Center for Community and School Action Research (CCSAR)
Welcome! The Center for Community and School Action Research (CCSAR) is a Center of
Excellence within the Connecticut State University System and is located within the
School of Education at Southern Connecticut State University.
Since its inception in 1998, a major focus of CCSAR's work was to conduct the annual
evaluation of all the Educator Preparation Programs at SCSU. That involved the administration
and analysis of student, alumni and principal surveys; focus groups; and a review
of test scores from performance based assessments, e.g., Praxis II, BEST Teaching
Portfolio, and other assessment measures. The purpose of the evaluation was to assess
and measure the overall effectiveness and quality of the Educator Preparation Programs,
and to ensure that SCSU continues to meet the standards set by all of its accrediting
bodies, e.g., NCATE, the State Department of Education, and other specialty accrediting
bodies for our various disciplines. To assist the school of Education in its efforts
to evaluate the quality of its programs, CCSAR distributed surveys to all undergraduate,
graduate, sixth year, and doctoral students enrolled in an educator preparation program
prior to graduation This survey provided students with the opportunity to give feedback
and to respond to various statements regarding their classroom and field experiences
while a student at SCSU. This important work continues as a function of the Office
of Assessment and Planning.
Starting this year CCSAR's major responsibility is to support the implementation
and documentation of professional development activities within the School of Education
and in developing a partnership with the School Development Program at the Yale University
Child Study Center, and partnering with school districts and schools across the State.
CCSAR's staff also conducts research and evaluation studies on programs and initiatives
that impact children's academic, social and emotional development. Additionally,
a major focus of CCSAR's activities is on addressing the achievement gap in Connecticut
through facilitating seminars and workshops, conducting related research and evaluation
and by supporting and assisting with related program development. CCSAR continues
to serve as a resource for technical assistance and support for faculty and student
research.
Again, welcome to the School of Education, to the Department of Educational Leadership
and Policy Studies, and specifically to CCSAR. Please feel free to stop by and visit
us in the Department of Educational Leadership in TE6.
Norris M. Haynes, Ph.D.
Director, CCSAR