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DO EQUITY AUDIT TOOLS HELP BUILD TEACHERS’ AWARENESS OF EQUITABLE GRADING PRACTICES FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS, SPECIAL-CIRCUMSTANCE STUDENTS, AND AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS? A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of California State University, Stanislaus In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership By Tyrone Perry Jr. May 2019 CERTIFICATION OF APPROVAL DO EQUITY AUDIT TOOLS HELP BUILD TEACHERS’ AWARENESS OF EQUITABLE GRADING PRACTICES FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS, SPECIAL-CIRCUMSTANCE STUDENTS, AND AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDENTS? by Tyrone Perry Jr. Signed Certification of Approval page is on file with the University Library Dr. Anysia Mayer Date Professor of Advanced Studies in Education Dr. Kilolo Brodie Date Professor of Social Work Dr. Debra Bukko Date Associate Professor of Advanced Studies in Education © 2019 Tyrone Perry Jr. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED DEDICATION First and foremost, I want to dedicate this dissertation to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Without you nothing is possible. I thank you for patience, focus, drive, unconditional love and a million other loving descriptive terms. I would like to dedicate this dissertation work to my mother for her extreme work effort, time, and encouragement and love. Also this work is in dedication to my father, Taber, Um-Allah, Mattie, Kiteran and Reginald. To my family and friends, thank you and I love you all. I appreciate the encouragement and understanding. During my journey to continue my education and complete my research there were many events that I could not be a part of and missed. It was a sacrifice to reaching not only a dream, but an intended ambitioned destination. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First, I would like to acknowledge Dr. Anysia Mayer, my advisor. This work would not have been possible without your guidance and support. I would like to thank my committee. Dr. Bukko, Dr. Brodie, and Dr. Mayer. Thank you to Dr. Virginia Hernandez-Montero, Dr. Jim Riggs, Dr. Kathrine McKenzie, Dr. Oddmund Myhre for their commitment and dedication to your doctoral students. Shellie Machado, “thank you, you are absolutely amazing. I appreciate each and every time that you went out of your way to help me and guide me during my course work.” Lastly, I would like to thank my Cohort 10 brothers and sisters, that grew with me during the past few years. It has been an honor to learn and professionally grow with you. I am grateful to all of the teachers who participated in my study. Thank each and every one of you for you valuable time, knowledge and insight. Also, thank you to the administrative team that allowed me to conduct the study. I am also grateful to Officer Dave Sarginson and the Atwater Police Department for giving me the opportunity to participate on a ride along and critically explore the work that you live and work daily. To my family and friends, it means the world to me that you understood that I could not break away from my studies at times, and still you supported me. You motivated me with kindness, love and encouragement. Lastly, thank you to all of my students. I love you all and we have greatness to pursue. This imperfect world needs our hard work, compassion and care. v TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE Dedication ............................................................................................................... iv Acknowledgements ................................................................................................. v List of Tables .......................................................................................................... viii Abstract ................................................................................................................... ix CHAPTER I. Introduction ................................................................................................. 1 History of Grading ................................................................................ 3 California State Equity .......................................................................... 4 Grades and My Experience ................................................................... 5 Significance of the Study ...................................................................... 6 Purpose of the Study ............................................................................. 7 High-level Policy .................................................................................. 8 Research Questions ............................................................................... 9 Summary ............................................................................................... 9 II. Literature Review.................................................................................. 11 Problems with Grading in the United States ......................................... 11 Marginalized Groups ............................................................................ 23 Achievement Gap.................................................................................. 29 Fixing the Issues ................................................................................... 31 Equity Audits ........................................................................................ 33 Summary ............................................................................................... 41 III. Methodology ......................................................................................... 42 Research Questions ............................................................................... 43 Research Design.................................................................................... 43 Data Analysis ........................................................................................ 56 Reflexivity: Researcher as Instrument .................................................. 58 Summary ............................................................................................... 62 IV. Research Findings ................................................................................. 63 vi Introduction ........................................................................................... 63 The Role and Background of the Researcher ....................................... 65 Summary of Findings ............................................................................ 70 Presentation of Data and Results .......................................................... 73 Summary ............................................................................................... 119 V. Discussion and Suggestions for Future Research ................................. 121 Purpose .................................................................................................. 121 Summary of Main Findings .................................................................. 123 Summary of Findings ............................................................................ 125 Explanation for Findings....................................................................... 135 Limitations of the Study........................................................................ 153 Implications........................................................................................... 154 Recommendations for Future Research and Practical Applications ..... 155 References ............................................................................................................... 157 vii LIST OF TABLES TABLE PAGE 1. Grading Structure .............................................................................................. 53 2. Data Analysis and Findings .............................................................................. 54 3. Emergent Themes ............................................................................................. 65 4. Mr. Smith’s Equity Audit ................................................................................ 82 5. 4-Point Grading Scale ....................................................................................... 99 6. Mrs. Tee’s Equity Audit ................................................................................... 101 7. Ms. Arin’s Equity Audit ................................................................................... 114 8. Research Questions/Answered .............................................................................125 viii ABSTRACT This research explored the use of an equity audit as a tool for helping teachers to provide more equitable grades for English Language Learners (ELL), and African American students. Grading is an important part of the education and teaching profession as it provides feedback to students, families, teachers, and administrators about the students’ progress in courses. Unfortunately, not all educators agree on a universal best practice for grading. Teachers tend to grade based on a hodgepodge of traditions they believe yield the best reports of students’ progress in their courses. This study utilized a qualitative case study method to inquire if equity audits can help bring about equity in grading for ELL, special circumstance, and African American students. ix CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION Grading is an important part of teachers’ charge to successfully measure students’ levels of learning. According to Munk and Bursuck (2001) “teachers sometimes view the task students of assigning grades as time-consuming and unrelated to actual teaching” (p. 38). Grading is a necessary part of teaching