Educational Leadership Commons^™

An Analysis Of Due Process Hearings Involving Students With Significant Disabilities In Their Least Restrictive Environment, Wendy Seiter Nichol

Theses and Dissertations

This research analyzed all available hearings from 2013 to 2015 in a national database of due process hearings regarding placement issues and determinations of the least restrictive environment for individual students with significant disabilities. The main research question was whether parents/guardians and due process hearing officers sought placements for these children with significant disabilities that considered creatively and holistically a range of options rather than just a dialogue between already extant possible programmatic offerings. The research resulted in a description and taxonomy of the types of issues and factors arising in the hearings for students with significant disabilities from 2013 …

Irb Processes And Guidelines, Richard E. Cleveland

Leadership, Technology & Human Development: Faculty Presentations

This session is for Students who have completed some coursework in their EdS or EdD program and want to get oriented to the research process and/or students who are about ready to start their action research projects (EdS) or dissertations (EdD).

Dr. Richard E. Cleveland will present an introduction and overview of IRB processes and guidelines. The session will facilitate both small- and whole-group interaction. Students are encouraged to bring current IRB materials (at whatever stage of completion) for peer collaboration.

Sexual Harassment In Schools, Charles J. Russo

Educational Leadership Faculty Publications

Eliminating sexual harassment in schools continues to be a national concern. In fact, the Supreme Court has resolved three major cases on this topic, and lower courts continue to resolve a steady stream of disputes. The litigation has moved beyond teacher–student and peer–peer claims to include disputes over harassment because of actual or perceived sexual orientation.

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 …

The Effectiveness Of Juvenile Boot Camps And Their Impact On Minority Youth, Gregory Tyrone Williams

Dissertations

The proposal examines the effectiveness of juvenile boot camps and their impact on minority youth by examining literature and by extensive research using mixed methods of two separate programs in Wisconsin. In-depth interviews were conducted, and surveys were administered to staff and boot camp participants. Based on the analysis of the data, generally, participants reported positive short-term changes in attitudes and behaviors; they also had better problem solving and coping skills.

The Challenge Academy responds to the demands of this proposal and fiscally demonstrates that it is a good Return on Investment (ROI) offering a more inclusive program of character …

A Quantitative Comparison Of The Reading Achievement Of English Learners In Dual Language And Transitional Bilingual Programs, Shajaira P. Lopez

Dissertations

One of the goals of bilingual education research is to identify programs that have shown to be effective in increasing the English proficiency of English learners (ELs). The purpose of this archival comparative study was to conduct a quantitative comparison of the English reading achievement of third grade ELs enrolled in dual language education (DLE) programs to those enrolled in transitional bilingual education (TBE) programs in order to determine which program is more effective in improving the reading proficiency of third grade ELs in the Chicago Public Schools. The data analyzed in this study were the 2010-2014 reading scores on …

Reframing Lesson Plans: The Foundation For Improving Instruction, Carletta M. Noland

Dissertations

This dissertation is a policy advocacy document that boldly states that it is our moral imperative to change the current educational landscape for the students attending Milwaukee Public Schools. In advocating for such a change, it is strongly suggested that the way to accomplish this challenging task is to mandate a stronger instructional foundation by leveraging the power of thoughtful lesson planning and design. Through its own merit, public and professional opinions and research findings, a viable argument is crafted to eliminate the current policy that marginalizes the planning process by suggesting through its current language, that the planning process …

Exploring The Strategic Implementation Of Common Core State Standards In Small School Districts Of Northern California, Michael A. Gulbransen Dr.

Dissertations

This Delphi study involved examining the implementation of Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in small school districts of Northern California. This dissertation presents an overview of CCSS implementation, a review of the literature, statement of the problem, purpose of the study, research questions, significance, and the anticipated methodology for the intended qualitative research design. The review of literature explores the historical context of education in the United States and increasingly focuses on the new national Common Core State Standards and their implementation in small school districts.

The Delphi study uses the participants’ opinions to identify CCSS implementation strategies and related …

A World Both Big And Small: Understanding Urban Middle School Teachers’ Sense Of Self-Efficacy In An Era Of Accountability, Richard Gallucci

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

This explanatory case study seeks to understand the nature of middle school educators’ self-efficacy in an urban public school district during an era of accountability. The study was conducted in a progressive school district, known as OakRidge Pubic Schools. A sequential mixed methods design with a participant-selection model variation was employed. The study identified teachers’ level of self-efficacy via the Teacher’s Sense of Efficacy Scale (Tschannen-Moran & Woolfolk Hoy, 2001), a quantitative survey used to determine high and low self-efficacy focus groups. During these subsequent focus group interviews, the competing objectives of fulfilling responsibilities levied from accountability mandates and initiatives, …

The Preparation And Self-Efficacy Of Teachers Of Students With Emotional And Behavioral Disabilities, Claire F. Higgins

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

Inadequate preparation, combined with challenging work conditions, contribute to the shortage of skilled special educators in the United States (Levenson, 2011). Because teacher quality is linked to student achievement (Darling-Hammond, 2001), the discrepancy in access to qualified teachers has remained a serious issue, particularly for students with emotional and behavioral disabilities (EBD), whose intensive needs present great obstacles to learning. Although the research identifies strong content knowledge and social emotional competence as critical skills for educators (Bridgeland, Bruce, & Hariharan, 2012; Shulman, 1986), current standards for licensure (as they apply to EBD teachers) largely overlook these attributes (Massachusetts Department of …

Transmigration Experiences Of Newcomers In The Context Of An English-Only Education: Sense-Making By Former Newcomer Ells, Elizabeth Paulsen Tonogbanua

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

This qualitative interpretive study explored how former newcomer English Language Learners (ELLs) in Boston Public Schools (BPS) made sense of their transmigration experiences through a digital storytelling project. The study fills a gap on transmigration experiences in the context of English-only learning environments, with a particular orientation toward the value of students’ home languages, and in turn, cultures within an urban school setting. The immigrant student population in BPS continues to increase and teachers must be able to understand and plan for newcomers’ specific needs. To this end, my conceptual framework drew on four areas: general educators and their urban …

2016-05-29 Letter To The Board Of Regents, Morehead State University. Faculty Senate.

Faculty Senate Records

A letter from the Faculty Senate to the Morehead State University Board of Regents from May 29, 2016.

Social Capital And Cultural Identity For U.S. Korean Immigrant Families: Mothers' And Children's Perceptions Of Korean Language Retention, Su-Jin Sue Jung

Dissertations and Theses

Through increasing immigration, the U.S. society is becoming more linguistically and culturally diverse. Yet, as many U.S. language minority groups seek to assimilate, they face many challenges. One challenge is that their home language does not match the dominant language, English, that their children are learning at school. For Korean communities, maintaining Korean language presents a problem for families, especially for the mothers and children. The purpose of this study was to explore the U.S. Korean immigrant mothers' and children's perceptions of and experience with maintaining the Korean language and the effect that has on the development of social capital …

Increasing The Identification Of Minority Gifted Students And Achievment Levels Of Minority Gifted Students, Diana Simone

FL MED Educational Leadership Capstones

The appropriate identification and placement of minority gifted students is a topic of concern in the school district under study. Our nation and schools are more culturally diverse than ever before, and we need to make sure all students have equal opportunities to be successful. The purpose of this study is to be proactive, deliberate, and diligent about ensuring the equitable recruitment of minority students into gifted education. My study demonstrates that if the nomination form can correctly identify gifted characteristics among minority students, then teachers can make nominations to further and more appropriately grow gifted education. Using valid tools …

Changing Behavior With Character Development, Not Discipline, Tamariay Gordon

FL MED Educational Leadership Capstones

The Pine Rose School Board (pseudonym) made policy changes in discipline procedures that have affected the dynamics of safety at the Pine Rose Secondary School (pseudonym). After accepting a large number of reassigned students, it was incumbent upon the school leadership to adapt their policies and school-wide procedures to accommodate the needs of these students and staff. My project analyzes the results of the new plan and possibilities moving forward.

Increasing Academic Engagement Among Students With Emotionall And Behavioral Disorders, Colby Barrett

FL MED Educational Leadership Capstones

The achievement gap between general education students and students with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders being served in self-contained classrooms at Neighborhood Lakes Elementary (Pseudonym) is staggering. The purpose of this study is to determine if giving students a voice in their educational decisions and applying methodologies of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) to promote academic engagement among students with emotional and behavioral disorders will significantly increase the amount of time these students are engaged in academics. The context of this inquiry is an elementary school with a high achieving general education population and a low achieving Exceptional Student Education (ESE) population. …

2016-05-24 President's Message, Morehead State University. Faculty Senate.

Faculty Senate Records

E-mail message from the President delivered on May 24, 2016.

Modernizing The Integrated Approach: A Dynamic Teaching Method Using Podcasts And Multimedia Content, Justin T. Hughes

Master's Projects and Capstones

This project explores ways to create a curriculum in which multimedia and technology such as podcasts, streaming video, and online articles are utilized effectively in order to develop academic skills for adult international students, specifically those with the goal of attending an American university. Through this integrated approach that combines all of the essential language skills (listening, reading, speaking, and writing), students will build confidence and thus become empowered and individualized learners. They will be able to attain mastery of an essential academic skill set that will assist them in attaining their goals in many different realms.

This project engages …

K-12 And The Active Shooter: Principals’ Perceptions Of Armed Personnel In New Jersey District Factor Group Gh Public Schools, Brian P. Kelly

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The purpose of this study was to explore the predicament school principals face when formulating the best methodology to provide a safe environment for their students and faculty, while simultaneously creating an atmosphere that is conducive to education.

This multiple-case study is a replication of a dissertation published in 2014 which explored a unique phenomenon containing multiple variables within an urban public school district. Conversely, this research study examined suburban public school districts within communities that possessed a median household salary ranging between $86,000 and $105,000, where the socioeconomic status of these schools is identified and delineated by New Jersey …

2016-05-19 Aaup Letter To Board Of Regents, American Association Of University Professors.

Faculty Senate Records

A letter written by the AAUP to the Morehead State University Board of Regents regarding academic governance and academic freedom on May 19, 2016.