Involving Parents, Students, and Staff in Determining a Needs Assessment of Educational Priorities

• Main Author: Mullen, David J
• Format: Paper
• Language: English
• Published: 01.04.1974
• Subjects: Community Involvement; Community Surveys; Curriculum Development; Decision Making; Educational Assessment; Educational Needs; Educational Objectives; Family Involvement; Games; Needs Assessment; Program Evaluation; School Involvement; School Surveys; Student Participation; Teacher Participation

In this paper, the author describes a game that is played by the school administration, faculty, staff, students, and parents in order to improve a school curriculum. The game gives all persons interested in the school an opportunity to "purchase" the kind of education they feel is needed. A player is given 20 Play money bills, each in the denomination of $100, and he spends the money according to the amount of educational time and effort he feels should be devoted to a particular area. Choices are made within the nine areas of the 3 R's; social studies; science; work world; the arts; health, P.E., and safety; making choices; relationship with others; and development of self. Participants are also asked to rank their current school program (for a specific grade level) in each of these nine areas. Responses are then tabulated by computer and when the results are in, the school can move forward in curriculum development in accordance with the priorities of the school community. This publication contains a copy of the game, describes its development, and presents a case study of its implementation in an Atlanta school district. The community public relations and administration and costs of the game are also discussed. (Author/DN)