Rachel's+Module+4

__Module 4__

I chose the high cost strategy for the most effective intervention. This is because the other two strategies would not completely resolve this issue currently present in this school. The low cost strategy is proposing that the school does more fundraisers and one hundred percent of the profits goes towards the resources needed. This is not a very effective strategy because it is only a temporary fix. Yes, it may be the lowest cost to the school system but it does not fix this issue at all. The funds that could be raised in a school year by selling items, doing festivals and benefits may not profit as much as it may take to put on these types of fundraising efforts. This strategy could also end up not being a very low cost intervention due to this fact. The medium cost strategy will eventually solve the problem. This intervention proposes that faculty members are required to wrie two grants a month each. This would eliminate the need for a grant writer and possibly result in a large amount of funding. However, this strategy would take time to implement and for it to become successful.

Therfore, I chose the high cost strategy. The high cost intervention proposes that a full time professional grant writer be hired. This is a member of the staff that is very common in other nearby school systems, such as Coweta County Schools and Heard County Schools (Georgia Department of Education, 2011). However, this school system lacks this member of their staff. This strategy would provide more reasonable results in a shorter period of time because someone is focused on this aspect of funding at all times. Yes, it is the higher cost strategy but it also will resolve the problem easier and quicker. There are many strengths to hiring a grant writer and one in particular is that the job will get done on time and correctly (Fritz, 2011). Having current employees write grants may hinder their current job responsibilities and the grants still may not be written and submitted on time. Professional grant writers also know how to write grants that will benefit non profit organizations, they are certified in this (Fritz, 2011).

My chosen intervention strategy best meets the organizational goals for the performance gap by providing further technology resources and curriculum to close the performance gap between African Americans, Caucasions, and students with disabilities. Emilie Simmons of California State University states that,"...technology enhances education and is becoming increasingly essential to learning. Student development of basic academic skills improves with the use of technology, especially for at-risk students" (2010).

After conducting several interviews with employees of Unity Elementary, one stated that "A full time grant writer would greatly benefit this county by providing resources to our teachers and students." Another employee stated that, "A full time grant writer would help the entire school system in many ways, but I do not see the county spending the money for a full time grant writer at this point in time." They all were in an agreeance that it would open more doors to learning and would increase these students likeliness to succeed.