The Language Of Parental Involvement: A Document Analysis Of Parent Involvement Plans (Pip’S) Of Title I Elementary Schools, Jacqueleen M. Bido

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Research indicates that parent involvement increases student achievement. This qualitative research examined 30 elementary Title I schools’ Parent Involvement Plans (PIPs), seeking roles parents played in urban settings. This document analysis reviewed the descriptive language presented in each school’s plan and examined for fidelity. Using Epstein’s Six Types of Parent Involvement and the Sample Practice, the researcher coded the Plans. Data displayed compliance with the mandated requirements of the Plans. Still, they indicated incongruencies with fidelity and alignment to proven best-practices research.

The Lived Experiences Of Indian International Female Graduate Students In American Higher Education, Sarita Revulagadda

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The United States continues to be the primary country of destination that international students choose for enrollment in American colleges and universities. Indian international students constitute the second largest enrollment among international students in America with over 200,000 enrolled in 2019 (Institute of International Education, 2020). However, research on the transition experiences of international students is relatively devoid of critical explorations on the transition experiences of Indian international female students to the effects of acculturation.

The current research explored the lived experiences of twelve Indian international female students enrolled in graduate programs at five American universities. The participants’ descriptions of …

Test-Optional Policies: Implementation Impact On Undergraduate Admissions And Enrollment, Christina Pellegrino

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This study examines national colleges and universities that have de-emphasized or eliminated standardized test scores and have implemented test-optional policies for undergraduate admissions. The phrase “standardized test(s)” in this study refers to the ACT and the SAT examinations. The study investigates the test-optional admissions trend and provides a “pre-post" quantitative analysis of test-optional policy effects on the number of admitted students, applications, acceptance rates, and the enrollment of Pell Grant recipients and underrepresented minority groups. The study also includes a qualitative summative analysis pertaining to the institutional framing of test-optional policies. The quasi-experimental research design utilizes difference-in-differences regression of cross-sectional, …

A Case Study Of The Effects Of A Counseling Program In A New Jersey High School, Dayle J. Collins

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The purpose of this convergent mixed-methods study was to explore what influence, if any, a specific mental health program in a Northeast high school had on absenteeism and tardiness for students serviced by the school. The qualitative portion of this study looked at the overall impact the counseling program has had on the High School. It was important to utilize both quantitative and qualitative measures to ascertain an overall understanding of the effect on the High School.

The convergent mixed-methods approach was the best fit for this research study. The first part of this study focused on conducting the quantitative …

An Analysis Of The Complex Thinking Requirements Of The Terranova And Iowa Practice Tests In English/Language Arts For Grade 8: A Tale Of Two Tests, Armand Lamberti

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

ABSTRACT

The importance of higher-order thinking, 21^st-Century Skills, and standardized testing are important issues in education. TerraNova and IOWA tests are widely used to assess students’ academic competence. The publishers of the TerraNova and IOWA tests claim that their assessment instruments challenge students to employ higher-order thinking skills. This study sought to examine and describe ways in which the language found in the TerraNova and IOWA English/Language Arts practice tests compared with the language that promotes higher-order thinking found in the literature. A convergent, parallel mixed-methods study with qualitative and quantitative content analysis methods was conducted to (a) …

The Influence Of English Language Arts Instructional Minutes On Student Achievement In Grades 6, 7, & 8, Franklin Goulburn

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The purpose of this quantitative, non-experimental study was to examine if a relationship existed between allocated English Language Arts (ELA) instructional minutes within a school’s bell schedule for Grades 6, 7, and 8 and its corresponding mean PARCC score for that grade. Furthermore, the study also sought to detect the presence of an interaction effect regarding time, socioeconomic status, and student performance. The study controlled for other student, faculty, and school variables as well. Data for ELA instructional time were obtained from school personnel and also through school websites. Additional variable were obtained through the New Jersey School Performance Reports …

An Examination Of The Relationship Between Physician Assistant Program Characteristics And Performance On The Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination, Christopher Hanifin

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

One of the most highly regarded indicators of a physician assistant (PA) training program’s quality is the record of success of its graduates in passing the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE). Similar to other professional examinations such as the bar examination and the certified public accountant examination, the PANCE can provoke a great deal of anxiety for both new graduates and program administrators. Successful completion of the PANCE is a prerequisite for licensure in all 50 states and represents a final hurdle for students seeking to begin their new healthcare career.

To promote transparency and to protect consumers, the …

The Institutionalization Of An Innovative Curricular Component In A Federally Funded Program To Increase Minorities In Stem Fields. A Case Study Of A Small And Large University, Janine Kelly-Hardy

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The study focused on the Houston-Louis Stokes Alliance Minority Participation Program. Its mission is to increase the number of under-represented students in STEM majors. The National Science Foundation has been funding this program for the past 20 years. Studies were conducted about its success, however, little has been said about HOW the program was formed and prospects for its future amid changes in leadership due to retirement and turnover of staff members. This study looked at the sustainability of LSAMP, specifically how one central academic program component—the academic excellence workshops were institutionalized/integrated by funding it into the organizational life of …

The Potential Link Between Teacher Evaluation And Student Achievement, Darrell Stinchcomb

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Abstract

The push for educational accountability and standardization in the United States gained traction with the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. Uniformity in the curriculum, academic standards, testing, and accountability were some of the requirements that were being touted by politicians, educators, and special interest groups. School districts across the United States were forced to develop systems to prove that teachers were teaching and students were learning. New York State enacted reform legislation under Education Law section 3012-c, which included the Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR) to evaluate teachers and principals. One of the components of this evaluation …

Teacher Perceptions Of Digital Gaming And 21st-Century Skills In The Middle School Classroom, Elizabeth Omegna

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Teacher Perceptions of digital gaming and 21st-century skills in Middle School classrooms

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this research was to capture teacher perceptions on the use of digital gaming in the learning environment of middle school classrooms. Additionally, to speak to perceptions on learning of 21st-century skills such as communication, collaboration and critical thinking.

This study of two middle schools in the same district in suburban New Jersey was utilized for capturing the ideas of teachers who employed a variety of digital games in the classroom as part of their learning objectives.

An interview protocol was utilized to direct questions …

The Influence And Predictability Of Socioeconomic Factors On The 2018 Parcc Middle School Ela Scores In New Jersey, Charlene Jones

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This quantitative study is nonexperimental, utilizing socioeconomic, community, and district data to determine what influence and level of accuracy of prediction is made on standardized testing in New Jersey. This study focuses on middle school students in Grades 6, 7, and 8 in New Jersey's traditional public schools. The study design is a quantitative correlational predictive study design. SES factors for each district were identified using both U.S. Census data and NJDOE district data. Independent variables include percentage of poverty, percentage of single-parent families, education level of parents, percentage of free and reduced price lunch. The dependent variables include: 2018 …

High-Ability Middle School Girls In Independent Schools, Maria Arellano

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Research shows that middle school is a critical time for gifted girls. There is much research as to why and the ways in which girls’ intellectual ambitions significantly wane during the middle school years, but not much on how to combat the issue. Whatever studies have been conducted in the area of gifted and talented female learners has been largely done in the public sector. Given the unique culture and practice of independent schools existing research on this topic in public schools does not provide a clear view of how independent schools are catering to their most highly able female …

A Case Study On The Implementation Of Common Core State Standards In An Urban Charter School Of New Jersey And Its Influence On College Readiness Of High School Students, Mursel Gunes

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

For this research, four college readiness metrics were examined with the aim of analyzing the effects that implementing the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in an urban charter school in New Jersey will have on the college readiness of the school’s high school students. These metrics used were (a) participation rates in PSAT/PLAN, SAT, and AP/IB tests; (b) percentage of students who took SAT and scored 1,550 or above; (c) percentage of students who took AP/IB tests and scored three or more; and (d) schoolwide post-secondary program enrollment rates. Using a sequential mixed methods design, the researcher first analyzed these …

Students' Performance, Satisfaction And Retention In A Hybrid And Traditional Face-To-Face Science Course, Principles Of Biology I, In A Community College, Abdallah Mohammad Matari

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Hybrid teaching, comprised of both in-class and online teaching, is rapidly becoming a favorite mode of teaching and learning. Online and hybrid courses on have become more and more appealing to both higher education institutions and the students they serve. In particular, hybrid teaching has an increase appeal to community colleges as they serve a diverse student population with varied academic levels, cultural background, and personal responsibilities. Hybrid courses promotes flexibility in course scheduling options for students and enables institutions to accept more students without worrying about physical classroom space concerns. This study explored and compared students’ learning outcomes, satisfaction, …

The Story Of Growth: A Case Study Of New Jersey Underperforming Underprivileged High School, Michelle L. Shelton

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Socioeconomics has been a factor that exposes the disparities in student achievement across communities within the state of New Jersey, and as a result of the disparities, in 1985, the Education Law Center filed the first ruling of Abbot v. Burke; this case ruled that significant funding be provided in an effort to ensure that underprivileged students within these underperforming districts receive public education in accordance with the state constitution. However, despite the funding efforts, since 1985, (87%) of the 31 school districts identified as Abbott not only remain underprivileged, but they also remain underperforming. Therefore, to remedy the underperformance …

Theory And Practice In Doctoral Dissertation Research, 2007-2017: A Content Analysis By Degree Type, William Friel

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

In response to the overwhelming presence of professional practice doctoral degrees in the early 2000s, universities offering Doctor of Education (EdD) and/or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees in higher education studies began to question the purpose and value of each degree. These universities asked: What is the value of academic research if it does not aim to improve the condition of what is being studied? This led to a theory-practice debate among departments offering the EdD and the PhD from the perspective of the goal of the dissertation research: Truth or improvement. To address this tension, the Carnegie Project on …

The Effect Of Coaching On Teachers’ Instructional Technology Use In A 1:1 Environment, Michael L. Mitchell

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Current research has reported the benefits of integrating technology into the learning experience for students to promote greater engagement and collaboration. Schools across the country have begun implementing one-to-one learning environments in which each student uses a mobile computing device. However, use of technology in the classroom has failed to produce the expected transformational benefits. In order for technology to be integrated effectively, current research suggests that teacher pedagogy must adjust to the one-to-one classroom approach, and requires professional development to facilitate growth in their instructional practices while integrating technology. Research shows that coaches working one-to-one with teachers can be …

The Influence Of Open Access On Advanced Placement Achievement, Shanna Howell

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Preparing students for higher education is a primary aim of K-12 education. However, some high school graduates do not meet college readiness benchmarks and must take remedial noncredit courses in college (Adams, 2013; Butrymowicz, 2017). One of the strongest predictors of student success in college is rich and rigorous high school curriculum (Adelman, 1999; Adelman, 2006). The Advanced Placement (AP) program offers high school students college-level courses that can earn them college credits from participating institutions (Kolluri, 2018; Rothschild, 1999). College Board research overwhelmingly has indicated that the AP program is beneficial for students (Casserly, 1986; Dodd et al., 2002; …

The Implementation And Operation Of Three School-Based Health Centers In New Jersey, Joseph Howe

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

There is a construct of causation between common health issues affecting children and the corollary effects on a student’s ability and motivation to learn, including impaired sensory perceptions, cognition, connectedness and engagement with school, absenteeism, and dropping out (Basch, 2011b). What is more, causal connections have been found between a students’ health, their socio-economic status (SES), and the achievement gap that exists in education between students with a low-SES and others (Basch, 2011a). To address deficiencies in health care, some school districts have begun providing medical and mental healthcare in school buildings by opening school-based health centers (SBHC; Bains & …

The Effect Of Demographics On The Implementation Of The Principal Walkthrough, Jason A. Marx

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The purpose of this quantitative study was to research how school and principal demographics influence a principal’s implementation of the walkthrough process. Principals from New Jersey were administered a survey to provide insight into how they implement the walkthrough process in their schools. The findings suggest that socioeconomic status and level of principal experience have no influence on how walkthroughs are implemented; however, the findings also suggest that level of principal experience does have an impact on whether or not principals share the results of walkthroughs with teachers.

Comparison Of National Assessment Of Educational Progress (Naep) Reports And State Physical Education Mandates, Erick Alfonso

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

There have been several studies that analyzed the relationship between physical education and academic achievement at a local level, but a longitudinal analysis across the United States has not been done. An understanding of the relationship between physical education policies across the United States and academic achievement at the state level may provide insight into best practices to ensure that comprehensive physical education policies are adopted in all states. Using data from the Society of Health and Physical Educators and The National Assessment of Educational Progress, I investigated the relationship between physical education policies and academic achievement. Minor relationships with …

An Exploration Of Principal Perceptions Of The Danielson Framework For Teaching In Providing Feedback And Improving Instructional Leadership, Stephen Hernon

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Teachers have consistently been proven by research as the most critical factor in the academic success of students (Baker et al., 2010, Darling-Hammond, 2000, Tucker & Stronge, 2005, Taylor & Tyler, 2012). Having a quality teacher therefore provides the best pathway to strong student achievement, and knowing how to evaluate quality teaching becomes critical to student success. A growing body of models for evaluating teachers has formed over the past two decades; and among those are new, research-based models. Principals are key to the success or failure of the new approaches to teacher evaluation because they are in the position …

A Comparison Of Complex Thinking Required By The Elementary New Jersey Student Learning Standards And Past New Jersey Curriculum Standards, Gerald Fitzhugh Ii

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Academic learning standards define the necessary skills and knowledge that students need to master in order to become college and career ready. The best 21st century learning standards are those that provide the opportunity to develop complex thinking skills including creativity, strategic thinking, and critical thinking. The learning standards that provide an insight into complex thinking are identified as critical thinking, creativity in practice, and strategic thinking. This dissertation’s intent was to examine the language of complex thinking of the newly adopted New Jersey Student Learning Standards (NJSLS) in Grades 4 & 5 Mathematics as compared to the language of …

Exploring The Moderating Effect Of Teacher Practice On The Relationship Between Prior Student Academic Performance And Current Student Academic Performance In A New Jersey Public School District, Marc Biunno

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

When New Jersey passed the TEACHNJ legislation in August of 2012, it brought about the ACHIEVE NJ educator evaluation and support system. New Jersey would shift from a two-tier evaluation system (satisfactory and unsatisfactory) based solely on administrator observations to a four-tier system (ineffective, partially effective, effective, highly effective) based not only on administrator observations but also locally set Student Growth Objectives and, in the areas of ELA and Math in tested grades, Median Student Growth Percentiles (MSGPs). Median Student Growth Percentiles are the amount of student “growth” on the PARCC ELA and Math assessments, which the State attributes to …

The Effect Of Participation In A Title V Program On Latinx Student Success At A Community College, Sara N. Lacagnino

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Historically, the low degree attainment of Latinx students has been an issue of concern. The Title V Developing Hispanic-Serving Institutions Program was implemented to address this issue. This quantitative study examines the effect of participation in a Title V program’s accelerated developmental English and English as a Second Languages paths on Latinx student success measured by academic performance, persistence and fall to fall retention at a comprehensive community college. By applying propensity score matching and the conceptual model in this study, the effect of participation in the Title V program on Latinx student success was measured without the influence of …

A Study Of New Teachers' Perceptions Of Their Induction Programs, Anne Mcgeehan

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Teaching is one of the few professions in which the novice is expected to perform the same responsibilities as their veteran counterparts from Day 1. Induction, the process of introducing a new teacher into the profession, can be categorized as a formal or informal process that encompasses all organizational aspects of the school district, both academic and socially. It is a time when new teachers are learning to teach and having to teach. This process can be a time of growth or a time of unease for new teachers, sometimes affecting their decisions to remain in the profession. The content …

“A Descriptive Analysis Of New Jersey’S Low-Achieving, Focus And Priority Schools”, Lisa Lin Schneider

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This study describes the characteristics of schools and the teachers within a low-performing population of schools, the New Jersey Focus and Priority Schools. Additionally, a combination of school and teacher-related variables that distinguish between the New Jersey Priority and Focus Schools is identified. Drawing upon data collected from the New Jersey School Report Cards during the school years 2008-2009, 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 – the same years used to classify groups of New Jersey’s schools as Focus and Priority schools, descriptive statistics revealed the majority of schools in the study are public, regular, general education schools with a grade range of …

The Influence Of An Interdisciplinary Elementary Curriculum On Student Outcomes: Providing Cognitive Student Learning Through An Integrated Approach, Ann Marie Harris

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

In order to provide students at the elementary level a thorough and efficient method of learning, the integrated–interdisciplinary approach to teaching curriculum was explored to reveal the impact on student achievement of fourth graders across the state of New Jersey in a randomly selected grouping of 50 schools using integrated–interdisciplinary curriculum and 50 schools using subject-specific curriculum. The research was an investigation of the integrated–interdisciplinary approach to teaching when compared with subject-specific curriculum to explore the impact on student achievement.

Integration of curriculum aligned to the state standards at the elementary level was a focus for this research; elementary curriculum …

The Predictive Power Of Teacher Practice In Explaining Student Growth, Nick Pillsbury

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

In recent years, states across the nation have increased their interest to develop specific teacher accountability measures and improve student achievement. On August 6, 2012, the state of New Jersey approved the TEACHNJ Act, which reformed tenure laws and linked student growth to a teacher’s evaluation. The ultimate goal of the TEACHNJ Act is to “raise student achievement by improving instruction through the adoption of evaluations that provide specific feedback to educators” (TEACHNJ Guide). The 2013-14 school year was the first full year of implementation, which included student growth percentile (SGP) scores as one component of a teacher’s evaluation.

The …

An Investigation Of The Relationship Between Teacher Factors And Academic Performance Of High School Students, William S. Castellane

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This study examined the relationship between teacher factors and student achievement, measured by high school grade point average while controlling for student and school-level factors. The study focused on teacher certification, teacher experience, full-time employment status, level of academic degree, and teacher absenteeism for the first semester of the school year. The student factors that were included are gender, race, socioeconomic status, the number of students enrolled in Advanced Placement, and International Baccalaureate courses the students took during their high school careers. The school-level factor included in the study was the percentage of students who receive free and reduced lunches. …