Disability and Equity in Education Commons^™

Principals' Knowledge Of Idea And Their Implementation Of Special Education Services, Karen Smith Collins

Dissertations

This correlational study was designed to determine the relationship between the principals' knowledge of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and their implementation of special education services, as well as to determine if there was a relationship between principals' knowledge of IDEA and their beliefs and practices; experience, training, and demographic characteristics. The respondents, principals in New Orleans area schools, were divided into three groups: charter, city/district, and state operated. Their knowledge of IDEA was measured using a survey instrument developed by Wakeman (2005) and Copenhagen (2005). It also included a small section on specific characteristics of the principals assigned …

Effective Intervention Approaches For Increased Student Achievement With At-Risk Middle School Students: Voices From Parents, Susan J. Peets

Dissertations

Parent involvement is closely linked to student achievement. Research suggests that students, families, and schools benefit from active participation by families in the process of educating children. Many parents provide a broad range of support to their children, although, currently no common agreement on the most effective forms of parent support exists.

This study focused on the gap in the literature as to the needs of middle school at-risk students' parents. Qualitative methods were used to explore how parents of twelve at-risk middle school students (identified by low academic achievement scores of reading at least one year below grade level …

How General Education And Special Education Teachers Perceive The Behaviors Of African American Students In Their Classrooms Within A Suburban School Setting, Claudia Powers

Theses and Graduate Projects

This study was to explore the perceptions of general education and special education teachers and their perceptions of behaviors in their classrooms. A qualitative design using structured interview and observation was used to collect the data in the winter and spring of 2007. A sample of twelve teachers consisting of six general education and six special education teachers were recruited from Irondale High School in New Brighton, MN. Data collection and analysis were concurrent. Three themes emerged from the collected data. The themes regarding how the teachers perceived behaviors in their classes are teacher-student relationship, student's dress and the jargon …

Expectations And Experiences Of African American Students At Two Predominantly White Universities In Southern Appalachia., Brenda White Wright

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study addressed the academic, cultural, and social expectations and experiences of 20 African American juniors and seniors at 2 predominantly White universities in the southern Appalachian region of the United States. The participants' described experiences revealed how institutional practices promoted or obstructed their persistence to graduation.

Qualitative ethnographic methodology with critical race theory as the conceptual framework guided the study. This approach allowed for the perspectives and lived experiences of the students to be voiced and heard. Data collected included their stories based on semistructured interviews, document reviews, and observations. The constant comparison method was used to analyze the …

Assessment Of Cognitive Abilities In Children With A Pervasive Developmental Disorder Using The Universal Nonverbal Intelligence Test, Bobbie Ann Burton

Doctoral Dissertations

This study was designed to examine the utility of the Universal Nonverbal Intelligence Test (UNIT; Bracken & McCallum, 1998) for use with children who have been diagnosed with a pervasive developmental disorder (e.g., autistic disorder, asperger’s disorder, pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified). The goal was to determine whether distinct cognitive profiles on the UNIT exist within this population and between those with and without a pervasive developmental disorder: a) Do children with a pervasive developmental disorder earn significantly lower mean scores than a demographically matched control group on the UNIT Full Scale Intelligence quotient? b) Do children with a pervasive …

Making The Difference In High Poverty; High Achieving Urban Elementary Schools: Selected Principal's Perspectives, Penny Larsen

Dissertations

This study is a mixed-method design focusing on ten White and ten non-White elementary principals working in urban areas. The qualitative methodology uses interviews and observations to examine how principals conceptualize the student achievement gaps and through what practices do they attempt to remedy the condition. The quantitative data resulted from the Quick Discrimination Index and relied on descriptive statistics. The primary audience for this study includes PK-12 public school administrators, particularly those in urban high-diversity, high-achieving schools.

The investigation (1) examined cultural differences between White and non-White administrators and their student constituency in terms of ethnicity and language use, …

Perceptions And Knowledge Of Special Education Law Among Building Administrators In A Selected Georgia School District, Patricia Claire Grasso

Dissertations

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) has impacted every school district in the United States and significantly altered the role of administrators. Requirements for the administration and supervision of special education have developed exponentially since the enactment of Public Law 94- 142 and its reauthorization as the IDEA.

The purpose of this study was to compare the perceptions and knowledge of building administrators regarding special education law. The following research questions were developed to facilitate this study: (a) is there a difference in the level of knowledge about special education law among building administrators regarding the seven provisions of …

Maintaining Hope/ Encouraging Perspective In Special Education, Donna Smith

College of Education Theses and Dissertations

Having a child with moderate to severe disabilities is a life-altering experience for many families. This study is an exploration of the relationship that exists between the parents of children with moderate to severe disabilities and special education professionals. It is an attempt to gain a deeper understanding of the parental perspective on the complexities of that relationship, and to investigate how that relationship is negotiated through stories told by eight parents about their experiences with the professionals in the schools their children attend. This study is also focused on how parents, school systems, and societal understandings of disability and …

A Study Of The Predictive Validity Of The Gates-Macginitie Reading Test And The New Jersey Assessment Of Skills And Knowledge At The 4th, 5th And 6th Grade Levels, Stephanie L. Diantonio

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine the predictive validity of reading achievement scores obtained using the Gates-MacGinitie Reading Test and student performance on the Language Arts Literacy section on the New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge using a sample of students from the Gloucester City School District. Success For All has been implemented in the Gloucester City School District for over eight years as a Whole School Reform Model to raise student achievement in reading and language arts literacy. The effectiveness of this program was measured by using data collected from the Gates-MacGinitie Reading Test and the …

A Case Study Of The Involvement Of Undergraduates With Physical Disabilities In Campus Organizations At East Tennessee State University., Lance Alexis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine the level of relationship that existed between undergraduates with physical disabilities at East Tennessee State University and campus student organizations. The study was designated a case study as it focused on one institution of higher education.

Interview and document review were the 2 methods used for data collection. People from 2 select groups were interviewed on a one-on-one basis. One group was people involved in recruiting for selected campus organizations geared toward undergraduates and the other group was undergraduates with observable physical disabilities. Constitutions, bylaws, mission statements, and other documents offered by …

Conditions Surrounding Four Mexican Females’ Quest For A Higher Education In A Southeastern United States Community, Sharon L. Hixon

Doctoral Dissertations

This qualitative case study collection followed 4 self-identified college-bound Mexican immigrants as they moved from their senior year of high school through their first semester of college. The purpose of this study was to learn about the young women’s aspirations and expectations and how their aspirations and expectations were or were not in harmony with the actuality of their lives.

To meet this goal, the researcher interviewed the female participants three times. These interviews took place in high school and the first semester of college. The researcher began each interview with a predetermined list of questions, and added additional questions …

Power Base Perceptions Of School Administrators At Residential Schools For The Culturally Deaf, Allison Washington Moffett

Dissertations

Residential schools fill a significant role in the academic and social education of deaf and hard-of-hearing students worldwide. Progress has been made in these schools as a result of a collaborative effort between schools and community working together. Administrators at the residential schools play essential roles in the academic and social processes of education and as such they must be aware of their own power bases and usages. Hersey and Blanchard (1993) maintained that it is essential for school administrators to be able to distinguish the power sources and to be knowledgeable about which power sources to use in a …

What Policies Can The United States Implement In Order To Improve Its Efforts To Transition Those With Learning Disabilities Into The Workplace, Gregory Allen Jones

Theses Digitization Project

The purpose of this project is to examine what strategies can be devised to transition those with learning disabilities into the workforce. This is accomplished by a qualitative review of the history of educational policies and programs used in England, France, Russia, China, Hong Kong, Kenya, and Nigeria. These strengths and weaknesses are compared with the history of policies implemented in the United States, to see what strategies can be used to affect policy changes that will better the chances for employment for those with learning disabilities.

The Relationship Between Self-Awareness And Executive Functioning In Learning Disabled College Students With And Without Executive Deficits, Melissa Fiorito-Grafman

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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Attitudes Of Special Education Directors Toward Inclusion/Least Restrictive Environment For Preschool Students With Disabilities, Ruth Schuster

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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Towards Inclusive Standards, Michelle Pearce

Theses: Doctorates and Masters

The context of this study is the inclusion of students with dillabilities in secondary schools. The introduction of legislation in the United States and Australia has resulted in large numbers of students with disabilities being included in regular classes by subject teachers. Inclusion in secondary schools has proved especially challenging to teachers. Reviews and research highlight the need for teacher training. but do not specify the knowledge and skills that teachers need to become inclusive. It has been proposed that professional teaching standards have the potential to guide preservice and inservice training. Before standards could be assessed for their inclusivity, …