Education Commons^™

A Mixed-Methods Evaluation Of Project Lead The Way Engineering Curriculum Goals Within Missouri High Schools, Brian Eugene Smith

Dissertations

Within the confines of this study, the researcher investigated Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Engineering curriculum goals within Missouri high schools. The study measured Missouri PLTW teachers’ perceptions of various elements of the curriculum as well as state and national PLTW End of Course student assessment data to determine if a relationship existed between teachers’ perceptions of curriculum implementation and student performance, as measured through Missouri End of Course exams in various secondary engineering classes. In addition, the researcher conducted voluntary interviews with teachers, state administrators, and national representatives of PLTW to inquire about experiences with the PLTW Engineering curriculum. …

A Qualitative Analysis Of African-American High School Students’ Transitioning From Middle School To High School In An Urban Private High School Setting, Syreeta R. Holland

Dissertations

Research indicated the transition from eighth grade into ninth grade can be a difficult time for students. His Grace High School (HGHS) ninth grade students illustrated this difficulty. The purpose of this study was to examine African American student and parent perceptions regarding the transition process into high school. Currently, all students and parents at HGHS participate in a two-part orientation session to prepare and acclimate to the new school community and learning environments. Orientation sessions are facilitated by predominately African American staff members; however, the premise of the session was developed and implemented by Caucasian staff and faculty. Furthermore, …

The Academic And Behavioral Impact Of Multiple Sport Participation On High School Athletes, Christopher James Kohl

Dissertations

For many high school student athletes, there is increased pressure to specialize in one sport, to participate at a high level, and to play year-round (Brenner, 2016). This increased emphasis on sport specialization has led to a proliferation of overuse injuries, overtraining, and burnout (Brenner, 2016). Sport specialization significantly contributes to overuse injuries, which account for almost half of all sport injuries (Andrews & Yaeger, 2013). This research was designed to clarify if there are significant differences in the behavioral and academic performance of student athletes who compete in one sport and student athletes who compete in multiple sports. Six …

The Relationship Between Extracurricular Activities And Academic Achievement, Robert Freeman

Dissertations

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a relationship between extracurricular activity participation and academic achievement as measured by the composite score on the American College Test (ACT) and cumulative grade point average (GPA) throughout a student’s attendance in high school. Specifically, this study examined student participants and nonparticipants in extracurricular activities and their academic performance in one Midwestern suburban high school district. Archival data were collected on the 2009 senior classes from two consenting high schools within the district. Gender, race, ACT scores, GPA, lunch status, and extracurricular activities were collected from both schools. …

Investigating The Possible Relationship Between Participation In High School Athletics And First-Generation College Student Persistence To College Graduation, Connie Lindemann-Litzsinger

Dissertations

The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to investigate ways in which participation in high school varsity athletics impacted academic success of first generation college students. Through an anonymous online survey, this study compared quantitative demographic data of first-generation college students who participated in high school varsity athletics to those who did not. In addition, the qualitative research in this study explored first-generation college student perceptions of why they have been successful during college. Athletic focus group participants were asked questions related to college transition, what they gained through athletics, and long-term academic benefits of their participation in high school …

Advocating For The Need Of A College And Career Readiness Preparation Accountablity Policy, Mellodie Brown

Dissertations

This proposed policy advocates for Chicago Public Schools (CPS) to adopt a College and Career Readiness Preparation Accountability Policy wherein CPS sets district-wide criteria and structures for student college and career readiness at every grade level and ensures that resources and supportive services are available for its most at-risk students in underperforming schools. Also, it is important that CPS recognize the limited capacity of its teachers to transition students toward meeting Common Core State Standards. This can be addressed through professional development aligned to a proposed matrix for college and career readiness for all students. Supplemental funds are needed to …

A Study Of High School Improvement Initiatives And The Impact On School Achievement, Jack Lowell Randolph

Dissertations

Educational reform is at the forefront of legislatures and school districts across the United States (Hattie, 2011). To find and employ high school improvement initiatives that lead to improved educational experiences for students, educational leaders must examine in great detail what systems have been successful and then modify the initiatives to fit the characteristics of their particular school districts (Berliner & Glass, 2015). The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of initiatives one Midwestern high school implemented beginning in 2012. The initiatives implemented included the Tardy Sweep policy, Response to Intervention (RtI) program, and a Late Work …