Listed below includes examples of topic

that can be used for the SWK 3850

Portfolio Assignment

1)      CPS

a)          1) adjustment to job

b)          2) perception of CPS worker of prevention

2)      Prisoners

    Women’s Project Constitute Groups

            Health

1)                 CNA’s

2)                 UNCP Nursing Department faculty

3)                 UNCP Nursing Department students

4)                 RCC Nursing Department faculty

5)                 RCC Nursing Department students

6)                 New Nurses

7)                 Human Resource Directors

8)                 Service Providers

        Education

1)                  UNCP Education Department faculty

2)                  UNCP Education Department students

3)                  RCC Education Department faculty

4)                  RCC Education Department students

5)                  PSRC Assistant Teachers

6)                  PSRC New Teachers (Survey Monkey)

7)                  PSRC Administrators

        Riverway

            Survey to Hotels

            Survey to Churches (young groups)

Commission on a Sound Basic Education

Parental Involvement

Parental involvement is one of the strongest predictors of student achievement. This committee will brainstorm ways to get parents involved and keep them involved in their child’s academic careers from kindergarten through high school graduation, including effective parental empowerment and advocacy trainings

School Readiness

Young children need basic skills in order to succeed in early education. School readiness initiatives such as Smart Start and More at Four provide important skills to ensure that children have the foundation they need to succeed in public schools. The Leandro decision noted that at-risk four year-olds benefit greatly from school readiness programs. This committee will investigate how to expand access to school readiness programs to more students and parents, how to engage child care services in a systems approach to countywide child development, and how to establish more parent/child school readiness programs.

No Child Left Behind

The Federal Government’s No Child Left Behind program has created new requirements for our schools and our students, yet they have not given us the resources to make these improvements. This committee will study the requirements of NCLB and brainstorm ways to improve school performance to meet these new challenges, including more parental involvement (see parental involvement committee).

Suspension & Violence Reduction

We have the highest suspension rate in the State. If a child is excluded from school, that child is not receiving the opportunity for a Sound Basic Education as guaranteed by the Leandro court decision. This committee will study alternatives to suspension, including successful programs in use in N.C. and across the nation, violence prevention programs, peer mediation, and other proven measures to reduce violence and suspension in schools.

Dropout Prevention

We have a very high dropout rate in Robeson County. Obviously, a student who doesn’t graduate has not achieved a Sound Basic Education. This committee will study methods to keep children engaged in school and ways to improve the educational culture within the schools and at home in order to increase student motivation, academic success, and retention.

Exceptional Children

Exceptional children have special educational needs. This committee will explore the needs of Exceptional Students and how to fill gaps in services, including model programs to serve them, special tutoring opportunities, vocational and life skills, educational materials, and strategies to support continuing education and certification of instructors and social workers.

College Prep

The Leandro court decision says that all North Carolina students should be able to graduate high school with the skills they need to go on to college or technical school. This committee will discuss ways to improve student preparation for and access to programs at the community college and university level. Review will include ways to educate and engage parents in preparing and supporting their children for continuing education beyond high school, ways to pay for college, and other major concerns.

English as a Second Language (ESL)

Children who enter public schools without knowledge of the English language face special challenges. The Leandro court decision guarantees all students – even students who don’t speak English – the right to the opportunity for a Sound Basic Education. This committee will explore ways to further support and ensure the academic success of these unique students.