Ill-Structured Problem.
Case study
Connecting Standards to Practice Discrimination or Background Knowledge, Part During Sharon Grey’s first weeks as assistant superintendent, she was approached by a delegation of minority parents representing two of the three middle schools in the district. The parents politely explained that their children in Pocono and Jefferson Middle Schools were routinely denied access to Pre-Advanced Placement courses in both schools. After the parents left, Sharon reviewed the demographics of Pocono and Jefferson. She than reviewed the previous year’s enrollment in eighth-grade Pre-AP courses for both middle schools.
Previous-year Pocono Middle School eighth-grade demographics consisted of 35% African American, 12% Hispanic, 5% Asian, and 4B% White students. Eighth-grade Pre-AP course demographics consisted of 72% White, 5% Asian, 6% African American, and 6% Hispanic students. Jefferson Middle School demographics consisted of 20% African American, 40% Hispanic, and 40% White students. Eighth-grade Pre-AP course demographics consisted of 75% White, 10% African American, and 15% Hispanic students.
Sharon called each of the middle school principals to inquire about the under representation of students of color in eighth-grade Pre-AP courses. She was informed that Pre-AP teachers contended that many students of color did not have the study skills or background knowledge necessary for success in these courses.
1) What characteristics of the case study demonstrate that this is an ill-structured problem?
2) What ISLLC standards are applicable to this case study and how would you justify your explanation using the text?
3) Acknowledging the legal and ethical issues surrounding this case, how would you professionally respond to the following groups to begin to uncover a solution without adding “fuel to the fire”?
4) How might you respond to the minority parents who feel their children have been denied access?
5) How would you respond to the principals who feel students of color do not have proper study skills?