Education Commons^™

Separate But Equal? A Look At Michigan Public School Districts, Travis Michalak

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

In 1954, the Supreme Court ruled in Brown v. Board of Education that schools that are separate are inherently unequal and that the desegregation of schools should take effect with “all deliberate speed.” Decades later, there are still schools whose student bodies are comprised of over 90% minority students. The following study aimed to understand the relationship between minority segregated schools and their graduation rates, as well as the relationship between student poverty rates and the racial composition of schools and the resulting effect these variables have on school funding. Using data collected from the Michigan School database, this study …

The Impact Of A Mentoring/Financial Incentive Program On At-Risk High School Students, Sean Timothy Galvin

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This mixed methods study describes some outcomes of "Champions of Wayne," a privately funded mentoring/incentive program at an impoverished high school near Detroit. Over 500 students enroll in the program annually. The program involves providing high school students who choose to participate both adult mentoring and a $200 incentive to improve one's grades each semester. The quantitative component of this study analyzes GPA data, while a multiple case study of six participants explores mentoring relationships and experiences. In a comparison of the GPA of participants versus non-participants, program participants significantly improve their grades when compared to those student who do …

The Relationship Between Organizational Culture And The Implementation Of Response To Intervention In One Elementary School, Lynn M. Methner

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This study investigated the relationship between organizational culture and the implementation of Response to Intervention in one elementary school. It examined issues corresponding to change within a system, with particular attention to those relating to school culture. An ethnographic approach was used to gather data, including the collection of artifacts, observations, and interviews. This study found that the implementation of RTI presents numerous organizational, school culture, and leadership challenges. At the organizational level, RTI affects the entire district by changing the instructional focus to include early intervening services and the process by which students are found eligible for special education. …

School Leadership Skill Development, Richard Arthur Weigel

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between what is currently understood about skills for school leadership and the need for a greater understanding of those skills. The importance of developing leadership skills to improve school performance and effectiveness is great. In the field of school leadership, most leaders enter their roles without an understanding of the skills needed to be effective.

There is a societal desire to improve the performance of children in schools, and that improvement relies on skill development for school leaders. Skill development for school leaders begins with skill recognition. The lack of …