The Amherst, Pelham and Amherst-Pelham Regional School Districts will administer ongoing research that utilizes both quantitative and qualitative methodologies to examine perceptions, attitudes and behaviors in an effort to explore issues related to the ARPS school environment and community, including issues of racial, multicultural and social justice climate. The School Committee directs the Superintendent, or his or her designee, to utilize Participatory Action Research, or a similar methodology, which reflects the input of stakeholders who experience the school culture firsthand, and thus who are most knowledgeable about the particular context (e.g. teachers, students, staff, administrators, parents, alumni). Data collection methods may include (though are not limited to) any combination of the following: interviews, focus groups, observations, discourse/text analysis, mapping, photovoice and surveys. The Superintendent will involve stakeholders in the data collection, analysis and dissemination stages of the research within the framework of state and federal regulations and contractual obligations. Data and research will be presented on an annual basis.
Region Voted to Approve: 11/10/15
Effective Date: 11/10/15