Equitable Assessment For Elementary Dual-Language Learners, Joliette Mandel

Dissertations, Theses, and Capstone Projects

This thesis points out the contradictions between the goals of standardized testing and the goals of dual-language elementary education. I argue that dual-language elementary schools in the New York City Department of Education would be better served by a performance assessment model to measure student and school accountability for several reasons. Performance assessment is more equitable for students who are marginalized by their race, language, or class. Many students who attend dual-language schools in the NYCDOE fall into all these categories. I will discuss in depth why standardized testing is failing students, particularly those in dual-language elementary programs. Next, I …

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 …

Predicting Speech-Language Pathology Graduate Student Success: Executive Functions And Standardized Admission Tests, Jane E. Roitsch

Communication Disorders & Special Education Theses & Dissertations

Within the next three years, the number of available speech-language pathology (SLP) jobs is projected to increase by 18% (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2018). The most logical response to the escalating market demand would be to increase the number of students admitted into SLP graduate programs. However, this may not be as simple as it sounds.

Successful training of graduate SLP clinicians requires the professional, emotional, financial, and time commitments of the program’s clinical and academic faculty. The accreditation status of graduate SLP programs is based in part on graduation completion rates and students passing the national examination in SLP, …

A Comparative Study Of Two Graduation Pathways: Traditional Vs. Stem At A Southeastern High School, Chemisi Asha Kogo-Masila

Education Dissertations and Projects

This mixed-methods study approach investigated the impact of standardized tests on student achievement from the STEM program and the traditional program in a suburban high school. Qualitative data were collected from interviews, focus groups, and questionnaires to get perceptual data from teachers. Quantitative data were collected from different demographic information and the standardized tests American College Testing (ACT) and end-of-course examination (EOC). An independent sample t test, the Chi-Square Test of Independence and Pearson R Correlation of association test were used to analyze the data collected. Documents with the graduation rates for the participants were reviewed, and both programs had …

"The Relationship Between Test Anxiety And Standardized Test Scores", Beth Ann Fulton

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The number of standardized achievement tests that students in the United States are required to take has increased significantly during the past decade. Researchers have found that test anxiety is often a problem related to the increase in testing. This correlational study investigated the relationship between anxiety levels of 50 4th grade students and their standardized test scores. Test anxiety questionnaires and pulse rates were used as a measure of the anxiety level of each of the 4th grade students just before the standardized test was administered, and standardized test scores were used as a measure of academic performance. The …

The Takeover Of Standardized Tests, Karlie M. Lieberth

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

Diane Ravitch once said, “Sometimes the most brilliant and intelligent students do not shine in standardized tests because they do not have standardized minds”. Standardized testing is a very controversial issue occurring in our school systems today. Standards hold schools and teachers accountable for properly progressing our youth through school. However, is administering the same exact test to every child in every school district the best way to measure growth? There are many factors that makes up a school and student body such as poverty, cultural beliefs etc. These factors are not addressed in the standardized tests that our students …

Learning Gains At Cccu-Member Schools: A Comparison Of Cccu Students’ Performance On The Cpa Exam To Performance At Aacsb-Member And Non-Aacsb-Member Schools – A Replication Of A Study By Hahn, Fairchild, And Childs Presented At The Christian Business Faculty Association In October 2014, Rachel M. Galbreath

Selected Honors Theses

This study is a replication of a study by Hahn, Fairchild, and Childs that examines differences in Uniform Certified Public Accountant Exam (UCPAE) pass rates between test-takers who graduated from schools that are members of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) and those who graduated from institutions that are not members of the CCCU. CCCU- member schools were found to have pass rates similar to institutions accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) even though AACSB schools have an advantage in incoming student aptitude as measured by students’ SAT scores. These results indicate that …

The Impact Of Academic Optimism On Student Achievement In Five Middle Schools, Rita Hickey Teague

Wayne State University Dissertations

This study addressed the research question: To what extent do the measures of academic optimism predict academic achievement? The study was conducted in two suburban, adjacent school districts with 102 middle school teachers from five middle schools participating.

A non-experimental, multiple regression research design was used as no treatment or intervention was provided. Data collection tools were a revision of three surveys that purport to measure the three components of academic optimism, and school level outcomes from the Michigan Education Assessment Program and the Measures of Academic Progress. Using Google Forms, data were collected electronically at faculty meetings with submission …

The Relationship Of Mobility, Child Characteristics And School Characteristics To The Academic Achievement Of Third Grade Students In A Predominantly Latino District, John Christopher Hicks

Theses and Dissertations in Early Childhood Education

The high rates of mobility in the U.S. can produce negative consequences for children's academic achievement. The purpose of this study was to determine relationships among math and reading academic achievement, mobility characteristics, student characteristics, and school characteristics in order to develop a model to predict achievement using these variables. Using such a model, educational stakeholders could identify students that are at risk for academic failure. The study included 523 third grade students from a high poverty, predominantly Latino, suburban district. Correlation analyses, factor analyses, ordered linear regression, and forward regression analyses were used to determine the relationships among variables …

Measuring Student Gains On The Connecticut Mastery Test, Taylor K. Godfrey

Senior Theses and Projects

The implementation of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) in 2002 led to an accountability system in schools based on high-stakes standardized tests (Orlich, 2004). NCLB measures schools’ performance on tests based on the percentage of students performing at proficiency level. Due to the need to reach proficiency, Connecticut has placed an emphasis on reporting static yearly test scores on the Connecticut Mastery Test (CMT), without indicating gains made by students as they transition from one grade level to the next. This research study used independent student-level data to calculate gains on the CMT across three continuous school years for students …

An Examination Of The Correlation Between The Seven Critical Leadership Functions And Middle School African-American And Hispanic Student Achievement, Shannon A. Flounnory

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative study examined possible correlations between each of the seven critical leadership functions and achievement in the areas of mathematics for eighth grade African-American and Hispanic students. The 117 participants included school leaders and students from 12 of the 19 middle schools in a metropolitan school district in the southeastern region of the United States. Principals from the middle schools in the district distributed the Critical Leadership Functions Questionnaire to members of their leadership team (e.g., assistant principals, school counselors, department chairs, etc.). CRCT scores measured student achievement. The researcher conducted a correlation study, using Pearson’s multivariable correlation data …

Experiencia Pedagógica Que Contribuye Al Desarrollo De Competencias Comunicativas A Partir Del Uso De Pruebas Estandarizadas Internacionales, Flor Emilce Castellanos Perilla

Licenciatura en Español y Lenguas Extranjeras

La presente reflexión pedagógica surge como resultado de la experiencia personal de la autora en el campo de la enseñanza del inglés como lengua extranjera. A partir de la práctica realizada en el establecimiento educativo de carácter privado no bilingüe: Instituto Educación y Vida, ubicado en la localidad de Suba, se muestra como las pruebas estandarizadas internacionales son un gran recurso educativo para el fomento del conocimiento de la estructura y uso comunicativo de una lengua extranjera y el desarrollo de las cuatro habilidades del lenguaje: lectura, escritura, escucha y habla. El enfoque de la labor pedagógica en esta institución …

The Relationship Between English Language Test Scores Among Nigerian High School Students And Teacher Beliefs About Language Teaching And Their Classroom Practices, Luke O. Iwuji

Wayne State University Dissertations

English language mastery is important to the academic achievement of high school students in Nigeria. As the official language of instruction in multi linguistic Nigerian schools, proficiency in English language is essential for the academic success of students in high schools. The purpose of the study is to examine the relationship between English language test scores among Nigerian high school students and teacher beliefs about language teaching and their classroom practices. Three research questions and associated hypotheses were addressed in this study. A total of 23 teachers, one from each high school in the Government District of Nigeria, participated in …

A Case Study Of The Impact Of An Intervention Scheduling Model On Academic Achievement In English And Mathematics By Students In Need Of Remediation, Dora Harvey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This case study explored the impact of a scheduling intervention on the Georgia High School Graduation Test standardized achievement test scores of students identified as in need of remediation in the content areas of English and mathematics, paired with the perception of this scheduling model from key informants in the study. Students in the scheduling intervention were enrolled in a year-long, alternating content-day block scheduling model. The quantitative portion reviewed Georgia High School Graduation Test score data for students who participated in a modified block (referred to as Schedule Two) results were analyzed, indicating passing percentages, and number for each …

The Effects Of Merit Awards On District-Level High School Graduation: Evidence From Michigan, Brandon Lee Harrison

Masters Theses

This paper considers the effects of the Michigan Merit Award, a college scholarship program, on high school graduation rates. Students qualify via a standardized high school proficiency exam. Identification is achieved through difference-in-differences estimation using both a broad set of controls and a stricter set of controls. The effects on graduation rates differ depending on the model specification, as some significant results show a positive correlation between the introduction of the program and graduation rates, while others a negative effect. Where it appears the award increased graduation rates, pinpointing the exact impact of the award on graduation levels is difficult …

Student Success: An Investigation Of The Role The Pre-Admission Variables Of Academic Preparation, Personal Attributes, And Demographic Characteristics Contribute In Predicting Graduation, Lianne Briggs

Dissertations

Despite retention being a significant focus of higher education research, graduation rates remain of concern. Increased numbers of students are advancing to college bringing with them a wider range of abilities, attributes, and characteristics. There is much we know about what predicts success for these students but our knowledge is far from complete. My study therefore explores to what extent pre-admission variables of academic preparation, personal attributes, and demographic characteristics are predictive of graduation with the goal of identifying students who are more or less likely to do well than their high school academic preparation would suggest.

The study examines …

The Perceptions Of Standardized Tests, Academic Self-Efficacy, And Academic Performance Of African American Graduate Students: A Correlational And Comparative Analysis, Arleezah K. Marrah

Counseling & Human Services Theses & Dissertations

The academic performance of African American students continues to be a concern for educators, researchers, and most importantly their community. This issue is particularly prevalent in the standardized test scores of African American students where they score on average one or more standard deviations below their Caucasian and Asian American counterparts, which may hinder their college enrollment, academic achievement, and educational attainment (Diaz, 1999; Walpole et al., 2005). This issue has been examined by numerous studies and many researchers have attributed their underachievement to factors such as lower academic self-efficacy, stereotype threat, cultural test bias, and institutionalized racism (Kellow & …

Formative Assessment In The Christian Classroom, Kevin Schenk

Master of Education Program Theses

When student learning is defined solely by the results of a summative test, the nature of the student is devalued and the process of learning is minimized. Currently, the educational quality of schools is often judged by performance on standardized tests. This has put strain on teachers to measure up to government-set standards and has left students struggling to perform on high-pressure tests. An alternative to such testing exists in formative assessment. When one looks closely at formative assessment and its use within a Christian classroom, one begins to see the value this method of assessment has: individualized attention is …

An Analysis Of Factors That Impact Secondary Science Outcomes In Tennessee, Suzanne Lawson South

Ed.D. Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to analyze school and district characteristics for 2005–2006 through 2007–2008 to determine which factors impacted science achievement for the graduating class of 2008–2009 in Tennessee. School size, socioeconomic status, per pupil instructional expenditures and rurality/urbanicity were predictor variables. Achievement was represented by performance on the science and reasoning portion of the ACT. Correlational studies indicated that socioeconomic status had a significant impact on science achievement while the impact of school size and rurality/urbanicity was observed to be weak. Statistical analyses through multiple linear regression produced a model in which socioeconomic status and rurality/urbanicity explained …

Educational Implications Of High Stakes Testing, Nicole S. Caldwell

Regis University Student Publications (comprehensive collection)

Student achievement has always been a critical concern in education, but it has become a particularly passionate issue since the passage of the No Child Left Behind Act in 2002. As a result of the act, standardized tests have become high stakes, and the futures of students, teachers, and schools have been put on the line. Research indicates that there are many negative implications of high stakes testing. The PowerPoint presentation developed for this project serves as an introduction to these implications and provides ideas for alternative assessment techniques. The target audience for this project is teachers, administrators, law makers, …

Effects Of After School Programs On Elementary School Students' Language Arts And Mathematics Achievement, Jennifer Lynn Presnell

Theses and Dissertations

This study evaluated after school program participation on student academic achievement as a way of helping schools meet Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) standards set by the No Child Left Behind Act. After school programs were divided into academic after school programs and traditional after school programs. Student achievement was measured through Criterion Referenced Tests in Language Arts and Mathematics. This study took place in a small urban school district located in the Intermountain West. Students in after school programs were matched with students not participating in the programs on several background characteristics including socioeconomic status, English language proficiency status, school …

The Effect Of Technology Education On Student's State Standardized Test Scores, Maurice Torrez Frazier

STEMPS Theses & Dissertations

The intent of this dissertation was to determine if technology education program completers score higher on academic standards assessments than do students who do not enroll in technology education courses. Many states have developed academic standards for public school students to measure the quality of the educational system. States and local school systems adopted these standards and their accompanying tests to establish a level of academic competency for all of their students. One of the goals of technology education courses was to provide practical applications to reinforce the content of the core subject areas. The purpose of this study was …

Do Tops Eligibility Requirements Predict In-System College Retention?, Jason J. Droddy

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) is a state-funded, merit-based scholarship codified into Louisiana state law in 1997. More than $1 billion in awards have been distributed since the program’s inception. By 2006, eligibility for TOPS required a 2.5 high school grade point average on a legislatively specified 16.5-unit college preparatory curriculum, and a minimum ACT score equivalent to the average of the prior year’s test takers. These rules were believed to promote greater academic preparedness resulting in higher college retention rates. Only recently has the six-year graduation rate for Louisiana’s public universities passed the 30% mark. Since TOPS’ …

Central Florida High School Principals' Perceptions Of The Florida School Indicators Report, William Gaught

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to identify the perceptions that central Florida public high school principals had regarding the Florida School Indicators Report (FSIR) and its usefulness. The FSIR, published by the Florida Education, was designed to be a comprehensive, single source document for parents, lawmakers, and school administrators to compare key performance indicators to similar schools or districts state wide. It provided information on 74 different indicators of school or district performance. A total of 70 public high school principals from 13 central Florida school districts responded to a postal survey and provided their perceptions regarding the importance …

Development And Validation Of The Beile Test Of Information Literacy For Education (B-Tiled), Penny Beile O'Neil

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Few constituencies exist where it is more important to produce information literate individuals than teacher candidates, yet rarely is it suggested that practitioners entering the field are adequately prepared to teach and model information literacy to their students. As a result, information literacy has been established as a key outcome by a number of teacher education accrediting bodies and professional associations. Corollary to this initiative is the effort to develop valid instruments that assess information literacy skills. Yet, at the time of this dissertation, no rigorously reviewed instruments were uncovered that measure the information literacy skills levels of teacher candidates. …

The Effects Of Inclusive School Environments On The Academic Achievement Of Elementary General Education Students As Measured By Standarized Tests Over A Single And Multi-Year Period, Scott P. Mccartney

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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How Utah Parents Of Utah School Children Judge School Effectiveness, Philip L. Rodgers

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

There is a perceived crisis concerning public education in the United States. This has led to an increase in the use of standardized tests for the purpose of measuring school effectiveness. However, the use of standardized tests for this purpose is problematic. Among these problems is the concern that standardized tests may not measure what parents believe are the most important attributes of an effective school. Unfortunately, there is little in the way of empirical evidence regarding parent beliefs in this area.

The purpose of this research was to answer the following four questions.

1. What do parents of school-aged …

A Comparison Of The Reported Stress Levels Of Massachusetts Secondary Principals And Their Schools' Scores On The 1999 Mcas, Thomas F. Ryan

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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A Study To Determine The Effect Of Membership In The Boy Scouts Of America On The Performance Of Male Students Taking Standardized Tests In Hampton, Virginia, William E. Yarnall

OTS Master's Level Projects & Papers

To answer this problem, the following hypothesis was established: Students who participated in Scouting activities will outscore students who have not been active in Scouting on the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills standardized test.

Multiple Intelligences And The Gifted Identification Of African-American Students, Oscar Scott Jr.

Theses and Dissertations in Urban Services - Urban Education

There have been three national reports addressing giftedness: Education of the Gifted and Talented: Report to the Congress of the United States by the U.S. Commissioner of Education (1972) AKA the Marland Report; The National Report on Identification: Assessment and Recommendations for Comprehensive Identification of Gifted and Talented Youth (1982) AKA the National Report on Identification; and National Excellence: A Case for Developing America's Talent (1993) AKA National Excellence. All have documented the underrepresentation of African-American students in programs for the gifted and talented and the disproportionate reliance on standardized intelligence and achievenent tests for gifted and talented program selection. …