Education Commons^™

The Correlational Effects Of Academic And Demographic Factors On Nursing Students’ Attrition, Progression, And Completion At A University College Of Nursing, Adebusola A. Obafemi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

High United States nursing student attrition rates have attracted political, organizational, and social interest for numerous reasons. This attrition places financial burdens on the students, results in revenue loss for the college, and exacerbates the existing nursing shortage. Students' success in a nursing program is crucial for nurses to practice nursing. The purpose of this retrospective study was to explore the effects of academic performance and demographic/categorical factors on nursing students' progression and completion at a University College of Nursing in the Southern United States. The target population consisted of students enrolled at the University College of Nursing from January …

Recruiting At Satellite Campuses For Trio Student Support Services, Marla Harris

Education Projects

My consultancy project involved working with a Large Urban Community College (LUCC) to develop a recruiting model to assist in expanding their TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) program to their satellite campuses. LUCC consists of six campuses, one central campus and five satellite campuses. The TRIO program serves 175 students annually, and at the beginning of this project, all students enrolled in the program attended the central campus location. This is not in line with LUCC’s one college model and values which include being a student-centered institution and providing equitable and inclusive services for all students. This also does not …

Developmental Evaluation Of A Clinical In-School Counseling Program For At-Risk Students In Crisis, Anthony Andrew Mormile

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A K–12 public school district in the northeastern United States implemented its own clinical in-school counseling program (CISCP) to help at-risk students in Grades 7–12 who were experiencing a crisis. The problem was that the district was unaware of whether the CISCP is helping its students through their crises. The study was important as it provided insightful data into the CISCP’s perceived effectiveness to meet the students’ needs. The purpose was to examine the perceived program effectiveness of the CISCP in helping its at-risk students in Grades 7–12 through their crises. Through a program evaluation using the developmental evaluation model, …

Understanding The Underserved Student: Barriers Experienced By At-Risk Students During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Melissa Rosado

Theses and Dissertations

The forced expeditious transition online induced by the COVID-19 pandemic caused a massive disruption to education. COVID-19 exacerbated the inequities that existed in education for years. As technology advances and integrates with education, it can both enhance inclusive instructional practices, as well as exacerbate issues of equity. Achievement gaps will persist unless colleges create equitable educational environments for all students, including “at-risk” populations such as those enrolled in the Extended Opportunity Program and Services (EOPS) program—a state funded equity program.

Through the lens of digital equity and inclusion theoretical frameworks, the purpose of this embedded mixed methods study was to …

Parental Involvement In At-Risk Students’ Academic Affairs Versus The Athletic Arena In Low-Performing Schools In South Florida, Antrell L. Dirden

Theses and Dissertations

The researcher designed a qualitative case study to delve further into the lack of consistent parental involvement and academic support in low-performing schools in South Florida with at-risk African American students, most especially when compared to the support in the athletic arena by those same parents. Educators and leaders in the field of education agree that the same effort and energy displayed in support of the athletic aspirations of their child should be equal or even greater in the academic success of the same students. Research questions focused on perceived challenges that prevent consistent parental involvement in academics over athletics, …

A Case Study: School Professionals’ Perspectives On Students Exiting Middle School Entering An Achievement High School, Joy Davis Lee

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Each year approximately 1.3 million students dropout of high school and an estimated 40% of minority students do not graduate on time (Roybal, Thornton, & Usinger, 2014). In high school, 22% of students repeat 9th-grade classes because students fail to make a smooth transition. This gives the 9th-grade the highest enrollment rate and the highest dropout rate (McCallumore & Sparapani, 2010). In an effort to increase high school graduation rates, the Peabody County Public School District created Achievement schools, an initiative to recruit highly effective administrators, teachers and staff members to support students with the highest academic and nonacademic needs. …

Heart Work: A Phenomenological Analysis Of School-Embedded Program Facilitators In High-Need South Florida Schools, Takia Bullock

Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

Student misconduct leading to youth violence has been recognized as a major public health problem requiring intervention. To reduce antisocial behaviors, school districts and non-profit organizations promote prosocial behaviors and problem-solving skills. Positive youth development, social emotional learning, positive behavioral intervention support, and conflict resolution programs have been implemented in many school districts; yet problems associated with aggression, poor decision-making, and low student achievement still occur. This Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis study explored the lived experiences of seven school-embedded positive intervention program facilitators implementing programs with conflict management components for at-risk students in high need South Florida schools. Semi-structured interviews were …

Prekindergarten Practitioners’ Perspectives Of The Creative Curriculum For At-Risk Students, Navine Fortune

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Investigators have addressed elementary practitioners’ perspectives concerning the concept of curriculum development and children’s learning; however, much less information is available on prekindergarten practitioners’ perspectives of curriculum for at-risk prekindergarten students. This basic qualitative study explored prekindergarten practitioners’ perspectives of self-efficacy, competence, and motivation in the implementation of The Creative Curriculum for Preschool Program with at-risk students in a southeastern state. The theories of constructivism and self-efficacy guided the conceptual framework for this study. The research questions focused on prekindergarten practitioners’ perspectives of self-efficacy, competency, and motivation during implementation of the curriculum. Data were collected using in-depth semistructured interviews with …

Urban High School Principals' Leadership Practices And Academic Progress For At-Risk Students, Mary Delouise Duhart-Toppen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Researchers have shown that principals are vital to improving student academic achievement. Urban principals often face significant challenges in their environments and have large populations of at-risk students. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore and describe the perceptions of urban high school principals regarding the type of leadership practices needed to support the academic progress of at-risk students. Elements from transformational leadership, transformative leadership, and effective leadership practices informed the conceptual framework. Research questions addressed how principals described and perceived the practices, processes, and procedures used to create environments that support students in urban high schools …

Teachers' Perspectives Of The Use Of A School-Wide Reading Program With Secondary Remedial Reading Students, Mary {Parker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem of low reading scores on standardized tests prompted the implementation of a supplemental reading program to support students in a high school in a Southwestern state. It was unknown how effectively teachers were implementing that program. Reading is essential to all students; they must be able to read the content in their core subjects, state-mandated exams, and the end of course exams. In addressing the achievement gap for at-risk students, the district adopted a supplemental program, Achieve3000, for the remedial reading classes. The purpose of this study was to explore teachers perspectives of and experiences with the use …

Exploring The Effectiveness Of A Freshman/Success Academy Program Through The Perceptions Of Educators In An Urban High School, Michelle Pettiford

Doctor of Education Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the perceptions of educators regarding the effectiveness of an academic success program for ninth- and 10^th-grade students who are at-risk males. The term at risk has often been utilized to describe students who have low academic performance as well as social and emotional concerns observed during the transitioning process from middle to high school. The foundation of this study centered on past and current educational initiatives, achievement gaps, and pedagogical and cultural awareness for at-risk minority students as they entered high school. I used a 2-phase process that included …

Predicting Juvenile Delinquency In Texas Public Schools: Response To A Texas Legislator's Challenge, Wendy Brower

Educational Leadership & Policy Studies Dissertations

The purpose of this study is to engage in a systematic inquiry of juvenile delinquency in Texas public schools and respond to the statement made by a member of the Texas Legislature who challenged public school officials to predict delinquency in order to keep students out of the court system. The study is based on the assumption that a profile for juvenile delinquency can be developed using the existing data submitted by Texas public school districts through the Public Education Information. This is a quantitative study that first explored teh profile for deliqnuent and non-deliquent at-risk students. next, the study …

Change In Attribution Perspective, Shame, And Academic Identity For Freshmen On Probation Enrolled In University Academic Recovery Courses: A Mixed Methods Study, Christine L. Robinson

Dissertations

Student retention is critical to the success of the student, the college or university, and society in general. Consequently, institutions of higher education continue to focus efforts on student retention strategies and one such strategy utilizes academic recovery courses to support probationary freshmen. Previous research studies of these courses largely focus on academic outcomes without examining the “why” or “how” behind such outcomes. Some studies also discuss constructs including attribution perspective, shame, and academic identity. However, the relationship between these constructs has not been researched, particularly with regard to any change that may occur for probationary freshmen engaged with an …

Peer Tutoring In Middle School: How It Changes Student Achievement And Attitudes, Lois A. Wright

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

Research literature shows that mathematics is a gatekeeper to success. Providing alternative opportunities for students to strengthen mathematical reasoning over algorithmic computations while problem-solving in a collaborative environment helps to prepare students to compete locally and globally. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to investigate how an afterschool Peer Tutoring Club (PTC) affected academic performances and attitudes of Grade 6, at-risk or “at-promise,” (Samuels, 2020), middle school mathematics students. The gap found in literature revealed a need for additional research involving rigorous multistep problem-solving within peer tutoring programs. This study collected data from 46, 1-hour, afterschool peer tutoring …

Exploring Mathematics Anxiety Of Students At-Risk For Mathematics Difficulties, Sarah Mccarthy

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Students in mathematics classrooms are found to experience various levels of stress and anxiety during instructional time. Negative feelings associated with participation in math activities can lead to both physical and emotional manifestations, affecting performance, achievement, and even confidence with the academic subject. Students found to be at-risk for mathematics difficulties have greater risks when it comes to the possible experience of mathematics anxiety. Students with learning disabilities, students needing supplemental interventions, and students who are English learners can experience potential bouts of anxiety and stress, magnifying academic struggles in the math classroom. In addition, academic deficits can intensify levels …

The Importance Of Coaching: A Program Evaluation Of The Americorps College Completion Coaches Program, Latoya E. Rolle

All Theses And Dissertations

As more students enroll than earn a post-secondary credential, persistence toward completion and graduation have become issues in community colleges. This program evaluation highlights the AmeriCorps College Completion Coach program implemented across community colleges in Ohio during 2012–2017 under the leadership of the Ohio Association of Community Colleges (OACC). The program goal is to improve postsecondary credential obtainment by increasing course completion and credit hour accumulation. This outcome is achieved by providing coaching to at-risk students in community colleges across Ohio. This study sought to discover the AmeriCorps College Completion Coach program’s best practices for student support services and explored …

The Effect Of A 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant On Academic Progression, Attendance, And Disciplinary Incidents Of At-Risk Students At A High School In Rural South Carolina, Adam Lanford

Education Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative research study was designed to examine the impact of a 21st Century Community Learning Center afterschool program on students identified as at risk. The research study focused on three research areas. First, the study examined the number of Carnegie credits earned during the 2017-2018 school year. Second, the research studied the number of school days absent during the 2017-2018 school year. Finally, the study reviewed the number of disciplinary incidents that required administrative intervention during the same school year. The study utilized a chi-square test of homogeneity to determine if there was a statistically significant difference between at-risk …

Evaluation Of The Implementation Of A Secondary Transition Program For At-Risk Exceptional Children In Five High Schools, Karyn Lyndsey Herring

Education Dissertations and Projects

Secondary transition support is an important part of the IEP requirements for high school exceptional children. Designed to help guide students toward their postschool goals, transition support should not only help identify goals but also help prepare them by teaching skills, building relationships, and imparting knowledge of the community they will join after graduation. The researcher completed a program evaluation for the FAST secondary transition support that was put into place in a large school district in North Carolina during the 2016-2017 school year to provide additional support to at-risk exceptional children on the Future Ready Course of Study graduation …

Holistic Analysis Of The Social, Emotional, And Academic Development Of At-Risk Students In A Self-Regulated Learning Instructional Environment, Jennifer K. Macek

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

The testing an accountability system that plagues the current educational atmosphere has done little to improve outcomes for the general population, rather, it has increased harm to our nation’s most vulnerable populations. As districts grapple with accountability mandates and pressures to improve test scores the number of students excluded from traditional schools and sent to alternative programs continues to grow. Research shows that the majority of programs for at-risk youth are little more than graduation factories that do not adequately prepare students for active participation in democratic society.

This study used a mixed methods design to explore an alternative program …

An Ecological View Of Urban Kindergarten Reading Instructional Practices, Deborah Ann Clark

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Kindergarten students who are identified as at risk in reading often enter school with deficiencies in early reading skills. Little research exists for this vulnerable population on reading instruction in large, urban, school systems. The purpose of this multiple case study, which was guided by Bronfenbrenner's ecological theory of human development, was to describe urban kindergarten teachers' beliefs about the environmental factors that contribute to students' at-risk reading status, instructional practices employed to remediate reading, and teacher reports about systems in place to support student reading development. The multiple case study design included (a) structured interviews, (b) observations of kindergarten …

Instructional Strategies Within A Blended Learning Model For At-Risk Students, Kim Marette Zeydel

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Many at-risk students attending an alternative high school in a northwestern state were not graduating on-time even after a learner-centered blended learning model was implemented. The administration and teachers sought to understand why the change to a learner-centered program was only slightly increasing the graduation rate each year. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore how the learner-centered instructional strategies used within a blended learning model were being implemented and supporting at-risk students. Weimer's learner-centered framework was used to ground the study and guide the research questions which examined teacher and student perspectives about the learner-centered instructional …

In The Middle: An Examination Of The Factors That Contribute To Overage Middle School Students, Delma Martinez

Educational Leadership & Policy Studies Dissertations

According tothe U.S.Census Bureau (2014), the popuation of overage students is at almost 16%. According to Gerwetz (2005), this population of students have a high probability o f dropping out of school. Because of this, job prospects and career opportunities can be bleak for these students; therefore, school districts should review current practices and policy to find ways to better support overage middle school students. This study interviewed 17 middle school educators to examine the contributing factors along with best practices to address this educational dilemma. This study utilized semi-structured interviews of middle school teachers in an urban district.

Aleks Constructs As Predictors Of High School Mathematics Achievement For Struggling Students, Nadine Mills

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Educators in the United States (U.S.) are increasingly turning to intelligent tutoring systems (ITS) to provide differentiated math instruction to high school students. However, many struggling high school learners do not perform well on these platforms, which reinforces the need for more awareness about effective supports that influence the achievement of learners in these milieus. The purpose of this study was to determine what factors of the Assessment and Learning in Knowledge Spaces (ALEKS), an ITS, are predictive of struggling learners' performance in a blended-learning Algebra 1 course at an inner city technical high school located in the northeastern U.S. …

Bridge Over Troubled Water: Creating An Ecology Of Transformative Care For Students At Risk Of Their Promise, Cherina O. Betters

Electronic Theses, Projects, and Dissertations

The teacher-student relationship is multidimensional and fluid. This is especially true for students who come from disadvantaged backgrounds. Educational leaders in the public school setting cannot control which students enroll at their school sites. The only thing teachers, as educational leaders in K-12 public education, have complete control over is the environment they create in their classrooms. Among those student groups most reflecting few gains on state and federal reports of proficiency data are students who typically come from backgrounds besieged with challenges or from historically underserved and marginalized communities. In this transcendental phenomenological study, the phenomenon investigated was how …

Middle School Educators' Perceptions Of At-Risk Students Following A School's Initiative Focused On Helping At-Risk Students Succeed, Johnel Bryant Robinson

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

With a focus on teachers’ efficacy and its effect on their perceptions of at-risk students, this qualitative case study examined the perceptions of teachers toward at-risk students, following a school’s 3-year implementation of an initiative that was geared toward helping educators improve teaching efficacy. The effects of professional development on improving the relationships with at-risk students and the influence on middle school educators’ perceptions and efficacy were explored. Data was gathered by conducting 20 interviews with the participants; including classroom teachers, an administrator, and a guidance counselor, regarding teachers’ perceptions of the at-risk students, following a schoolwide initiative. Six themes …

Central Virginia Ews: Identifying Middle And High School Indicators Of On-Time Graduation With An Early Warning System, Ryan D. Yarzebinski

Graduate Dissertations and Theses

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships between different variables and whether a student attained an on-time graduation outcome. A retrospective cohort study was conducted within a single school division in central Virginia serving a population of 8,338 students. The organizational structure of the school division was unique as it is comprised of two combined schools and two high schools fed by a separate middle school.

The study utilized logistic regression and ROC analysis to identify the variables most predictive of graduation for use in an EWS. The model was designed to be predictive in nature and …

Organizational Improvement Plan For Eliminating A Need For Alternative Programs By Way Of A Paradigm Shift, Sam J. Oh Neill Mr

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

The problem of practice in this organizational improvement plan (OIP) is that the existence of Alternative Programs impedes progress to meaningful school change. The school board is moving toward a paradigm shift as indicated through a number of initiatives discussed in this OIP. This OIP was developed through a review of the literature on: Alternative Education, attitudes toward students labelled at-risk and through an examination of documents produced and disseminated by the Ministry. This OIP takes social critique perspective (Furman, 2004; Starratt, 2004) to understand purposes for referring students to Alternative Programs within the current paradigm. This OIP also explores …

Ged Learners' Perceptions Of Support Systems For Encouraging High School Completion, Frances Lucille Campbell

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

All 7 high schools located in a school district in Alabama have experienced a high dropout rate since 2012. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to understand the perceptions of recent high school dropouts about support systems that could have assisted them in completing the requirements to receive a high school diploma. Research questions centered on recent high school dropouts' views on what supports from home and from teachers they could have received to assist them in completing high school and what things they could have done differently to receive their high school diplomas. Bandura's theories of self-efficacy …

Effects Of The Mindplay Computer Program On Student Reading Achievement: An Action Research Study, Kara Mann

Theses and Dissertations

This quantitative Action Research study examined how a computer-assisted reading program, called MindPlay, affected reading achievement in four second-grade classrooms within a Title I School. The identified problem of practice at Amazing Elementary School (AES) involved numerous years of underachieving reading results for underprivileged, racially diverse children. The majority of primary school students at AES are considered “at-risk” given their reading performance. The study explored whether a different intervention technique would increase student reading achievement, specifically in fluency, phonics, and comprehension, within a Title I context. Therefore, the research question that guided this study was as follows: “What is the …

Program Evaluation: Metacognition In A Blended Learning Environment, Flavian Josiah Prince

Dissertations

Students across the country are deciding to leave school at an early age, not enroll in college, and have limited opportunities in regards to employment. Instead of developing systems to address these needs, many American schools have chosen to label these students as at-risk and place them in computer labs with limited supervision. Considering the myriad of variables many young people face while navigating through a shifting economy demanding higher critical thinking and sophisticated job embedded skills, this study asks why failing prevailing educational practices are not being replaced with new innovations to address this serious need. Instead of using …