Education Commons^™

A Study On The Influences Of The U.S. News And World Reports: America's Best Colleges Rankings On Policy And Decision-Making At Southern Comprehensive Colleges, John D. Head

Doctoral Dissertations

For over a century, colleges and universities have been the subjects of numerous attempts to provide a ranking system for use by the general public. These rankings have examined a variety of indicators in an attempt to determine quality. Everything from the accomplishments of graduates in the workforce, their success on entering graduate schools, and the reputation of institutions among their peers, have all been examined at one time or another in an attempt to measure quality.

Public demand for a ranking system is evidenced by the millions of dollars spent each year on rankings. Publishers are eager to provide …

Tennessee Higher Education Accountability Policies & Practices: A State Legislative Perspective, Kristi Roberson-Scott

Doctoral Dissertations

This purpose of this descriptive, exploratory study was to describe Tennessee legislators' perceptions of higher education accountability policies and/or programs. Legislators' perceptions of the following: What it means and what is expected for accountability (research question 1), What is considered to be prime and important evidence of accountability (research question 2), To whom should higher education institutions be accountable (research question 3), and whether current policies and/or program are effective (research question 4) were all answered by the emerging research themes of this study.

A sample (approximately half) of Tennessee Senate and House legislative members serving on their respective education …

The Duties, Responsibilities, And Challenges Of Opening A New Elementary School, Kathy Dykes Sims

Doctoral Dissertations

The primary purpose of this study was to examine the challenges of principals who opened new elementary schools and to identify the essential responsibilities and duties they encountered. Identifying the role and latitude of the principal at different phases of the school construction was also examined. This research was guided by the research question: What are the duties, responsibilities, and challenges that principals encounter when charged with the task of opening and organizing a new elementary school?

The sample for the study included three principals from three Tennessee public elementary schools who opened a new school for the first time …

The Effectiveness Of Accountability Policy In Higher Education: The Perspectives Of Higher Education Leaders, Sharon J. Tanner

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to describe Tennessee higher education leaders’ perceptions of accountability policies and programs. Perspectives of fifteen higher education leaders from six public colleges and universities throughout Tennessee were collected in one-on-one personal interviews over a three-month period. Both presidents and chief academic officers from three universities and three community colleges were included in the study.

While the leaders concurred that accountability is an essential and premier policy within the higher education structure, there was a general dissatisfaction expressed with current accountability policies and programs. Findings revealed that almost all of the leaders interviewed were particularly …

Learning For All, Barry Cohen

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate that all students acquired similar learned material without considering their socioeconomic background. Through social interaction and technology, the intern provided an environment of equal learning between both groups. Through a case study, both third grade groups identified one's academic, cultural, economic, and historical backgrounds. In addition, this study demonstrated that the teachers' expectations were vital in the students' learning process. By setting attainable expectations, both groups were exposed to an academic and social learning experience.

The Effectiveness Of Successmaker For Title I Students In Grades Three And Four, Lynn Marcus

Theses and Dissertations

No abstract available.

Peer Mentoring: Providing A Partnership For Guidance Through School, Geoff Haines

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to provide at-risk students with peer mentors to guide students as they make the transition from the intermediate school level to the middle school level. The study resulted in the creation of a program that formed a partnership between 7^th-grade at-risk students and honor roll 8^th-grade students who participate in after-school programs. Subjects were 35 7^th-grade students, identified as at-risk students, at the Egg Harbor Township Middle School in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey. The subjects' grades, incidences of discipline referrals, and attendance were analyzed. After the at-risk …

Stepping Out To Make A Step Up Through Testing Interventions, Barbara B. Adams

Theses and Dissertations

This study was to evaluate how the Glen Landing Middle School Afterschool Academic Assistance and Investigation and Analysis Intervention Programs impacted the seventh and eighth grade students' language arts and mathematics skills.

The population for this study involved 101 seventh and eighth graders who, during the previous school year, either tested below the 40th percentile on the TerraNova and/or failed one or more subjects.

The results of the TerraNova and GEPA test scores were the basis for the primary data. The data analysis used structured case studies of the students who were divided into two categories. Those students taking the …

Feasibility Of Privatizing Custodial Services, Thomas P. Grossi

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to see if it would be feasible to privatize custodial services within the district. This study resulted in a decision as to whether privatizing custodial services would be beneficial to the school district. The privatizing of custodial services means the hiring of an outside contractor to handle the entire operation of cleaning the building and no longer using in-house employees to do these functions.

The intern used interviews and research to support the findings and conclusions of the study. The intern believes that the study showed that privatization of custodial services would not be …

The Schoolwide Implementation Of Schools Attuned, A Professional Development Program Dedicated To Meeting The Needs Of Diverse Learners, Lauren Hegge Mcgroarty

Theses and Dissertations

Schools Attuned, the professional development program, was developed to provide educators with the knowledge and skills necessary to meet the needs of all students. Schools Attuned, based on 30 years of work by Dr. Mel Levine, had offered new methods for recognizing, understanding, and managing students with differences in learning. Parkview Elementary School in Westville, New Jersey adopted the Schools Attuned program in order to fulfill the expectations that have been prescribed by the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation. This qualitative study was dependent on the population of 33 educators' perceptions about the Schools Attuned program, highlighting the strengths …

Primary Concerns For Successful Inclusion, Ellen M. Ward

Theses and Dissertations

Research on inclusion was important in order to develop successful inclusion practices, which could then be utilized in new inclusion classrooms. The purpose of this study was to learn about successful inclusion practices which included, but were not limited to, positive attitudes, supports, collaborative teaching, team-teaching, teacher training, materials and resources, and curricular modifications.

The subjects of this study were a purposive sampling of the regular and special education teaching staff, as well as teaching aides and administrators who were directly involved in an inclusive classroom setting in the Galloway Township Public School District during the school year 2003-2004. Data …

A Multi-Faceted Approach To High Quality Professional Development, Meg A. Gawalis

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to develop a meaningful professional development program that promotes lifelong learning and supports continued growth through individual and group activity that includes independent study, action research, study groups, peer coaching, reflective journaling, computer applications, and training. The sample population included 170 members of the teaching staff at Absegami High School, a large comprehensive high school located in Galloway Township, New Jersey.

The study utilized an action research design in which a needs assessment was distributed to teachers to determine workshop offerings, and workshops were evaluated with respect to content, presenter, length of time, and …

Peer Coaching For History Teachers At Oakcrest High School, James M. Reina

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this project was to evaluate the utilization of Peer Coaching as a tool for increasing teacher communication and promoting the sharing of methodology and content knowledge. Within a high-school setting, scheduling and multiple course-loads kept teachers from capitalizing on the greatest resource that surrounded them; each-other. This program allowed teachers to observe and be observed in a non-threatening, supportive environment outside the domain of supervisors and administrators. Originally designed to focus solely on the History Department, the study came to also include members of the English and Special Education Departments, who work with the history teachers through …

Peer Mediation Program Evaluation, Maria M. Marano

Theses and Dissertations

This study was designed to determine if the existing Peer Mediation Program at the Egg Harbor Township Intermediate School is working effectively. Utilizing an action research design, 20 sixth graders, who were either mediators or disputants, completed a peer mediation survey during the 2004-2005 academic school year. All 20 surveys were used for analysis with the final research population being 14 female and 6 male participants. In analyzing the results, it was discovered that most of the students felt the Peer Mediation Program was moderately successful and provided a better alternative to solving conflict than if the problems were referred …

Technology's Impact On Student Learning In Grades K-8, Anne C. Borger

Theses and Dissertations

Many research studies have found that educational technology that is accessible, equitable, and properly used can make a significant difference in students' academic performance. The purpose of this study was to determine if Wildwood Crest Memorial School had a well-orchestrated technology plan, which addressed the technological needs of students and teachers and to determine what impact technology had on student learning. A survey developed by the Southeast and Islands Regional Technology in Education Consortium (SEIR*TEC) was used to collect data from students and teachers. An analysis of the data found that the district goals and objectives were being met with …

An Exploratory Investigation Of The Facility Maintenance Program At Sterling Regional High School, Brenden D. Garozzo

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to a) determine the effectiveness of the current maintenance program at Sterling High School and to b) make changes in the program to promote staff satisfaction, safety of the environment, and fiscal matters. Administrators and staff members were interviewed regarding the program. A random sample of 100 work orders was analyzed to determine repair time, cost per repair, and percentage of return repairs for each of six maintenance categories, including electrical, plumbing, heating/ventilation/air conditioning (HVAC), fire alarms, other mechanical, and interior. It was determined that the HVAC system required the most repair time, most …

A Longitudinal Study On The Effectiveness Of Preschool Special Education, Kimberley L. Maneval

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this longitudinal cohort study was to analyze the grade school placements of children who received preschool special education services in order to determine how this type of early intervention impacted future learning. Data was obtained through non-interactive evaluation of existing class lists, student records, and Application for State School Aide (ASSA) reports of 342 disabled or developmentally delayed children between 3 and 5 years of age who participated in Evesham Township's Preschool Disabled Program between 1990 and 2001. Data from this study was also used to re-evaluate the preschool curriculum, policies and procedures, and to plan new …

The Effect Of Suspension On Student Achievement In Mathematics And English Among High School Students, Glen Howard Asch

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of suspension in Mathematics and English achievement among the students at Sequoia Transition High School.

The major aspects of methodology used in this study were collected from material culture of student grades for the.period of September 2004 to January 2005. Fifty one students were researched on several different points of interest based upon suspension frequency, grade level, gender, and average of four consecutive interim and marking period grade point scores.

A summary of the data was compiled. Computerized statistical calculations were used to determine the relevancy of English and Mathematics …

Implementation Of Flexible Grouping In Language Arts As A Form Of Differentiated Instruction, Beth A. Connor

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to evaluate the effectiveness of one model of flexible grouping on second grade students' progress in reading as measured by their use of decoding and comprehension skills. This classroom-based action research used a pretest and posttest design to determine students' reading levels. In addition to the quantitative results obtained from the pretests and posttests, teacher observation of students' use of reading strategies provided the basis for a qualitative analysis on the effectiveness of using leveled reading materials in a flexible grouping format. Following several months of instruction using one model of flexible grouping …

A Study Of The Positive Influence Of A Language Arts Literacy Portfolio Program On The High School Proficiency Assessment Scores Of Eleventh Grade Students At The Creative Arts High School, Stella Nwanguma

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of a Language Arts Literacy Portfolio Program on the High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA) scores of eleventh grade students at the Creative Arts High School of Camden, New Jersey. Eleventh grade students were divided into two SAT Prep classes. For the purposes of the study, class one was labeled group A while class two was group B. Students in group A used the Language Arts Literacy Portfolio Program to support the traditional SAT Prep curriculum. Conversely, students of group B followed the traditional SAT Prep curriculum and were not exposed …

Evaluation And Implementation Of A New Teacher Mentoring Program, Tracey M. Eagan

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this exploratory investigation was to ascertain the effectiveness of a current mentoring program at Christopher Columbus Charter School and determine the best ways in which to make the program more effective. Throughout this study, the researcher surveyed and held informal conversations with the mentors and the mentees involved to gain insight into the needs of novice teachers. The study was conducted with a limited number of subjects and a majority of the data gathered was through observation and informal conversations. The study was conducted over an academic school year. The study discussed the current mentoring program in …

Tracking Student Discipline Referrals And Providing Additional Support To Students In Order To Decrease Student Discipline Problems, Katherine Jasmin Keramidaris

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to track student discipline referrals throughout the school year in order to provide additional support to those students who exhibited a pattern of having discipline issues. Students were identified based on the number of infractions they had and then they were targeted and received additional support from the researcher. The researcher compiled a list of the students and met with them regularly in order to establish a relationship with them. Through such a relationship, some students' discipline referral write-ups decreased; others continued to break the school rules. However, all students benefited from such a …

Determining The Effectiveness Of Two New Reading Programs In The Lower Alloways Creek School, Linda A. Levitsky

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the two new reading programs on the improvement of students' reading scores and the enhancement of instruction in the Lower Alloways Creek School District using an action research design. Teachers involved in using the new programs were surveyed. Student grades from the previous year in the first marking period and the current year during the first marking period were analyzed and compared. At the time of the study, the school enrollment was approximately 220 students. Grades first through eighth were included in the study. The research instruments were a …

Memorial School & Map: How Did It Do?, Brian Z. London

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to ascertain the impact on academic achievement of the Memorial After-School Program (MAP) conducted at the Veterans Memorial School in Vineland, NJ. The study is primarily a descriptive study with an examination of a limited number of potential correlations. The sample size included eighty-nine students from grades 5 through 8 who were enrolled in the program for the 2003-2004 school year. These students were invited into the program because they were deemed at risk for failing the state mandated tests required by No Child Left Behind (NCLB). Participation was voluntary. The study used classroom …

The Effectiveness Of A Discipline Plan On Student Achievement, Wendy Ann Carman

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to improve student behavior and increase student achievement at West Avenue School by developing a discipline plan that would create an orderly and respectful environment. The study involved students in the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth grade during the first marking period of 2003 and 2004 school year. Teacher surveys and discussions were analyzed, and it was evident there was a need for a new discipline plan. Report card grades and discipline referrals, written by the teachers, from the first marking period of 2003 were compared to the report card grades and discipline referrals …

Thirty Days Until The Prom, Henry J. Hartman Iv

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Vineland High School's current ineligibility policy on attendance for ninth through twelfth grade students by using methods of data gathering and data analysis. The intern surveyed the students of the population on their feelings of the revised eligibility policy. The survey was mainly yes or no questions.

The population was a cluster sampling of 1^st period mathematics classes in Vineland High School North and Vineland High School South. This sampling insured that the intern did not get duplicated results from students but did produce a population with various …

What Impact Does An Attendance Incentive Program Have On Student Attendance?, Marilyn Cosme

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of an attendance incentive program on the attendance of students in a small, rural elementary school setting. The methodology of the study consisted of collecting attendance data from the previous school year. The data were then compared to the attendance data from the current school year. During the previous school year there was no attendance incentive program. During the present school year an attendance incentive program was created and promoted by the school. The study was conducted on the entire student population in a New Jersey elementary school that housed …

A Helping Hand: A Mentoring Program Between Staff And Students, Beth Frances Norcia

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a mentoring program in increasing academic success, improving self-esteem and decreasing disciplinary infractions. Data collection and initial interviews conducted with the mentors indicated the program was successful in improving the self-esteem, social skills and academic performance of most at-risk students. However, these evaluations need to be further developed and expanded in order to make a more conclusive judgment on the program's effectiveness, due to several factors.

Results were determined by using two methods of research. The first method used interviews from program participants. The second method was data collection. …

An Investigation Of The Effectiveness And Perceptions Of Middle School Inclusion Programs, Maria S. Mckeown

Theses and Dissertations

The purposes of this exploratory investigation were to (a) evaluate the effectiveness and perceptions of inclusion programs at the middle school level; and (b) specifically evaluate the program at Voorhees Middle School in Voorhees, New Jersey, for its effectiveness. Educational literature was examined. Nine teachers, three administrators, and fifty students were surveyed, interviewed, and observed at Voorhees Middle School. Data were analyzed in a comparative manner. Students and teachers believe that these programs are effective in meeting the needs of the special education students. The findings from the educational research and the study of the Voorhees Middle School inclusion programs …

The Effectiveness Of A Multicultural Awareness Day Program, Anne-Sophie I. Kruse-Guth

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a Multicultural Awareness Day program on improving student understanding, awareness, and appreciation of world languages and cultures. The study was based on a quantitative analysis research design. The sample used for this study included 7^th and 8^th grade students at Glassboro Intermediate School in the Glassboro Public Schools District of New Jersey. A randomly selected sample of seventh and eighth grade social studies students participated in the study. One technique, surveying, was used as a means for data collection. The data were analyzed both before and after …