Education Commons^™

Stroke Clinical Order Pathway Education (Scope) For Apns, Varsha Singh

Seton Hall University DNP Final Projects

More than 795,000 American adults have a stroke annually. About 610,000 are first or new strokes. Almost 140,000 Americans of all ages die of a stroke every year (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2017). Stroke requires emergent treatment and an exact clinical order pathway to ensure better patient outcomes and compliance with the standards of care defined by regulatory bodies such as the Joint Commission (TJC) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). While stroke management teams often include an Advanced Practice Nurse (APN), there is a lack of a standardized protocol across New Jersey (NJ) …

The Effect Of Mandating Algebra For All Students In Grade 8 Versus Grade 9 In A Small Suburban K-12 School District In New Jersey, Peter Crawley

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The traditional sequencing of the ninth- to twelfth-grade math curriculum in the United States has students taking Algebra 1 in the ninth grade, Geometry in the tenth grade, Algebra 2 in the eleventh grade and an optional advanced math course (e.g. pre-calculus, statistics) in the twelfth grade. In this traditional setup, talented math students are given the opportunity to take Algebra 1 in the eighth grade, which allows them to take two or more years of advanced math before graduating from high school. In an effort to create more equitable access to advanced math courses, many districts are considering or …

Practices That Attribute To The Success Of Boys: A Study Of Title I Middle Schools In Texas, Laura L. Duhon

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

While it is commonly believed that boys are more successful than girls academically, research shows that boys are failing to thrive, academically, behaviorally, and socially. Boys comprise 70% of school suspensions as well as 80% of high school dropouts along with other alarming statistics. The purpose of this research study was to investigate approaches that contribute to the success of boys within six Title I middle schools located in various regions of Texas. These schools were selected based on state assessment (STAAR) scores where their male population was achieving the same or greater success as the females as measured by …

Narrative Inquiry Into The Barriers To And Facilitators Of Teacher Implementation And Sustainability Of Arts Integration In An Urban Public School District, Cheryl Mcclendon

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

To improve the overall quality of education within under-performing schools across the United States and, in particular, to improve outcomes for diverse learners, it is imperative to find ways to increase the adoption of evidence-based practices.

This study aims to illuminate the barriers and facilitators that confront teachers in the sustained implementation of arts integration using a scientifically research-based Constructivist methodology. Arts Integration (AI) has been proven to increase students’ literacy, mathematics, and critical thinking skills. For decades, the U.S. Department of Education has funded research studies revealing the efficacy of arts integration. Data, however, indicate a lack of sustained …

Exploring Principals' Perceptions About Efficacy In Arizona Urban Schools Designated For The School Improvement Process, Charlotte Patterson

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Studies have determined a positive relationship exists between the self-efficacy of students and academic achievement, and teacher efficacy and student achievement. For over a decade schools have been publicly targeted for school improvement in a process with implications for efficacy. The purpose of this qualitative study was to determine if principals’ perceptions about efficacy impacted their practices leading school improvement. Principals’ responses to two research questions led this study:

1. How do principals describe their perceptions about the efficacy of their school community relative to the school improvement status, label, or rating for their school?

2. How do principals describe …

A Qualitative Study On Teachers' Perceptions Of Co-Teaching In Inclusion Classrooms, Cheryl M. Banks

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The purpose of this research study was to examine teachers’ perceptions toward co- teaching in inclusion classrooms and provide valuable information on relevant content, activities and assignments that focus on collaboration between school professionals. A second purpose of this study was to add knowledge to the existing literature describing factors for developing effective co-teaching programs in schools that serve large populations of students with disabilities in urban schools. This included examining their perspectives about the co-teaching model, their relationships formed with their co-teacher, and the support given by administration. The study was a descriptive study that used qualitative research methods …

Law Enforcement Employees’ Perceptions Of Performance Appraisals In A Medium-Size, Suburban Police Department, Christopher C. Zimmerman

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to investigate how police officers in a medium-size, suburban police department perceived performance appraisals and the effects of performance appraisals on job satisfaction and job performance. This study also examined the impacts of job satisfaction and job performance on organizations. One-on-one participant interviews were conducted, and thematic coding was utilized to capture the dominant themes associated with the police officers’ perceptions of performance appraisals. Twelve police officers from a medium-size, suburban police department in New Jersey participated in the study, and their anonymity was maintained to elicit transparent responses. This dissertation was …

Engagement Of Stem And Non-Stem Students: A Comparison Between International And American Undergraduate Students, Reema Panwar

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The purpose of this study is to understand the relationship between the status and engagement of international students and whether this relationship varies by STEM and non-STEM fields for undergraduate students at American higher education institutions. 2015 NSSE (National Survey of Student Engagement) data was utilized for this study. Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) multiple regression with Huber-White clustered standard errors was used to account for the nested nature of the data at the institutional level, and interaction effect tests were used to analyze whether the relationship between international student status and engagement varies across STEM & non-STEM majors.

This study …

Chicago Public School Administrators' Experiences Implementing The Special Education Addendum, Aaron Rucker

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This qualitative case study examined the insights, thoughts, and perspectives that administrators in Chicago Public Schools experienced when implementing the district’s new Special Education Addendum. A strong emphasis was placed on the perceptions, feelings, and thoughts that principals and assistant principals employed when utilizing the addendum to evaluate teachers. Teacher evaluation is an essential component of teacher practice, providing a common language, expectations, and standards to improve teachers’ practice (Danielson & McGreal, 2000). This research provides narrative accounts that policymakers, politicians, and district supervisors can use to consult with principals as conversation starters to improve special education teachers' practice and …

The Relationship Between Distributive Leadership, School Culture, And Teacher Self-Efficacy At The Middle School Level, Anthony L. Demarco

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Recent and established research continues to demonstrate the need for school leaders to adapt their leadership practices to reflect the increasing demands associated with their role. This is particularly true for principals of large middle schools. Through the implementation of a distributive leadership framework, a principal can share responsibilities with qualified staff while promoting an institution-wide culture of trust that empowers teachers.

The purpose of this correlational, quantitative research study was to examine the extent to which relationships exist between distributed leadership, school culture, and the self-efficacy of teachers within public middle schools in central New Jersey. This study was …

Exploring The Influence Of Mindfulness On Elementary-Aged Students Through The Lens Of The Classroom Teacher: A Case Study, Angela Penna-Wilkos

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The purpose of this research study is to explore schoolteachers’ perceptions and experiences regarding the implementation of mindfulness practices with school-aged elementary students. The concept of mindfulness involves three interrelated mental skills and dispositions: (a) concentrating attention intentionally on the here and now; (b) perceiving the present moment in a calm, clear, and receptive manner; and (c) experiencing each moment just as it is without bias or judgment (Kostanski & Hassed, 2008). As mental health education gains greater priority in schools, interest has increased in the utility of mindfulness practices as one of the key approaches of addressing student well-being. …

Black Middle Class Parental Investment In Their Children's Higher Education, Michael George Flanigan

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The persistent negative racial disparity in the higher educational achievement of Black students in the United States has societal implications for employment, income trajectory, home ownership, and wealth accumulation. It is widely accepted that parental investment is crucial across all races in enhancing the academic performance of students and, ultimately, facilitating intergenerational socioeconomic progress. Although numerous studies have looked at the ways in which parents invest, a paucity of research has examined how Black middle-class parents engage in preparing their children for higher education. This narrative study explores how Black middle-class parents perceive the value of college, their understanding of …

The Effect Of Family Engagement On Parents' Abilities To Help Their Children With Math, Kathleen A. Kalena

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The purpose of this study was to ascertain if parents’ reported participation in specific math intervention strategies increased their abilities to help their children with math. The five math intervention strategies were Everyday Math Online Tools and Games, Star Math Reports/Home Connect from Renaissance Learning, HomeworkNOW, Study Island, and Family Math Nights. This research also served to examine if there was an association between parents’ participation in the five math intervention strategies and parents’ reported demographics. Parents of students in Grades 1 through 5 in a large, urban rim school district were surveyed. Survey respondents encompassed 694 parents. Descriptive statistics …

Organizational Induction: A Qualitative Study On Institutional Induction Programs For New Faculty In Independent School Communities, Jamie Nicole Segraves

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

As job dissatisfaction continues to be a lead cause of teacher turnover (Brill & McCartney, 2008; Moore, 2012; Smith & Ingersoll, 2004) in both the public and private sectors of education, a deeper understanding of what contributes to the dissatisfaction of the profession is warranted. While several factors influence overall job satisfaction or a lack thereof, the implementation of induction and mentoring programs in education has shown, in particular, an increase in overall teacher retention, especially of teachers new to the profession (Brill & McCartney, 2008; Humphrey, Wechsler, Bosetti, Park, & Tiffany-Morales, 2008; Kelley, 2004; Smith & Ingersoll, 2004; Tak …

Perceptions: Are Mandatory Mentoring Programs Contributing To Beginning Teachers' Retention In Urban Public School Settings In Northern New Jersey?, Ronnie Estrict

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The research performed for this study examined the perceptions of beginning teachers who participated in mandatory mentoring programs, to discover whether such programs contributed to teacher retention in urban public settings in Northern New Jersey. Characteristics found to have an influence on beginning teachers’ retention rate in the existing literature were evaluated and reported. The interview questions were developed based on the literature review and advice from a jury of expert administrators. The beginning teachers participated in semi-structured interviews lasting 45 minutes each to provide insight into their experiences, their participation in mentoring programs, and their view of the teaching …

The Relationship Between A School District's Administrative Information Technology Budget As Proportion Of The Overall Undistributed Expenditures Budget And New Jersey 2016-2017 Parcc Performance, Peter S. Lutchko

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The purpose of this relational, nonexperimental, explanatory, cross-sectional study with quantitative methods was to explain the relationship, if any, between the administrative information technology budget as a proportion of the overall undistributed expenditure account on PK-12 and K-12 New Jersey public school districts’ student achievement in English language arts (ELA) and mathematics, as measured by the high-stakes New Jersey standardized test entitled Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC), during the 2016–2017 school year. The administrative information technology budget refers to networking, technology infrastructure, and support, rather than hardware. Additionally, the study included examination of the influence …

Reducing Sexual Victimization On College Campuses: The Impact Of A Collegiate-Level Human Sexual Behavior Course On Students’ Level Of Sexual Assertiveness, Ashlee D. Carter

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

As the national conversation around the perpetration of sexual violence continues, research around sexual assault on college campuses continues to grow. By collecting both quantitative and qualitative data, this dissertation investigated the effects on students’ levels of sexual assertiveness, sexual awareness, communication skills, and sexual refusal skills as a result of taking a college-level human sexual behavior course. Through a lens of cognitive development theory and social cognitive theory, this study adds to the framework of promotion of cognitive development, which can assist in strengthening a young woman’s sexual assertiveness.

Results of this mixed methods analysis suggest that there is …

Investigating Equity : An Evaluation Of The Relationship Of The Ncaa’S Apr Metric On Similarly Resourced Historically Black And Predominantly White Ncaa Division-I Colleges And Universities, Ryan J.R. Westman

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

In 2003, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) launched the Academic Performance Program (APP) as a means of measuring institutional accountability of academic outcomes for Division I member institutions. One of the two metrics used to define academic effectiveness is the Academic Progress Rate (APR) metric, immediately drew considerable criticism for its penalty structure, which disproportionately impacted colleges and universities with lesser resources. As time progressed, these penalties almost exclusively were distributed among the poorest institutions in Division I, which is heavily represented by the nation’s most prominent Historically Black Colleges and Universities. These penalty trends begged the question of …

Theme-Based Lessons: Teacher Perceptions Of A Theme-Based Approach And Its Influence On Student Engagement In Grades 3-8, Robin Penna-Baskinger

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The purpose of this study was to explore how teachers in Grades 3-8 in one New Jersey school district perceive theme-based lessons on student level of engagement and teaching pedagogy when using their own initiatives to develop a theme-based approach. Research was conducted using a qualitative design to investigate the perceptions and observations of those directly involved in developing theme-based lessons in the classroom. Twelve participants, all experienced teachers within the district of study, participated in a pre-selection questionnaire and an interview process. Increased student engagement, good teaching practices, and teaching pedagogy were dominant themes in this study. The study …

The Relationship Between Principal Longevity And Student Achievement In Middle Schools In New Jersey, Douglas J. Petty

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The purpose of this study was to determine the strength of the relationship between principal longevity in New Jersey public middle schools (Grades 6, 7 & 8) and students scoring at Levels 4 (meets expectations) and 5 (exceeds expectations) on the 2016-2017 Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) assessment in both English language arts and mathematics. This study used existing empirical data from the New Jersey School Report Card and Data Universe. To put this relationship into better context, eight independent variables were examined in this study: principal’s length of time in a school, principal’s overall …

The Influence Of Student/Administrator Ratios In K-6 Elementary Schools On Summative Teacher Evaluation Scores, James Ferguson Weidenborner

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This cross-sectional, correlational, explanatory study aimed to explain the influence of administrator/student ratios on the percentage of teachers that receive effective or highly effective ratings on their summative evaluations scored by the administrators at those schools. Other school and student variables were included with administrator/student ratios as controls. The aim was to be the seminal study that provides research on factors (school and student) outside of the teacher evaluation process that influence the ratings teachers receive. Poverty and per-pupil expenditures influence teacher summative evaluation scores with regression models having R squared values of 6.3% and 6.2%. Administrator/student ratios do not …

Institutional Mentorship For Bridge Program Students: Fostering Meaningful Engagement, Elizabeth Hoehn Mcdermott

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This study explored the relationships between at-risk, bridge program students and institutional mentors. The purpose of this dissertation was to learn more about the ways that bridge program students’ relationships with institutional mentors may (or may not) influence students’ development of academic confidence and campus engagement. Bridge programs are designed to foster student mentoring relationships with both faculty members who teach within the programs, as well the administrators and staff members (usually student affairs professionals) who run the program. Thus far, the research on bridge programs has been overly focused on predictive student attributes and quantitative outcomes (e.g. GPA or …

If The Slipper Fits: The Relationship Between A Cinderella Appearance In The Ncaa Division I Men’S Basketball Tournament And Institutional Financial And Admissions Factors, Kelly A. Childs

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This study examined the relationship between a non-Power Five Cinderella team in the NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament and institutional financial and admissions factors. The purpose of this study was to examine what, if anything, changes for a non-Power Five school who makes the March Madness tournament as compared to those similar schools who do not. This was a unique study because it looks at the variables of percent admitted, applications, enrollment, SAT/ACT, and donations together, different from the current body of research which has looked at many of these institutional factors separately. Additionally, many of these studies are …

The Association Of Principal Leadership Styles With Student Achievement In Traditional New Jersey Public Schools, Thomas J. Gallahue Jr.

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

As the achievement gap widens, it is even more critical than ever to examine factors that may influence the closing of that chasm. Principal leadership is one such component that needs further study.

The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine which leadership styles principals employ in traditional public schools in the State of New Jersey, and to determine whether principal leadership styles are associated with student achievement.

Furthermore, and more specifically, this study examined the principal leadership styles utilized in the highest academic achieving schools and the least academically successful schools. Additionally, this study also analyzed the principal …

A Descriptive Study Of School Climate And School Culture In Selected Public Secondary Schools In New Jersey And New York, James A. Horton Jr.

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The purpose of this study was to describe the school climate and school culture in selected public secondary Priority Schools, Focus Schools, and Reward Schools in New Jersey and New York. This study used the United States Department of Education’s Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Flexibility Waiver definition to identify Priority Schools, Focus Schools, and Reward Schools. The grades ranged from ninth to twelfth grade. The lists of schools were identified from the 2016 New Jersey Department of Education and the New York State Education Department lists of Priority Schools, Focus Schools, and Reward Schools (NJDOE, 2016; NYSED, 2016). …

Content Complexity In High School English: An Analysis Of Common Core State Standards And Past Massachusetts Curriculum, Mark Jarmon

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

There has been much debate about having standardized curricula content standards for all. Some have criticized state curriculum content standards for varying in quality by state. The purpose of this study was to compare content complexity as it appears within the high school English Language Arts Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and the former state standards of Massachusetts, the Massachusetts English Language Arts Curriculum Framework (2001), in Grades 9–12. Webb’s Depth of Knowledge (DOK) was the framework through which the analysis for this study was conducted. Webb described four levels of DOK as they apply to English language arts specific …

The Association Between Changes In Vocational Programs On Student Mobility, Attendance, And Suspension In New Jersey: A Retrospective Study, Jared Edward Keshishian

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This explanatory longitudinal study explains the influence of the removal of vocational education on specific school variables and determines the between-group differences of high school vocational programs and county vocational schools on these variables. The data set was obtained from the New Jersey Historical School Report Card from 1994–2001, which can be found on the NJDOE (New Jersey Department of Education) website. The time frame of the data set was chosen because many school districts during this time removed their vocational classes to make room for the state’s mandated minimum course requirements. The results from this study aid in explaining …

Catholic Identity In Edmund Rice Christian Brother Schools In The United States, Thomas R. Leto

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Over the past 25 years, if not longer, the number of vowed religious priests, brothers, and sisters actively teaching and administering in Catholic elementary and secondary schools has decreased dramatically. One might say that they are a vanishing breed, and the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers are no exception. The purpose of this dissertation is to explore how the Church’s Catholic identity is strengthened, communicated, and remains vibrant in schools and ministries currently under the care and sponsorship of the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers. It is important to assess the Catholic identity of the schools under the Brothers’ care while determining …

Maintaining Institutional Identity In The Age Of Part-Time Faculty, Katarzyna Grzeszczuk

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The purpose of this study was to examine how religiously affiliated institutions of higher learning sponsored by congregations of Catholic women religious in the United States maintain their unique mission/identity at the same time as they transition to a largely part-time faculty. The study included 100 small colleges and universities. Data on mission integration initiatives was collected through document analysis and a survey of mission officers. Moreover, a survey of part-time faculty was undertaken to determine their knowledge about, modes of acquisition, and attitudes toward institutional identity.

The theoretical framework for this study is derived from marketing theories. To date, …

Exploring Parental Involvement In Public Secondary Schools In Imo State, Nigeria: The Role Of Socioeconomic Status, Longinus Nwakire Ugwuegbulem

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Recent academic achievement gaps of public secondary students in Imo State, in WAEC, NECO, and JAMB examinations posed a threat to students’ aspiration to college education. The poor academic achievement level was denting previously achieved high academic record in Imo State. This trend was disturbing to parents and educators. However, this trend could be remedied if appropriate educational policy was enacted and implemented in secondary schools. One educational policy initiative that seemed to have worked in some countries is parents’ participation in their children’s education, otherwise, called “parental involvement.” Studies have shown that parental involvement in the education of their …