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School Psychologists Supporting Culturally And Linguistically Diverse Families Through The Evaluation Process, Jacqueline A. Oluoch
School Psychologists Supporting Culturally And Linguistically Diverse Families Through The Evaluation Process, Jacqueline A. Oluoch
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
This study examined factors that predicted higher cultural skills in practicing school psychologists, and if these skills could be improved through a professional development session. Participants were school psychologists who attended a cultural skills professional development workshop during the National Association of School Psychologists Annual Convention 2024. A Mann-Whitney test was used to examine the change in cultural skills pre- and post-workshop. Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to examine cultural skills by career stage and work settings. The results showed an overall increase in cultural skills post-workshop. Working in public schools or non-public schools was not related to higher cultural skills …
Closing The Gap: Culturally Competent Consultations In Schools, Kimmely Mechelle Williams
Closing The Gap: Culturally Competent Consultations In Schools, Kimmely Mechelle Williams
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Poor academic achievement among minority students has historically been identified as one of the most pressing challenges of public education (Dorvil, 2011). However, even before the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) adoption, there has been a focus on what should be done to improve the academic achievement of the nation’s children. With each of its subsequent incarnations and legislative renaming, policymakers, educators, and researchers alike have sought to ensure that all children are afforded the opportunity to receive a high-quality education delivered by competent educators enabling them to reach predetermined but vaguely defined levels of proficiency. Despite best efforts, …
Prevention In Schools: Examining School Personnel’S Attitudes And Knowledge Of Mandated Reporting, Aigner J. Allen
Prevention In Schools: Examining School Personnel’S Attitudes And Knowledge Of Mandated Reporting, Aigner J. Allen
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
This study examined the factors that may affect school personnel’s implementation of mandated reporter procedures after student disclosure of child sexual abuse (CSA), with a focus on how school personnel think, reason, and act after a student discloses suspected CSA. Children spend most of their time in school, therefore, school personnel have significant roles in protecting children by being mandated reporters of child abuse. This study used a quantitative research design to examine school personnel’s attitudes and knowledge regarding mandated reporting child sexual abuse after student disclosure. The study used a cross-sectional survey methodology that included a single survey instrument. …
Exploration Of The School Mindfulness Project On The Executive Functions Of Elementary School Students, Jessica Brooke Savaiano
Exploration Of The School Mindfulness Project On The Executive Functions Of Elementary School Students, Jessica Brooke Savaiano
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
This study investigated the relationship between The School Mindfulness Project and the executive functions of elementary school students. Participants were teachers from an urban elementary school. Dependent t-tests were used to examine changes in executive functioning from pretest to posttest. The results did not show significant improvements in executive functions for the intervention group. Implications, limitations, and directions for future research are discussed.
School Guidance Counselor Perceptions On Reintegrating Students To School After Mental Health Treatment, Maddie Roxandich
School Guidance Counselor Perceptions On Reintegrating Students To School After Mental Health Treatment, Maddie Roxandich
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
This study examined the perspectives of school guidance counselors to determine current and best practices in planning and supporting student returns to school after absences for mental health reasons. The literature review highlights the sharp decline in adolescent mental health over the years, the rise in hospitalizations for mental health concerns, and the need for attention to school practices that support student mental health when a student requires hospitalization. The intent of this study was to build upon previous literature that examined practices existing in schools to help reintegrate students after absences. It sought to investigate whether schools have a …
The Impact Of Teacher’S Understanding Of Childhood Trauma And Trauma-Informed Classrooms On Perceived Barriers And Comfort In Implementing School-Based Trauma Informed Practice, Alyssa Henry
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
The impact of trauma on children has become an area of increased awareness, as research has demonstrated the consequences of traumatic experiences on academic, behavioral, and emotional success. Teachers have a unique opportunity to support intervention and facilitate relationships with children, in order to reduce the impacts of trauma on later outcomes. Research has demonstrated positive outcomes of students when teachers are provided direct training in trauma-informed intervention; however, there is little research on the knowledge teachers have from their training programs and professional development related to trauma and trauma-informed educations and the impact on their attitudes and perceptions in …
Creating Sanctuary Schools For Students Diagnosed With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Kerri Newton
Creating Sanctuary Schools For Students Diagnosed With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Kerri Newton
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
The purpose of this project is to develop a Guidebook for school systems on how to help students diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) feel most safe when they are integrated into and participate in classrooms providing general education. The Sanctuary Model provides a framework that can be applied to school communities to address the unique needs of students diagnosed with autism. As a framework, it can provide these communities with a blueprint of how to encourage participation from students with autism so they too can benefit from learning how to identify not only their feelings but the feelings of …
The Map Reading Probe’S Effectiveness In Predicting Performance Within An Rtiisystem, Richard J. Scherr Jr
The Map Reading Probe’S Effectiveness In Predicting Performance Within An Rtiisystem, Richard J. Scherr Jr
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Public-school districts nationwide are utilizing student progress toward proficiency on state-wide achievement assessments as their means of monitoring student achievement. Of late, the three-tiered system of reading instruction and intervention (RtII) has shown the most promise to increase reading proficiency levels schoolwide. However, little research exists to support the use of the MAP reading probe within an RtII framework for advancing reading achievement. This study provides a statistical analysis of the use of MAP as a predictor of reading performance on statewide assessments in a suburban K-5 elementary school currently utilizing RtII as a means of advancing student achievement in …
The Role And Implications Of Executive Functions During The Transition To Middle School, Susan Niznik
The Role And Implications Of Executive Functions During The Transition To Middle School, Susan Niznik
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
The current study analyzed the relationship between executive functions and academic performance in middle school. In particular, this study analyzed the relationship between BRIEF Index and Scale scores that were compiled on a group (N = 54) of seventh graders by two seventh-grade ELA teachers and the students’ final grades in ELA, Math, Science, and Social Studies. The results showed statistically significant correlations between most of the BRIEF Indexes and Scales and the final grades, with the Metacognitive Scales showing the highest correlations. In contrast, the results showed much higher incongruence index values than expected, given the high correlations that …
School Psychologist Self-Care Practices And Burnout Symptoms, Mary Jean Rainsford
School Psychologist Self-Care Practices And Burnout Symptoms, Mary Jean Rainsford
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
School psychologists face a host of responsibilities and stressors in their profession. Burnout is a common issue among school psychologists and other helping professionals. Self-care has been noted as a preventative measure against burnout, but there is little extant research on its relationship to burnout. A survey was conducted with currently practicing school psychologists in the United States to find a connection between the presence and frequency of self-care practice and burnout symptoms. The survey found considerable differences in burnout scores between school psychologists who reported practicing self-care, compared to those who did not. Moreover, significant inverse correlations were found …
Predictability Of Curriculum-Based Reading Measures For Statewide Test Performance, Rebecca Sarah Mark
Predictability Of Curriculum-Based Reading Measures For Statewide Test Performance, Rebecca Sarah Mark
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
National legislation has led to an increasing need for school districts to demonstrate student reading progress using performance on statewide achievement tests as indicators of growth. This study added to previous research on the effectiveness of curriculum-based measurement (CBM) in predicting success on statewide reading achievement tests and determining whether a student is at-risk for poor performance on statewide tests. The current study analyzed the relationship between a CBM tool for assessing reading progress, the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS), and a statewide reading assessment, the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA). This study compared the predictive …
Student Participation In School Sponsored Extra-Curricular Activities At The Elementary School Level And The Impact Of Student Engagement, Kirsten D. Myers
Student Participation In School Sponsored Extra-Curricular Activities At The Elementary School Level And The Impact Of Student Engagement, Kirsten D. Myers
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Getting students involved in their day to day educational processes is often challenging and, in some schools, systems appear almost unrealistic. Students in school do not often see the value of or make the connection with the importance of education. Students see movie stars such as Jennifer Lawrence drop out of school at fourteen, singers, rappers and others in the entertainment industry who are successful and make millions without an education. The potential of a YouTube posting, turning someone into a star looms in their imaginations and they think it could happen to them. Students today are even more enticed …
Describing The Impact Of Low Socioeconomic Status On School Performance, Barry Linden Cropp Ii
Describing The Impact Of Low Socioeconomic Status On School Performance, Barry Linden Cropp Ii
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
This study used archival school data compiled during the 2017-2018 school year to analyze the impact of family income, as determined by student eligibility for free- or reduced-lunch benefits, on several measures of school performance. This study was based upon an investigation of the effects of income on three dependent variables: academic performance, school attendance, and need for behavioral management interventions. Participants included 165 male students in third through fifth grade who attended a single elementary school in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Indicators of school performance were derived from data routinely collected and maintained in students' cumulative …
Parental Availability As A Predictor Of Academic Success Among Students Of A Private Residential School, Lesley Kubisiak Logan
Parental Availability As A Predictor Of Academic Success Among Students Of A Private Residential School, Lesley Kubisiak Logan
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
A private residential school in the northeast United States provides a cost-free coeducation to qualifying pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade students. One of the most important application factors is need, which is measured by a scale for parental availability. For a parent to be considered unavailable, any or all of the following areas could be present: limited physical capacity to effectively parent the child, limited mental capacity to effectively parent the child, active abuse of drugs or alcohol or ongoing substance abuse history, inadequate supervision, chronic neglect, incarceration, death, no contact or sporadic contact (e.g., not on a regular basis or …
How African American Men From Challenging Backgrounds Beat The Odds And Graduated From College, Valisha Terry
How African American Men From Challenging Backgrounds Beat The Odds And Graduated From College, Valisha Terry
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
While Bettis and Sternod (2009) asserted the notion of boys being in crisis as not a new phenomenon but a historically cyclical one, present research contends that African American men are one of the most at-risk groups in the United States. School and criminal-justice systems show similar results. African American men continue to lag in terms of graduation rates and college enrollment, while being overrepresented in victim violence and the criminal justice system. They also lead the nation in homicides as both victims and perpetrators. Despite these obstacles, many at-risk African American men graduate from college and excel in life. …
A Survey Of Teacher Receptiveness Regarding Inclusive Education Within A New Jersey Urban School District, Tammy Hobbs-Ginsberg
A Survey Of Teacher Receptiveness Regarding Inclusive Education Within A New Jersey Urban School District, Tammy Hobbs-Ginsberg
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
The inclusion model is being implemented on a national scale in response to the United States Department of Education’s mandate that all pupils with special needs be integrated into the general education classroom. For the inclusion model to yield adequate yearly progress for all pupils, it must be appropriately applied. Research has indicated that an important factor in adequate implementation is an understanding of teachers’ initial attitudes concerning inclusion. The propose of this study is to survey the receptiveness of kindergarten through high school special and general education teachers in an urban New Jersey school district concerning inclusion. More specifically, …
Trauma Training In Educational Settings: Developing A Universal Approach Training Manual, Kerri A. Flatau
Trauma Training In Educational Settings: Developing A Universal Approach Training Manual, Kerri A. Flatau
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Children who have experienced trauma(s) may display a wide variety of symptoms, including withdrawal, behavioral challenges, difficulty with focus, learning disabilities, and social/emotional delays (Cole et al., 2005). Each of these challenges can present a barrier to learning. Therefore, in order to provide the highest quality support in the school setting, teachers and other school staff need to be educated and trained on the topic of trauma. Further, they need strategies and tools regarding how to best work with all of their students, including those who have, or may have, experienced trauma. The current study examined the available research, as …
Examining Procedural Fidelity In School-Based Problem-Solving Teams Within Elementary Schools, Catalina Ottinger-Ovens
Examining Procedural Fidelity In School-Based Problem-Solving Teams Within Elementary Schools, Catalina Ottinger-Ovens
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
The current study examined the procedural fidelity within problem solving teams in three elementary schools, utilizing a 19-item modified checklist (Burns et al., 2008) completed by team members and a trained observer concurrently at eight meetings at each of the schools. The purpose of the study was to determine if there was a relationship between the team members’ ratings and the observer’s ratings, and also to determine the level of procedural fidelity across the three schools. The items on the checklist were divided into three subscales for analysis, based on the problem solving model: problem identification, problem analysis, and problem …
School Personnel’S Knowledge And Perception Of School Refusal Behavior, Joshua M. Foy
School Personnel’S Knowledge And Perception Of School Refusal Behavior, Joshua M. Foy
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
This study examined the knowledge of school personnel regarding risk and protective factors, the four-function model, assessment, and treatment of school refusal behavior. This study also explored the perceptions of school personnel regarding the understanding of school refusal behavior as an emotional condition versus its being delinquent behavior and the climate of understanding at their work setting. Two hundred, ninety-six mental health and non-mental professionals who currently work in school settings across the United States participated in this study by completing an online survey pertaining to this topic. Results indicate that mental health professionals demonstrated a higher level of knowledge …
School Staff Perceptions Of A Trauma Informed Program On Improving Knowledge, Competence, And School Climate, Elizabeth Mikolajczyk
School Staff Perceptions Of A Trauma Informed Program On Improving Knowledge, Competence, And School Climate, Elizabeth Mikolajczyk
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
This study sought to examine school staff perceptions of knowledge, competence, school climate and program effectiveness during and after participation in a trauma informed care professional development. The majority of the sample consisted of special areas (art, music, library) teachers and paraprofessionals from all district schools, which consisted of three elementary schools, one middle school and one high school in in a school district located in Southeast Pennsylvania approximately 20 miles from a major metropolitan city. Most of the participants were female. Participants completed a pretest survey and an identical survey following each phase. Questions on the survey pertained to …
An Analysis Of The Self-Disclosure Practices Of School-Based Mental Health Practitioners, Kristen Rudiger
An Analysis Of The Self-Disclosure Practices Of School-Based Mental Health Practitioners, Kristen Rudiger
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
The study presented in this document examined school-based mental health practitioners’ views regarding the use of self-disclosure (the sharing of personal information or thoughts with their clients) in their current practice. This study also collected school-based mental health practitioners’ opinions concerning their graduate-level training and other preparation related to the use of self-disclosure. Research questions investigated whether school-based mental health practitioners engaged in self-disclosure, whether participants viewed self-disclosure to be ethical, and if participants had utilized self-disclosure, did they believe their graduate-level training adequately prepared them to do so. Sixty-five school-based mental health practitioners, self-identifying as school psychologists, school counselors, …
Full-Day Kindergarten Program: Fostering Academic And Behavioral Gains For At Risk Students, Sarah Stefanakis
Full-Day Kindergarten Program: Fostering Academic And Behavioral Gains For At Risk Students, Sarah Stefanakis
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
The following study investigated the effectiveness of a full-day kindergarten program as an intervention to foster academic and behavioral gains in students presenting with poor school readiness skills when entering kindergarten. Sixteen public school kindergarten students selected for a pilot full-day kindergarten program participated in the study. The sample included students from low-socioeconomic status families with poor academic skills, students from higher socioeconomic status families with poor academic skills, and students receiving special education services. Dependent-samples t-tests revealed significant growth between the beginning and the end of the school year in phonological processing, print recognition, and early writing skills. Measures …
Effect Of A Brain Based Learning Program On Students' Use And Recognition Of Self-Advocacy Skills, Megan Maynard
Effect Of A Brain Based Learning Program On Students' Use And Recognition Of Self-Advocacy Skills, Megan Maynard
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Students' abilities to employ self-advocacy skills have a wide research base; however, the research behind the use of students' self-advocacy skills used in conjunction with brain-based learning theory has not been widely explored. This is also true when one considers the population of children who have been studied; it is particularly true about those who have been diagnosed with language-based learning disabilities. This study, conducted using archival data at an independent school in the Philadelphia suburbs, used a variety of statistical methods to determine whether or not a brain-based learning self-advocacy program would increase students identified with a language based …
Behavior Speak: Does Use Of Behavior Jargon Affect Teacher Acceptability Of Positive Behavior Interventions?, Katie Shemanski
Behavior Speak: Does Use Of Behavior Jargon Affect Teacher Acceptability Of Positive Behavior Interventions?, Katie Shemanski
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
The purpose of the present study was to examine acceptability and usage among elementary school (kindergarten through sixth grade) teachers of a positive behavioral intervention described in jargon terms and in nonjargon terms during the process of behavioral consultation, as measured by the Usage Rating Profile – Intervention Revised (URP–IR). Specifically, the study evaluated whether elementary school teachers’ acceptability and usage ratings differed on a positive behavioral intervention described in jargon versus nonjargon terms. In addition, this study assessed whether differences in acceptability and usage existed when considering type of classroom (i.e., general education, special education, or specialized [e.g., art, …
Visual Efficiency And The Relationship Between Reading And Behaviors Indicating Difficulties In The Classroom In Elementary School-Age Children, Patricia A. Broadbent
Visual Efficiency And The Relationship Between Reading And Behaviors Indicating Difficulties In The Classroom In Elementary School-Age Children, Patricia A. Broadbent
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
The purpose of this study is to determine if there is a relationship between visual efficiency, reading levels and behaviors indicating difficulties in the classroom. The sample consisted of thirty–three school-aged children, from four elementary schools. Visual efficiency was measured through a multi-step vision screening process, the Visual Efficiency Rating (VERA) software program. Behaviors indicating difficulties in the classroom were measured using the Behavioral Indicator Checklist, Indicators of Visual Performance Difficulties. This behavior checklist is part of the VERA process and is completed by the classroom teachers. The students’ reading levels were reported by the participating schools. The students were …
The View From Across The Table: A Qualitative Study Of Parent Experiences With The School Psychologist During Initial Evaluation Feedback Conferences, Katherine Scipioni
The View From Across The Table: A Qualitative Study Of Parent Experiences With The School Psychologist During Initial Evaluation Feedback Conferences, Katherine Scipioni
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
This qualitative study focuses on the experiences of 11 parents whose child received an evaluation at school by the school psychologist. By using a semi-structured interview, the author examined the initial evaluation process, or the first time a parent had his or her child evaluated by a school psychologist. A special focus was placed on the meeting in which the parent received results from the school psychologist. The results indicated that there is a lack of connection between parents and the evaluation process. This disconnect becomes wider over the course of the evaluation and at the end of the process, …
Anxiety Disorders And School-Based Treatments: Assessing School Pyschologists' Knowledge And Perceptions, Kelly A. Myhasuk
Anxiety Disorders And School-Based Treatments: Assessing School Pyschologists' Knowledge And Perceptions, Kelly A. Myhasuk
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Anxiety disorders are common in children and youth. Despite high prevalence rates, most children with anxiety disorders do not receive treatment. In fact, for the few children who are receiving treatment, schools are the primary source of mental health care. When left untreated, children experience significant disruptions in their academic, social, emotional, and behavioral functioning. Therefore, it is important for those working in schools to recognize and treat children with anxiety disorders. The present study surveyed school psychologists (n = 178) to assess their knowledge about anxiety disorders and about empirically supported school-based treatments. Also, this study sought to investigate …
Exploring Perceived Benefits Of And Barriers To The Use Of Pet Therapy Dogs In A Private School For Children With Special Needs, Sarah Wodder
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Evidence-based psychotherapy is becoming an increasingly accepted way for individuals to manage a variety of clinical disorders and psychosocial stressors. Complementary therapies are designed to support, facilitate, or enhance existing treatment strategies. Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is one such complementary treatment, in which animals are deliberately included in psychotherapeutic treatment plans in order to facilitate pre-designed treatment goals. Current literature suggests that AAT could have a multitude of benefits for both adults and children for an array of disorders and disabilities. Currently, there is a limited understanding of how AAT might contribute to learning and development for children with special needs. …
Factor Analysis And Predictive Ability Of A Teacher-Completed Autism Rating Scale In An Urban School Setting, Dana Milakovic
Factor Analysis And Predictive Ability Of A Teacher-Completed Autism Rating Scale In An Urban School Setting, Dana Milakovic
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
Autism screening tools have not traditionally been developed for use in an urban setting with students of minority status or from a low SES home. Scales have also traditionally lacked a focus on school behaviors. The Social Communication Screener for Schools (SCSS) was developed in order to assist school psychologists in an urban school setting in referring students who, following a full evaluation, were most likely to qualify for an educational diagnosis of Autism. The goal of the scale was to focus on using teacher ratings of language-based behaviors in the school setting to assess behaviors linked with Autism. The …
Positive Behavior Support And Intervention Programs Vs Responsive Classroom Programs: Impact On Perceptions Of School Climate, Erica M. Rell Backenson
Positive Behavior Support And Intervention Programs Vs Responsive Classroom Programs: Impact On Perceptions Of School Climate, Erica M. Rell Backenson
PCOM Psychology Dissertations
School climate is an aspect of school life that has been examined closely in recent literature as it related to student interactions, behavior, and student achievement. A number of factors that affect school climate have been identified; these include student/teacher relationships, school safety and student relations, clarity of a school’s expectations, perceived fairness of school rules, and the presence of a strong, welldeveloped and widely-accepted behavior program in a school. Both Positive Behavior Intervention and Support (PBIS) programs and Responsive Classroom (RC) programs have been identified as having a positive impact on school climate at multiple grade levels and across …