Studying the middle school choice process

This is from Judith Kafka, Associate Professor, Marxe School of Public and International Affairs at Baruch College. This information would be wildly interesting and informative to anyone trying to improve the middle school application process. Would you consider participating?

I am an associate professor at Baruch College (CUNY) conducting a study on middle school admissions in District 15. I am interested in learning about how parents navigate the admissions process, how they choose which schools they would like to see their children attend, and how they feel about the process once it is completed. I am looking for parents of current fourth graders who would be willing to be interviewed at three points in the application process: this spring, next fall as you are making your selections, and then next spring once your child has been assigned a middle school for the following year.

Should you choose to participate, the interview would involve questions about your background, but would focus on your experience with middle school admissions for your child. Each interview would last under an hour, and will be held at a location of your choosing (your home, my home, or a neutral location). With your permission, I will make an audio recording of the interviews, but your identity will remain confidential. If you are more comfortable participating in a language other than English, I can have a translator accompany me to the interviews.

An Institutional Review Board responsible for research with human subjects at Baruch College has reviewed this research project and found it to be acceptable, according to applicable state and federal regulations and university policies designed to protect the rights and welfare of participants in research.

If you are interested in participating, please contact me by email at Judith.kafka@baruch.cuny.edu or phone at 718-964-7772 or mail at 1702 8th Ave. Apt. 2 Brooklyn, NY 11215.

Judith Kafka
Associate Professor, Marxe School of Public and International Affairs at Baruch College