The proposed study will: (1) investigate both teacher and student perceptions of their degree of satisfaction with their experiences in the team teaching program at Marshall Middle School; (2) determine teachers and students' opinions of program outcomes; and (3) compare the two groups for differences in either their degree of satisfaction with their experiences or opinions of program outcomes. This chapter of the proposal delineates and discusses all of the methods that will be used in both the collection and analysis of data.
Setting in Which Data Will Be Collected
The study will be conducted at Marshal Middle School located in Columbus, Georgia. Approximately 534 students were enrolled in the school during the 1997 - 1998 school year. Of these, 90 percent were black; seven percent were white and approximately 2 percent were of mixed heritage. Over 98 percent of the students in the school are in families whose income levels qualify them to receive a free or a reduced-price school lunch.
School faculty consists of 24 regular education teachers, ten special education teachers and 12 teachers who instruct "exploratory" classes consisting of physical education, home economics, computer utilities, career connections, computer assistance instruction, industrial arts, Band, Chorus, and Arts. All teachers are involved in team teaching with the size of teams being determined by student enrollment levels.
Administrative staff consists of a principal and an assistant principal supported by eight staff members including a secretary, attendance clerk, a media specialist, a media assistant, a guidance counselor, a parent coordinator, a technology specialist and six para-professionals most of which are utilized in special education classes.
The surrounding community consists of mostly low and low-middle income families many of whom are grappling with problems of drugs, alcohol, and divorce. However, there are also a number ...