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Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

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High Musical Achievement In Underserved High School Band Programs: A Qualitative Study, Delton Marcus Brown Sep 2023

High Musical Achievement In Underserved High School Band Programs: A Qualitative Study, Delton Marcus Brown

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Although information is available detailing methods and strategies for high achievement in school band programs, very little is synthesized specifically addressing high schools in urban, inner-city, and other underserved student populations. This study explores the effects of cultural responsiveness, director-student relationships, and establishing and maintaining high standards on student motivation and overall program achievement. The data collected in this study originate from five Texas band directors in minority-majority programs where the school comprises a student population with over 60 percent eligibility for free and/or reduced lunch. These directors have all made significant achievements at the high school level in the …


Elementary Music Teacher Preparation Gaps In Cultural Diversity: Exceptional Populations, Joshua Learn Sep 2023

Elementary Music Teacher Preparation Gaps In Cultural Diversity: Exceptional Populations, Joshua Learn

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite the extensive coursework and training in teacher preparation programs focusing on diverse populations, many teachers feel underprepared to meet the needs of emerging subcultures in the elementary music classroom. Over the years, the term diversity has grown beyond ethnicity and requires continued study and attention. This qualitative study explores the perspectives of elementary music educators about diverse populations of exceptional students with Other Health Impairments (OHI), defined as asthma, ADD, ADHD, diabetes, epilepsy, heart condition, hemophilia, lead poisoning, leukemia, nephritis, rheumatic fever, sickle cell anemia, and Tourette syndrome, in their classrooms. The results of this study identify the existing …


Influence Of Gifted Instructional Strategies On Gifted Children’S Perceptual Reasoning: A Quasi-Experimental, Nonequivalent Group Comparison Study, Dafne Ashley Almazán Sep 2023

Influence Of Gifted Instructional Strategies On Gifted Children’S Perceptual Reasoning: A Quasi-Experimental, Nonequivalent Group Comparison Study, Dafne Ashley Almazán

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, quasi-experimental nonequivalent group research was to analyze hypothesized differences in gifted students’ perceptual reasoning based on the type of instructional strategy they receive. Specifically, this study examined possible statistically significant differences among gifted students’ reasoning after receiving at least three years of full-time differentiated instruction, cluster grouping, or general education-focused teaching. Comparing gifted students’ perceptual reasoning and analyzing the impact of gifted instructional strategies and general systems will influence improvements in effective strategies for teaching gifted children. The study used the subscale of Perceptual Reasoning of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-IV) to examine …


A Multiple Case Study Of Primary Grade School Teachers' Experiences With Using Colors To Teach Writing, Rhonda L. Holcomb Sep 2023

A Multiple Case Study Of Primary Grade School Teachers' Experiences With Using Colors To Teach Writing, Rhonda L. Holcomb

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

In this case study, I focused on understanding how primary grade school teachers in public schools in the United States use colors during writing instruction. During literacy instruction, the teacher communicates how to perform the writing process for students to become effective writers. Primary grade school teachers described how and why they use colors during writing instruction and how they learned to use colors for writing instruction and to assess their students’ writing. The theory guiding this study is Jerome Bruner’s instructional theory, supported by Cambourne’s conditions for literacy learning and the sociocultural writing theory. Data were collected through individual …


Christian Latino Therapists’ Experiences In Integrating Psychology And Theology While Maintaining Client Autonomy, Luis F. Ramos Sep 2023

Christian Latino Therapists’ Experiences In Integrating Psychology And Theology While Maintaining Client Autonomy, Luis F. Ramos

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative, phenomenological study aimed to examine Christian Latino therapists' experiences integrating psychology and theology while providing therapy in New York City and maintaining client autonomy. The theory guiding this study was Martin Heidegger's phenomenological analysis of these lived experiences. The questions in the study were to determine: (a) how the participants understood their role in the provision of therapy, (b) how the participants described their experiences in providing therapy, (c) what the participants learned about themselves in the provision of therapy, (d) what methods the participants used in the integration of psychology and theology, and (e) how the participants …


Teachers’ Perceptions On The Influence Of Early Childhood Screenings: A Qualitative Case Study, Jennifer Youssif Sep 2023

Teachers’ Perceptions On The Influence Of Early Childhood Screenings: A Qualitative Case Study, Jennifer Youssif

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine the perceptions of teachers' experiences with the Early Childhood Screening for students attending XYZ School in Eastern Saudi Arabia. The study was guided by the theory of social constructivism and the theory of self-regulation, as they explain how early experiences influence child and adult development. The central research question addressed the experiences of early childhood educators implementing mandatory screening assessments in Pre-K and Kindergarten. The central research question was “What are the experiences of early childhood educators that implement mandatory screening assessments in Pre-K and Kindergarten?” The study followed a …


A Case Study Exploring Teachers' Perceptions Of The Effectiveness Of Professional Development On Their Implementation Of Culturally Responsive Pedagogy, Self-Efficacy, And Student Outcomes, Cala M. Allison Sep 2023

A Case Study Exploring Teachers' Perceptions Of The Effectiveness Of Professional Development On Their Implementation Of Culturally Responsive Pedagogy, Self-Efficacy, And Student Outcomes, Cala M. Allison

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore teachers’ perceptions of the effectiveness of the professional development program on their implementation of culturally responsive pedagogy, self-efficacy, and student outcomes at Wyatt Elementary School. The theories guiding this study were Bandura’s self-efficacy theory and the culturally responsive pedagogy framework. Combining these theoretical frameworks contributed to understanding how teachers internalize and implement culturally responsive pedagogy based on the knowledge obtained during professional development. This study utilized a single case study design to examine teachers’ perceptions at Wyatt Elementary School (pseudonym), an urban family school in the Mid-Atlantic United States. …


A Case Study Of Diverse Faculty Recruitment In A Graduate Higher Education Institution, Miguel Valenzuela Sep 2023

A Case Study Of Diverse Faculty Recruitment In A Graduate Higher Education Institution, Miguel Valenzuela

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this collective case study was to describe higher education faculty’s experience with recruitment and retention through the university hiring process and to discover the equity standards of the phenomenon for higher education institutions. The importance of recruitment and retention of diverse faculty within higher education institutions is imperative for the health of the institution and will assist in furthering diversity initiatives for faculty recruitment that will enable better student experiences. The theory guiding this study was critical race theory (CRT) that was initially intended to be used in the legal field. However, CRT has been used in …


Authorial Intent Of Typological Writing In Judges, Amber D. Haugen Sep 2023

Authorial Intent Of Typological Writing In Judges, Amber D. Haugen

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Judges is often deemed one of the darkest and most disordered eras in Israelite history. Despite the diverse and disturbing narratives, this book captures the covenantal patterns of God through the typological patterns intentionally recorded by the author. This dissertation asserts that the final form of Judges demonstrates literary connections through the land covenants, chiastic structuring, textual seams, and the microlevel narratives which underscore a typological intention by the author. Examining the book of Judges through a typological perspective allows the character of God to be understood through the seemingly incongruent narratives.


The Zone Of Proximal Development And Content Area Instruction For Middle School English Language Learner Students: A Phenomenological Study, Amy Lundgren Sep 2023

The Zone Of Proximal Development And Content Area Instruction For Middle School English Language Learner Students: A Phenomenological Study, Amy Lundgren

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of middle school content area instructors (CAIs) who teach English language learners (ELLs) in public schools in ELL-heavy districts. The theory guiding this study was Vygotsky’s theory of the zone of proximal development (ZPD), as research studies indicate the ability of ELLs to access content area instruction when teachers effectively scaffold them in their ZPD to use discipline specific literacy strategies. Data were collected using one-on-one interviews with 10 content area teachers in six ELL-heavy public-school districts to participate in the study. Further data collection was completed using …


Exploring The Foundations Of Music Education Learning Communities In Rural Texas School Districts, Carnell De'leon Simmons Sep 2023

Exploring The Foundations Of Music Education Learning Communities In Rural Texas School Districts, Carnell De'leon Simmons

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This explanatory sequential mixed method study identified the challenges of creating, implementing, evaluating, and revising a Music Education Learning Community (MELC) model in developing/metro-commuting rural school districts outside the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex of Texas. Influences such as Professional Learning Communities (PLC), the Community Learning Exchange (CLE), and educational partnerships have accelerated the need for applied collaborations to improve music programs. This study showed increased support through a Music Education Learning Community (MELC). MELCs enhanced the skills and knowledge of music educators, families, and community organizations through collaborative analysis, an exchange of expertise, and frequent dialogue. The focus of this study …


Adverse Childhood Experiences In The Yoruba Tribe/Ethnic Group Of Nigerians Living In America: A Phenomenological Exploration, Patricia O. Akinrogunde Aug 2023

Adverse Childhood Experiences In The Yoruba Tribe/Ethnic Group Of Nigerians Living In America: A Phenomenological Exploration, Patricia O. Akinrogunde

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This transcendental phenomenological study examined the lived adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) of the Yoruba tribe of Nigerians living in America. The study setting was virtual through Microsoft Teams sampling members of a local church in central Maryland with a population of about 95% of Nigerians from the Yoruba tribe. The trauma from ACEs and cultural factors that may have contributed to the participants’ negative adulthood aggressive behavior was explored in this study. Behavioral constructivism and social constructivism theories guided this study and provided insight into the factors contributing to the experiences of Nigerians from the Yoruba tribe with childhood trauma. …


A Phenomenological Study Of Early Childhood Teachers’ Lived Experiences And Perceptions Of Their Training In Recognizing Dysgraphia In Young Children, Melonie Daun Boyd Ardoin Aug 2023

A Phenomenological Study Of Early Childhood Teachers’ Lived Experiences And Perceptions Of Their Training In Recognizing Dysgraphia In Young Children, Melonie Daun Boyd Ardoin

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological qualitative study was to examine the lived experiences of early childhood teachers who are seeking to recognize the warning signs of dysgraphia in young children. The learning disorder known as dysgraphia affects written expression and can affect a student’s academic development, achievements, and self-efficacy. The study was conducted via Zoom at two Oklahoma public schools and one Texas public school. The 12 participants were active early childhood teachers who individually expressed their knowledge and perceptions on the recognition of dysgraphia through a written letter, an interview, and a focus group. One central research question guided …


The Experiences Of Tier 3 Early Reading Intervention Providers Three Years After A School Closure: A Phenomenological Study, Sue Ellen Nilena Washington Aug 2023

The Experiences Of Tier 3 Early Reading Intervention Providers Three Years After A School Closure: A Phenomenological Study, Sue Ellen Nilena Washington

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of Tier 3 early reading intervention providers at the Urban Independent School District in Texas three years after a school closure. The central research question was, what are the lived experiences of Tier 3 early reading intervention providers in the Urban Independent School district three years after a school closure? Sub-questions explored early reading intervention providers’ beliefs, attitudes, mental states, and actions three years after a school closure. This study was guided by two central theories: the Vygotskian sociocultural theory of human learning and Bandura’s self-efficacy theory. …


From Lau To Now: A Phenomenological Study Of The Experiences Of Secondary Educators With Monolingual Driven Language Laws, Brooke Elizabeth Boutwell Aug 2023

From Lau To Now: A Phenomenological Study Of The Experiences Of Secondary Educators With Monolingual Driven Language Laws, Brooke Elizabeth Boutwell

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine the influence of monolingually biased federal language policies on English language learners and secondary educators in a middle school in the Oceana School District. The theory guiding this study was Richard Ruiz’s Orientations in Language Planning as it pertains to ideology behind language policy. The transcendental phenomenological study was conducted in the Oceana School district at Waves Middle School. Participants included seven middle school content teachers, a school administrator, and two English as a second language specialists. All participants were chosen based on the criteria of having worked in the Oceana …


A Quantitative Comparison Of Emotional Intelligence Scores For Generation X And Millennial School Leaders, April Desjarlais Clark Aug 2023

A Quantitative Comparison Of Emotional Intelligence Scores For Generation X And Millennial School Leaders, April Desjarlais Clark

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative study using a non-experimental, quantitative, and correlational research design, was to discriminate between the emotional intelligence of school leaders in two cohorts: Generation X and the Millennial Generation. Emotional intelligence (the ability to process emotions and emotional stimuli to guide thinking and behavior) was measured using the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso-Emotional-Intelligence-Test. Emails on public school district websites were used to recruit the principals and distribute the survey. The convenience sample consisted of 86 school principals from the northeastern United States. The total emotional intelligence score was significantly higher in the Millennials than Generation X. Discriminant Function Analysis classified …


A Phenomenological Study On The Strategies Used To Support Minority Gifted Students, Christina Patrice Cobb Aug 2023

A Phenomenological Study On The Strategies Used To Support Minority Gifted Students, Christina Patrice Cobb

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe effective constructivism teaching strategies and approaches for reducing the achievement gap between minority and non-minority students in a middle school gifted program at Stoneybrook Middle School in the Downey-Raine School System through an examination of the lived experiences of teacher participants. The theories that guided this study were Piaget’s cognitive constructivism and Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Both theories focused on the possible obstacles that educators may face when addressing the reduction of the achievement gap within this type of setting. Methodologically, this study followed the qualitative phenomenological research design. The …


Sticks And Stones May Break My Bones But Words Will Never Hurt Me...Until I See Them: A Qualitative Content Analysis Of Trolls In Relation To The Gricean Maxims And (Im)Polite Virtual Speech Acts, Angelika C. Smith-Jones Aug 2023

Sticks And Stones May Break My Bones But Words Will Never Hurt Me...Until I See Them: A Qualitative Content Analysis Of Trolls In Relation To The Gricean Maxims And (Im)Polite Virtual Speech Acts, Angelika C. Smith-Jones

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The troll is one of the most obtrusive and disruptive bad actors on the internet. Unlike other bad actors, the troll interacts on a more personal and intimate level with other internet users. Social media platforms, online communities, comment boards, and chatroom forums provide them with this opportunity. What distinguishes these social provocateurs from other bad actors are their virtual speech acts and online behaviors. These acts aim to incite anger, shame, or frustration in others through the weaponization of words, phrases, and other rhetoric. Online trolls come in all forms and use various speech tactics to insult and demean …


Project-Based Learning And Its Impact On High School Students' Attitudes Towards Mathematics: A Quantitative Study, David E. Postlethwait Aug 2023

Project-Based Learning And Its Impact On High School Students' Attitudes Towards Mathematics: A Quantitative Study, David E. Postlethwait

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative, quasi experimental, nonequivalent control group study analyzed the relationship between students engaging in project-based learning and its impact on their attitudes towards mathematics. Sixty-six high school students taking a non-entry level mathematics class participated in the study. This study compared students taking the same high school mathematics course with one group taught in the traditional way of lecture notes and tests and the second group being taught using projects. These students’ responses from the Attitudes Towards Mathematics Inventory were compared using one-way analysis of covariance to determine a difference in student attitudes. The study determined that there was …


Discovering The Pedagogy And Secrets Of Gamification And Game-Based Learning Applied To The Music Theory Classroom, Jordan E. Montana Richards Aug 2023

Discovering The Pedagogy And Secrets Of Gamification And Game-Based Learning Applied To The Music Theory Classroom, Jordan E. Montana Richards

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This research project aims to establish the credibility of gamification and game-based learning (GBL) in higher education and online education, specifically for applying digital game-based learning (DGBL) to the twenty-first-century music theory classroom. This research project aims to address the current Education Engagement Crisis, the historical need of engaging students, and adapting the music curriculum to the current technological age. This research project will propose an original digital game concept and framework for teaching music theory core skills and other areas of music-related study in higher education as its contribution to the field and research of music education and digital …


Parent Perspectives Of Inclusion For Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Phenomenological Study, Rebecca A. Mack Aug 2023

Parent Perspectives Of Inclusion For Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Phenomenological Study, Rebecca A. Mack

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to explore the experiences with inclusion for parents of students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and combined intellectual impairment in elementary schools in the United States. The theory guiding this study is Bandura’s theory on social cognitive learning as it applies to students with disabilities learning from observing their peers without disabilities. This study design was a transcendental phenomenological qualitative design to explore multiple parents’ unique experiences with the same phenomenon—inclusion for their child with ASD. Participants were chosen using criterion and snowball sampling from social media groups and live across the …


The Impact Of Video-Based Whole Group Lessons On Place, Manner, And Voicing Of Speech Sounds On Reading Achievement, Myranda Noelle Victoria Aug 2023

The Impact Of Video-Based Whole Group Lessons On Place, Manner, And Voicing Of Speech Sounds On Reading Achievement, Myranda Noelle Victoria

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to determine if students who received video-based lessons of the place, manner, and voicing (PMV) of speech sounds demonstrated gains on reading achievement compared to students who did not receive the intervention. A quantitative, quasi-experimental study with a pretest, posttest was developed, using the instrumentation of the reading Measures of Academic Progress (MAP). This study addressed gaps in the existing research regarding the impact of video-based instruction of speech sounds on reading achievement. Participants in this study (n=136) were drawn from a convenience sample of kindergarten students attending two elementary schools within the same …


Multicultural Assessment Practices: A Phenomenological Study Examining Speech-Language Pathologists' Self-Efficacy, Paola Jessica Flores Aug 2023

Multicultural Assessment Practices: A Phenomenological Study Examining Speech-Language Pathologists' Self-Efficacy, Paola Jessica Flores

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand speech-language pathologists’ (SLP) self-efficacy beliefs toward assessing culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) students within public elementary schools in California. Bandura’s self-efficacy theory guided this study since it evaluated SLPs’ belief in their capacity to manage their motivation, behavior, and social environment to carry out appropriate assessment procedures for CLD students. As not all students from CLD backgrounds are accurately identified, gathering the SLPs’ lived experiences regarding current assessment practices helped provide insight into the appropriate identification of SLI. Participants included SLPs employed by rural public school districts in California, with students …


Exploring Academic Goal Commitment And Grit In College Education: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Of The Experiences Of African American Male Graduates, Anthony Earl Reid Aug 2023

Exploring Academic Goal Commitment And Grit In College Education: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Of The Experiences Of African American Male Graduates, Anthony Earl Reid

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this qualitative transcendental phenomenological study was to explore how African American male graduates experience and understand academic goal commitment and grit regarding college education in a small Southeastern regional North Carolina district. Duckworth’s grit theory was the framework used to explore the learning problems students encounter based on the premise that everyone can use the constructs of passion, perseverance, sustained interest, and sustained effort toward achieving long-term goals. Data from 10 African American male graduates came from a questionnaire; one-on-one, open-ended interviews; and focus groups. The approach used for data analysis was reactive awareness toward bringing a …


Attitudes And Experiences Of Preservice Teachers Utilizing Video Annotation Software: A Phenomenological Study, Heather Rogers Lucas Aug 2023

Attitudes And Experiences Of Preservice Teachers Utilizing Video Annotation Software: A Phenomenological Study, Heather Rogers Lucas

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to explore preservice teachers’ experiences with video observations at Central University. The theory guiding this study was Bandura’s self-efficacy theory as it provides insights into the internal and external factors that affect an individual’s perception of their capabilities. Self-efficacy is a critical component and goal of field experience observations. The central research question for this hermeneutic phenomenological study was: What are preservice teachers’ attitudes and experiences using video annotation software during field experience? The study was divided into two phases: individual interviews with preservice teachers, audio-visual elicitation interviews, a letter-writing activity, and …


A Phenomenological Study Examining The Experiences Of Homeschool Parents Who Use Online Courses As Scaffolding To Improve Their Children's Self-Efficacy, Andrew Scott Robinson Aug 2023

A Phenomenological Study Examining The Experiences Of Homeschool Parents Who Use Online Courses As Scaffolding To Improve Their Children's Self-Efficacy, Andrew Scott Robinson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The number of homeschooling families in the United States has rapidly increased since the 1970s, and in particular since the COVID-19 pandemic. This influx of families has brought differing motivations for homeschooling and expectations for curriculum. Online course implementation has been linked to improved self-efficacy, as well as science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) career selection. The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to understand how homeschool parents utilize online courses as scaffolding to improve self-efficacy in their children as a means of college or career preparation. The theories guiding this study were Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy and Bruner’s …


A Causal-Comparative Study Of Learner-Centeredness Among Assemblies Of God Clergy By Credential Level, George Rexaville True Iii Jul 2023

A Causal-Comparative Study Of Learner-Centeredness Among Assemblies Of God Clergy By Credential Level, George Rexaville True Iii

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This non-experimental, causal-comparative study sought to evaluate the learner-centeredness of Pentecostal ministers in the Assemblies of God. Building on the foundations of Adult Learning Theory and Pentecostal epistemology, this study examined the instructional practices of Pentecostal clergy. Utilizing the Principles of Adult Learning Scale [PALS] and a survey of basic demographic information, the instructional methodologies of certified, licensed, and ordained clergy in the Northern New England, Pennsylvania-Delaware, Arkansas, and Northwest districts of the Assemblies of God were examined. A Welch’s ANOVA analyzed the relationship between clergy credential level and scores on the PALS. The results of this study revealed a …


Understanding The Role Of Parent-Teacher Communication In Motivating Elementary School Students: A Case Study, Brittany Rose Powers Jul 2023

Understanding The Role Of Parent-Teacher Communication In Motivating Elementary School Students: A Case Study, Brittany Rose Powers

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this multiple case study was to understand parent-teacher communication and its role in motivating students in elementary school. The work was guided by the following central research question and two sub-questions: CRQ) How do parent-teacher relationships motivate students? SQ1) How does a met or not met basic need dictate the motivational outcomes of students? SQ2) How do elementary school students perceive the role of parents and teachers in their motivation to learn? A qualitative research design was used to gather individual experiences and participants’ perspectives. The multiple case study design allowed many participants to share varying perspectives …


Examining The Predictive Relationship Between Map Reading Scores And Instructional Setting Among Students With Disabilities, Erika Renee' Simpson Jul 2023

Examining The Predictive Relationship Between Map Reading Scores And Instructional Setting Among Students With Disabilities, Erika Renee' Simpson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative, correlational study was to examine if the English instructional setting and special education disability predict the reading achievement of middle school students with disabilities. The findings of this study are useful in determining the effectiveness of inclusion in the English general education classroom for students with specific learning disability (SLD), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and speech and language impairment (SLI). The 116 participants of this study are middle school students enrolled in a public middle school in Georgia. All participants received special education services through the implementation of an Individual Education Plan (IEP). Archival data …


The Effect Of Fifty Percent Minimum Grades On Student Achievement, James M. Mariani Jul 2023

The Effect Of Fifty Percent Minimum Grades On Student Achievement, James M. Mariani

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This causal-comparative quantitative research study aims to determine whether mandating a 50% minimum grade significantly increases student achievement. The setting for this study was one suburban Pennsylvanian high school of approximately 1,250 students. The educational process involves three integrated components: curriculum, instruction, and assessment. Evaluating methods in which schools assign grades is an inherent part of every school assessment system. The Treedale School District and Pennsylvania Department of Education collected data, which the researcher analyzed by performing multiple Mann-Whitney U tests between pre-policy 0%-100% and post policy 50%-100% grade scale groups. The independent variable is grading scale and the dependent …