docs/research_plan.md

Final Research Brief: Knowledge Base for the FOT Intervention Recommender

1. Project Context

The goal is to build a Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) system that recommends evidence-based interventions for at-risk 9th-grade students. This research brief outlines the process for identifying at least five high-quality sources that detail specific, actionable intervention strategies. These sources will form the core knowledge base, complementing the strategic framework provided in the FOT Toolkit Tool Set C.

2. Guiding Philosophy: From "Map" to "Tour Guide"

Our knowledge base strategy is guided by a clear distinction:

The FOT Toolkit is the "Map": It provides the high-level framework for planning, tracking, and evaluating interventions.

Our Curated Sources are the "Tour Guides": They must provide the detailed, step-by-step "playbooks" that describe exactly how to implement a specific intervention.

3. Research Objectives

Primary Goal: Identify 5+ authoritative documents that provide specific, evidence-based, and actionable intervention strategies for 9th-grade students.

Focus Areas: The search will prioritize interventions that directly address the core Freshman On-Track indicators. While these often exist within a larger Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework, our focus is on the specific actions, not the system's architecture.

• Academic Recovery Interventions: (e.g., Credit recovery, targeted tutoring)
• Attendance Improvement Strategies: (e.g., Chronic absenteeism programs, mentoring)
• Behavioral & Social-Emotional Supports: (e.g., Tier 2 behavioral interventions, SEL programs)

4. Search Strategy

Primary Keywords: "freshman on-track interventions", "9th grade student support", "high school transition interventions", "early warning systems high school", "tier 2 interventions secondary".

Specific Keywords: "credit recovery programs", "chronic absenteeism interventions", "freshman mentoring programs", "high-dosage tutoring", "restorative practices high school".

Authoritative Sources:

• Research Institutions: What Works Clearinghouse (WWC), University of Chicago Consortium on School Research, Regional Educational Labs (RELs), Institute of Education Sciences (IES)
• Educational Organizations: National High School Center, RTI Action Network, Attendance Works, ASCD
• Databases: ERIC, peer-reviewed educational journals

5. Quality Criteria Checklist for Source Selection

Each selected source must meet the following criteria:

• [✔] Specificity: Contains detailed, step-by-step procedures, not just high-level theory
• [✔] Evidence-Based: Includes outcome data, research validation, or is cited by a reputable clearinghouse
• [✔] Implementation-Ready: Provides practical guidance, templates, or examples for educators
• [✔] Freshman-Focused: Specifically addresses the needs of 9th-grade or transitioning high school students
• [✔] Complementary: Adds new, actionable content not already covered in the FOT Toolkit's framework

6. Deliverable for Each Curated Source

For each of the five (or more) documents selected, a standardized summary will be created for inclusion in the "Deliverable 1: Project Plan." This summary is crucial and must contain:

• Citation: Full title, author/organization, and a direct URL
• Intervention Category: The primary domain it addresses (Academic, Attendance, or Behavior)
• Core Strategy: A one-sentence summary of the intervention's central concept
• Actionable Components: 3-4 bullet points detailing the specific, repeatable steps an educator would take to implement the intervention

7. Success Metrics for Research Phase

This research phase will be considered complete when the curated knowledge base enables the future RAG system to:

• Recommend a specific academic intervention for a student with course failures
• Suggest a clear attendance improvement strategy for a student with <90% attendance
• Provide a concrete behavioral support option for a student with discipline flags
• Present an evidence-based rationale for each recommendation