1. State problem. Minerva High School experiences a high level of student dropouts.
2. Check facts. The school dropout rate is at 9%. This is the highest rate that the school has ever experienced (Optimizing Schools). The issue is reflected in the low number of students graduating from the school compared to the state average. Only 55% of the students admitted to the school graduate.
3. Identify relevant factors . Among the potential reasons for the increasing rate of dropout included academic pressure. Some students were struggling with unsuitable combinations of courses. For some students, they experienced pressure from the administration to achieve particular grades which are beyond their potential. Lack of competence to balance between the academic and domestic tasks is also a potential reason. According to Orrenius & Zavodny (2018), some students drop out of school to help their families financially due to their poor family background. Poor nutrition of the school food was also identified as a possible factor that contributed to the increasing number of dropouts. These were the predators that were considered to indicate reasons for a student dropping out of school.
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4. Develop a list of options . To address the problem, the school principal, Mr. Vulcani, suggested to the board of the directors that they should contract a data analysis company to help analyze the issue. The consulting company was supposed to apply artificial intelligence to establish the predictors of student disengagement as predictors for students dropping out (Optimizing Schools). Additionally, the analysts were required to use the machine learning tools to the predators to identify the students at risk of dropping from school. Another objective of the technician was to provide teachers with adequate information to help them allocate resources appropriately to help the at-risk students.
5. Test options. The test alternative used in the school is a harm test. The principal’s decision to conduct the analysis was based on ensuring that the school had a better option (Berliner, 2011). The review will help the school to identify factors that may be leading the challenges. In this case, the outcome of the test will be useful in determining the appropriate strategies to handle the issues. Failing to investigate the problem is likely to worsen the situation in the school.
The principal should be in a position to explain to parents and students that the decision was worth making. Considering that the principal used the student’s data without the consent of their parents, the management needs to convince the parents that the data was used for the right course. This implies that the decision needs to improve the school by reducing the number of dropouts. Otherwise, parents have the right to sue the school for misuse of student data, in case their children are not of the legal age, and they were not requested to consent as well. The school violated students’ privacy and confidentiality through the use of data without their authorization or that of parents.
6. Make a choice based on steps 1 – 5. The school chose to adopt the student engagement strategy. This was to enhance their academic performance. Among the treatment, alternatives included individual tutoring students to improve performance at a personal level. Modification of assignments would help students to learn at their speed (García-Carrión, Molina-Luque, & Roldán, 2018). Additionally, adjustment ensures that the particular need of the students is fully catered to in the tasks. Other alternatives included talking to the guardian of the students to help rectify the problem from at home. Parents may help the school identify the possible cause for the high level of school dropouts.
7. Review steps 1 – 6. What could you do to make it less likely that you would have to make such a decision again? To avoid making such a decision in the future, I would ensure that students are fully engaged in the school. This would help to establish the various challenged that might negatively affect them to the point of leaving school.
• Are there any precautions you can take as an individual? Conducting an assessment to establish the effectiveness of the school in meeting the needs of the students. The evaluation would act as the indicator of the unmet needs among the students. Besides, students might help the management in suggesting ways that they might consider effective in promoting their performance and comfortability in school.
• Is there any way to have more support next time? For extra support, the principal should inform both the students and the guardian of the decision. This can quickly help in obtaining accurate data for the study. Obtaining parents’ consent before correcting the data and utilizing it in the study can help the school evade the chances of law suit from parents.
• Is there any way to change the organization? The school can adopt a more inclusive and engaging strategy to ensure interaction between students and the staff. Constant contact can quickly help in identifying the student-based issue and address them before they escalate. It can as well motivate students to prevent issues that trouble them to the appropriate authority.
References
Berliner, D. (2011). Rational responses to high stakes testing: The case of curriculum narrowing and the harm that follows. Cambridge Journal of Education , 41 (3), 287-302.
García-Carrión, R., Molina-Luque, F., & Roldán, S. M. (2018). How do vulnerable youth complete secondary education? The key role of families and the community. Journal of Youth Studies , 21 (5), 701-716.
Lamm, A., Harder, A., Lamm, D., Rose III, H., & Rask, G. (2005). Risk factors affecting high school drop out rates and 4-H teen program planning. Journal of Extension , 43 (4), 1-9.
Optimizing Schools. Princeton-AI-Ethics-Case-Study-3.pdf. Accessed from https://aiethics.princeton.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/587/2018/10/Princeton-AI-Ethics-Case-Study-3.pdf
Orrenius, P. M., & Zavodny, M. (2018). Does Migration Cause Income Inequality?.
