Education Commons^™

Parent Magnet School Choice In A Large Urban School District, Catherine Diane Payne

Education Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to understand the perspectives of parents who choose magnet schools. The study investigated sources of information parents use in their school search, factors influencing them to apply to a magnet school, features of charter and private schools that attract them, and reasons for choosing a magnet school. Through an analysis of 984 surveys from parents who applied to a magnet school for the 2018-2019 school year and data from focus groups, the researcher found that recommendations from others is the most important source of information in parent school searches. Parents also consulted online …

A Grounded Theory Exploration Of Teacher Grading Practices, Ingrid Rockhead

Education Dissertations and Projects

An examination of the history of grading reveals that many of the problems associated with current traditional grading practices are not new. Despite impassioned pleas from researchers and grading experts, practices such as assigning zeros on a percentage grading scale, assigning grades for practice such as homework and classwork while students are still learning, using the mean to report on students’ overall grades, and not allowing reassessments continue to occur. The purpose of this qualitative study was to describe and report on Title I teachers’ grading practices and explain using grounded theory methods, the influences on those practices. This study …

The Relationship Between Adolescent Students' Motivation To Read And College- And Career-Ready Achievement, Brianne Elizabeth Schoch

Education Dissertations and Projects

This study examined the relationship between student motivation to read and college- and career-ready achievement. The participants were 60 eighth-grade students from a middle school in western North Carolina. Pitcher’s et al. (2007) Adolescent Motivation to Read Profile (AMRP) survey instrument was used to collect data on student motivation to read and its subsets of self-concept as reader and value of reading. Academic achievement was measured by the North Carolina READY End-of-Grade Assessment English Language Arts/Reading for Grade 8 (NC READY ELA/R 8). Descriptive statistics revealed students could be described as neither having a positive or negative value of reading; …

Qualitative Analysis Of Adult Perceptions Of Their K-12 Grade Retention, Helena Sibyl King

Education Dissertations and Projects

This study investigated the effects that a K-12 grade retention had on adults who were retained as children. The research was motivated by three research questions: (1) How do adults aged 18-65 who have experienced grade retention describe the effect that a K-12 retention had and possibly continues to have on their lives? (2) How do adults aged 18-65 feel about having been held back in school? (3) How do adults aged 18-65 perceive grade retention overall? Previous studies neglected to examine the emotional implications that retention can have on a child and the possible long-term effects that retention may …

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 …

African American English, School Demographics, And Literacy Achievement In Reading Recovery, Brandynne Thompson

Education Dissertations and Projects

African-American students continue to lag behind White peers in nationwide test scores, in part due to deficits in literacy skills which may be connected to use of African American English (AAE) in the school setting. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between exposure to varying levels of mainstream American English (MAE) for AAE-speaking students and specific literacy skills during Reading Recovery intervention. Elementary schools were designated as high exposure or low exposure to MAE based on school racial demographics, and pre and postintervention scores of first-grade students in Reading Recovery intervention were analyzed to determine differences. …

Elementary Teacher Perceptions Of Eureka Math, Lindsay Harmon Walker

Education Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of elementary teachers teaching the Eureka Math program using a mixed methods approach. The participants were Grades K-5 elementary teachers from 10 elementary schools within the same school district located in the southwestern region of North Carolina. Quantitative data were collected via a 4-point Likert scale survey distributed via Google Forms. Qualitative data were collected via an open-ended question from the survey and an interview group. The data were collected to answer the research question, “How do elementary teachers experience teaching mathematics using the Eureka Math program?” The researcher designed …

Culture And Language: An Action Research Study On The Impact Of Integrating Culture Into A Chinese Language Immersion Program, Haibin Li

Education Dissertations and Projects

Though a framework for foreign language education exists, the lack of guidelines, proper implementation, and benchmarks, along with scarce research on the effects of implementing cultural aspects in immersion classrooms leaves foreign language educators in the dark. An action research study design was utilized in a second grade Chinese immersion program at a language academy, investigating the impacts of the inclusion of culture activities in the classroom. Areas included were cultural exposure, teaching methods, teaching materials, cross cultural education, and challenges. Research data collected included students’ unit test scores, journals, parent surveys, and parent interviews. Time practicing is important, yet …

Identifiable Factors That Influence Teacher Retention In Four Title I Middle Schools: A Multiple-Case Study, Adair Blanton Mckay

Education Dissertations and Projects

Student success has suffered a great deal and continues to suffer in the Title I middle school setting. Staffing problems in these schools account for part of the cause. This study examined four Title I middle schools that experience difficulty retaining teachers. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (2016), between 2011-2012 and 2012-2013, approximately 8% of teachers moved, another 8% of teachers left the profession, and approximately 84% of teachers stayed at the same school. The percentage of movers from high-poverty schools is double that of movers from low-poverty schools. The goal of this study was to serve …

Impact Of Teacher Morale And School Culture On Student Achievement, Meredith Bost

Education Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of teacher morale and school culture on student achievement. The setting for this research was a high school in a small, semi- urban school district in the Piedmont of North Carolina. For the purpose of this study, teacher morale and school culture were based on the opinion of English II and biology teachers at the study site. The study’s methodology included surveying English II and biology teachers on teacher morale and school culture. To measure teacher morale, the Purdue Teacher Opinionnaire was given to each participant. To measure the school’s …

Parental Involvement And Access: A Phenomenological Study Of Urban High School Communities, Jared Thompson

Education Dissertations and Projects

In an urban school district, four high schools were studied in an effort to assess how Epstein’s (2001) six types of involvement were currently being experienced by parents. In a phenomenological study, this research gathered data on how parents of secondary students are currently experiencing their involvement with the high school. The research gathered quantitative and qualitative data from 443 parents through the use of a survey and focus group sessions over the course of 4 weeks. Parents expressed their current experiences with how they engage with the school concerning parenting practices, communication, learning at home, volunteering, decision-making, and collaborating …

The Impact Of Graduation Coaches' Relationship Building Strategies On Student Dispositions And Self-Efficacy, Rick Strickland

Education Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative phenomenological research was designed to explore the relationships established by graduation coaches and the students they serve. The research that was conducted in two upstate South Carolina schools explored the perceptions and experiences of both the graduation coaches and the students who participated in the study. The study was conducted using a phenomenological research design to capture the essence of each participant’s experiences and perceptions. Data were collected utilizing surveys, interviews, and field observations. The researcher did not participate in the interaction between the graduation coaches and their students. The results of the data collection revealed themes and …

Teacher Perceptions Of Formative Assessments On Student Learning In K-12 Classrooms, Stacey Robinson

Education Dissertations and Projects

A mixed methods design was utilized to examine teacher perceptions of formative assessments and its impact on student motivation. Teachers from 32 public schools in a southeastern school district were invited to participate in a formative assessment survey using a Likert scale to share their perceptions of their understanding and use of formative assessments in the classroom. The survey and interview items addressed teachers’ own self-efficacy values as they relate to their implementation of formative assessments and their relationship with motivating students to learn. Data analysis indicated most teachers had a strong understanding of formative assessments, but some of their …

Impact Of Language Program Model On Third-Grade English Language Learners’ Proficiency In Literacy, Alecia Roberts

Education Dissertations and Projects

Demographics within U.S. public schools have seen a drastic change over the years from the ruling of Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954) which integrated schools to the current increase in English Language Learners (ELLs) within the classroom. The U.S. is known to be a melting pot, and the present-day classrooms are a clear example of this phenomenon; however, with the increase in demographics of the U.S. classrooms, ELLs are falling significantly behind their peers in reading achievement. Thus, this study examined the impact of traditional, dual-language, and full immersion settings on North Carolina third-grade ELLs’ proficiency in …

Increasing The Sustainability Of Action Learning In The Beta Corporation, Sheila Person-Scott

Education Dissertations and Projects

The Talent Development and Organization Effectiveness group of the Beta Corporation, (pseudonym), introduced action learning (AL) as an enterprise solution in 2014. The group envisioned AL would become a key leadership development lever and assumed the business leaders would embrace the opportunities associated with AL; however, it was discovered that organic embracing of AL did not happen. A few of the reasons interfering with wider adoption were

a) Clarification of AL was difficult

b) Lack of understanding between key stakeholders

c) Undefined outcomes and measures

d) Delivered solely to an exclusive audience of senior leaders

e) Shortage of AL coaches …

Board Recruitment And Development For A Nonprofit Farmers' Market Organization, Tammy B. Bass

Education Dissertations and Projects

Community nonprofit organizations operated by a Board of Directors rely heavily on the commitment and goodwill of volunteers. By 2017, Foothills Farmers’ Market (FFM), a community nonprofit organization, had experienced rapid growth in sales, grant funding, and programs while experiencing highs and lows in volunteer Board leadership. The organization needed very committed volunteer Board members who would put in the time to run the small nonprofit business that was growing quickly. Board members were becoming less committed as the demands of the organization became greater, to the point that there often were not enough Directors present to meet quorum and …

The Impact Of Blended Professional Learning Focused On Total Physical Response Storytelling (Tprs®) On Teacher Perceptions And Practices, April Dawn Debord

Education Dissertations and Projects

Professional learning plays an integral role in every educator’s career. Studies show that traditional workshop professional learning in a one-round session without follow-up training is not effective (Ball & Cohen, 1999), yet this type of professional learning still comprises the bulk of professional development offerings. This study sought to discover the impact of providing blended professional learning with coaching on teacher perception, teacher knowledge, classroom practice, and student learning. Participating instructors from various Grades 9-12 backgrounds received asynchronous virtual training in the TPRS® method and Marzano’s (2004) vocabulary learning strategies. The training was delivered via the Canvas Learning Management System. …

Administrator Perceptions Of Their Preparedness To Lead Digital Learning Initiatives Through Observing, Modeling, And Providing Feedback For The Effective Utilization Of Technology In A Digitally Rich Environment, Kristin L. Edwards

Education Dissertations and Projects

With the rapid increase in device usage in classrooms, it is imperative that administrators know and understand pedagogical principles within digitally rich environments. This qualitative study sought to understand administrator preparedness for leading digital learning initiatives in the areas of observing, modeling, and offering constructive feedback in digitally rich environments. The Principals Technology Leadership Assessment (PTLA) and focus groups were used to conduct the research. A chi-square goodness of fit was used to compare the responses of the PTLA to the original PTLA study. Focus group results were analyzed for emerging themes. Gaps were identified as indicated by the ISTE-A …

Initiating Change: An Investigation Of Elementary Educators' Perspectives For Implementing Stem Innovation, Jodie Leean Witherspoon

Education Dissertations and Projects

STEM education has become a preferred curriculum design for integrating science, technology, engineering, and mathematics into k-12 instruction (Meyrick, 2011). Nonetheless, many elementary schools do not utilize the curriculum design and the benefits of learning it may provide, even though elementary educators understand the importance of science literacy starting in early childhood (Cafarella, McCulloch, & Bell, 2017; Worth, 2010). For many educators, the traditional instruction received as a child was instruction in isolation. This vision has led educators themselves to teach in isolation. Research has shown educators had little or no direction in how to switch their instructional practices from …

The Perceived Impact Of Relational Care On The Psychological Growth Of African-American Males In An Alternative Educational Program In South Carolina, Robert Smalls

Education Dissertations and Projects

Alternative schools/programs are prevalent throughout this country; however, some struggle to meet the holistic needs of the students. Many alternative schools in this country are disproportionately populated by children of color. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand how alternative education teachers in an urban school district in South Carolina embody the ethics of care to support the psychological growth of the students. Second, the study sought to understand the perceived influence of caring on student motivation and behavior. Using criterion sampling, the student population consisted of five African-American males who received their education in an alternative school …

Phenomenological Study Of Middle School Teacher Practices Regarding Homework In An Eastern North Carolina Rural Community, Anna Brooks

Education Dissertations and Projects

This study was an investigation of homework practices at the middle school level. For this phenomenological study, 48 certified middle school teachers in an eastern North Carolina rural community provided insight about homework at the middle school level by participating in a survey. The debate about homework is ongoing and often evokes a variety of passionate responses from those on both sides of the debate. The findings in this study revealed a spectrum of homework practices throughout the five middle schools. Homework is the most widely used instructional practice, yet one that is rarely reflected upon by teachers, administrators, and …

An Investigation Of On Our Way To English®, A Reading Program For English Learners In A Rural Western Region North Carolina Public School District, Regina King

Education Dissertations and Projects

This study examined how a literacy program, On Our Way to English® (OWE), for English Learners (ELs) was implemented in one North Carolina public school district. The program contained the elements of phonics, vocabulary, reading, and writing instruction. The researcher collected documents from participants as well as conducted observations of teachers implementing the program with ELs while taking field notes. The data collected were analyzed to determine how competent the participants felt in implementing the program with EL students and how it impacted their academic success. The participants’ strengths were with using the vocabulary and writing instruction provided by the …

A Descriptive Phenomenological Exploration Of Resiliency Through Math Curriculum Changes From The Perspectives Of Elementary Educators, Shanna Good

Education Dissertations and Projects

Phenomenological research in education, especially regarding curriculum, is rare. Curriculum change in the state has occurred seven times since 2002, and more so in each district with material adoption. This descriptive phenomenological research study describes the experiences of elementary educators through changing math curriculums. To collect data, the researcher interviewed 10 elementary math teachers including a pilot interview. Using a purposeful, convenience sample, three participants from three different schools participated in this study to ensure validity and reliability. After conducting semi-structured interviews, the researcher followed protocol for descriptive phenomenological research and analyzed the data for meaning units that described how …

Building Bridges: Connecting To The Classics With Young Adult Literature, Karen Rusyniak Conner

Education Dissertations and Projects

This study examined the effects of intertextual study using young adult literature and classic literature on both student reading attitudes and student achievement with 10th- grade high school English students in a suburban high school in North Carolina. The convergent parallel mixed methods action research study used qualitative data in the form of an anonymous survey and anonymous open-ended journal responses as well as qualitative data from achievement results on required benchmark tests. The survey results were analyzed in terms of responses, and open-ended responses were analyzed and coded for themes. Multiple themes emerged from the survey responses and open-ended …

Cyberbullying And The Middle School Adolescent: Educator Perceptions, Kalani Crognal Lafrancis

Education Dissertations and Projects

Victimization and perpetration of cyberbullying are ongoing threats to school systems across the United States. Cyberbullying is a vast problem for adolescents, due to constant access and availability of technology via the online environment. This mixed methods study was based on the theoretical framework of Bandura’s (1989) theory. This study investigated the perceptions of middle school educators concerning cyberbullying via educator surveys, focus groups, and interviews to gather mixed methods data. This study took place in four middle schools in upstate South Carolina within District X. One hundred three educator participants took the survey, 12 educators participated in focus groups, …

A Program Evaluation Of The Implementation Of Personalized Learning In A Rural Elementary School, Jaime Hembree

Education Dissertations and Projects

The global workforce is constantly changing. Students sitting in today’s classrooms are being prepared for jobs that do not currently exist. Students must graduate ready to be problem solvers, collaborators, and self-starters. Students must become in charge of their learning, and teachers must possess the skill set in order to facilitate this kind of learning. As a result, many states and school districts are implementing personalized learning. This study provides a program evaluation of the implementation of personalized learning, and focused primarily on the implementation of student data notebooks and teacher-shared flexible grouping and measured teacher efficacy and student achievement …

Perceptions Of The Impact Of Quality Professional Development On The Sustainability Of A One-To-One Computing Initiative At The High School Level, Kerry Morrison

Education Dissertations and Projects

It has been said that education is the key to success, and today’s youth are tomorrow’s human resources. This is the 21st century; and students, who will be the human resources of tomorrow, are being prepared for jobs that may not even exist today. Legislators, policy makers, and researchers have encouraged methods to ensure teachers deliver high quality instruction, including requiring that teachers complete specific training, possess a minimum level of content knowledge, and use curriculum materials and professional development resources available from schools and districts (Hill, Blazar, & Lynch, 2015). As a result, teachers need to be exposing students …

From The Beginning: A Start To End Analysis Of A Beginning Teacher Program, Andrea Michelle Anderson

Education Dissertations and Projects

This mixed-methods study evaluated the effectiveness of a Beginning Teacher Support Program in the southern region of a school district. The effects of teacher turnover, national teacher shortages, induction programs, mentoring, administrative support, professional development, and other support offered to beginning teachers were analyzed. The researcher created a survey that was administered to high school beginning teachers, mentor teachers, and principals. A focus group and an interview with a regional beginning teacher coordinator were also conducted to further evaluate the effectiveness of the district’s beginning teacher program. The results of the study concluded that beginning teachers benefitted from participating in …

School Culture Survey Constructs And Student Achievement Relationships In Title I K-8 Schools, Carol Hammonds Miller

Education Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative study investigated the correlation between school culture constructs and student achievement in 160 Title I K-8 schools from four Local Education Agencies. Title I schools receive funds from the federal government to fund programs and provide resources to help students meet rigorous standards on state assessments. School culture is defined as the beliefs, perceptions, relationships, attitudes, and written and unwritten rules that shape and influence every aspect of how a school functions. This study aimed to determine if any relationship existed between school culture constructs and student achievement. Statistical analysis included preexisting data collected from the 2016 North …

Collective Efficacy, Teacher Beliefs And Socioeconomic Status In Title I And Non-Title I Schools, Betsy Furr

Education Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the association between collective efficacy, teacher beliefs, and socioeconomic status with reading and math student achievement in the Title I and Non-Title I schools of one school district. This study examined factors that influence student achievement in a district with a majority of Title I schools. Of the eight K–8 schools in the participating district, five are Title I. Collective efficacy and teacher beliefs were used to gather data about what teachers believe regarding student learning. The efficacy survey in this study provided data about instructional strategies and student discipline. The …