Using Root Cause Analysis for Rural School Improvement

• In Event: Rural Leadership and Governance During Challenging Times and Change

Abstract

School enhancement begs the need for analysis of underlying school concerns that hamper school improvement. The use of a Root Cause Analysis (RCA) serves to identify causes and proactively work towards school improvement. This qualitative analysis examined RCA reports from rural schools under turnaround initiatives in a southern state. Reports synthesized the analysis of a compilation of state assessment data, focus group meetings with the leadership team, teachers, students, parents, observational data, and survey data. Findings revealed three themes common across all campuses: Leadership, Teacher Effectiveness, and School Culture. Solutions to school enhancement revolved around a unity of vision from visionary leadership as well as strong community-school partnerships. Implications and recommendations for future research will be discussed.

Authors

• Bobby Gentry, Texas A&M University

• Karen E. McIntush, University of Houston

• Beverly J. Irby, Texas A&M University

• Rafael Lara-Alecio, Texas A&M University

• Fuhui Tong, Texas A&M University

• Matthew J. Etchells, Texas A&M University

• Elsa Villarreal, Texas A&M University - Commerce