1991;Dorman, Lipsitz, & Verner, 1985;George & Alexander, 1993;Gottfredson, 1990;Jung & Gunn, 1990;Kohut, 1976;Kuperminc, et al, 1997;Manning, 1993). This study aims to illuminate items three and four.…”

“…In his survey of 672 middle schools in the US, Cawelti (1988) discovered that not all middle schools have made adequate changes to help students in their care. Clark and Clark (1984) suggest that in reality the process has involved nothing more than a name change (from junior high to middle school) without long-term planning for effective change. In fact, middle schools continue to struggle with increasing students' engagement and have had difficulty incorporating structures, programs, and policies that encourage middle school students to grow and bond to the school.…”