Education Commons^™

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 …

An Examination Of The Impact Of A Middle School Transition Program On Student Academic Intrinsic Motivation, Melissa West

Education Dissertations and Projects

This case study addressed student academic intrinsic motivation during transition into middle school. The study examined one middle school that conducts a middle school transition program. The study collected data about student intrinsic motivation in reading, math, social studies, and science. The researcher explored procedures learned during the middle school transition program that students and teachers felt most directly impacted student intrinsic motivation. This study was an extension of Sealy’s (2012) dissertation about high school transition. The purpose of this study was to extend the generalization of the original study, build on previous research, and add related knowledge to the …

The Reading Strategies/Skills Within The North Carolina Rta Summer Reading Camp, Leroy Leon Wray

Education Dissertations and Projects

This dissertation was designed to examine the reading strategies within the North Carolina Read to Achieve (RtA) Program summer reading camp and the achievement low socioeconomic elementary students made in reading during summer camp. The study was from a K-12 school and measured by the RtA Program. The study looked at third-grade students located in the urban piedmont area of North Carolina. It looked at reading strategies used during the North Carolina RtA Program summer reading camp and sought to determine if there are reading gains or losses of students who attended the North Carolina RtA summer reading camp. The …

Co-Teaching In Inclusion Classrooms: An Investigation Of Secondary Inclusion Practices, Margaret Erin Keene

Education Dissertations and Projects

This study was an investigation of co-teaching and inclusion practices at the secondary level. In the explanatory sequential mixed-methods study, regular education co-teachers as well as special education co-teachers offered insights by their participation in a survey and focus groups. This study investigated co-teacher perceptions of inclusion and how their perceptions of inclusion and co-teaching influenced the extent of teacher use of elements of Dr. Friend’s co-teaching models. The study also investigated and identified the needs of co-teachers. Co-teaching is defined as “two or more professionals delivering substantive instruction to a diverse, or blended, group of students in a single …

Generational Differences In Motivations Of North Carolina Public Elementary School Teachers, Alison Headlee Whitaker

Education Dissertations and Projects

This mixed-methods study addressed the generational differences in intrinsic and extrinsic motivation among elementary teachers in North Carolina. Intrinsic motivation to persist in the profession was examined through the lens of Pink’s theory that autonomy, mastery, and purpose determine a person’s degree of intrinsic motivation. Information relating to extrinsic motivation was also examined. Data were collected through a 33-question survey distributed via email and social media. Quantitative data were analyzed using the Kruskal Wallis H Test to determine significant differences. Qualitative data were coded and analyzed for themes leading to insight into internal and external motivations of elementary school teachers. …

The Relationship Between Administrator Interpersonal Skills And School Climate, Student Learning, And Teacher Retention, Marsha Justice

Education Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this mixed-method study was to determine if specific interpersonal skills (trustworthiness, communication, empathy, and problem-solving) possessed by principals, as perceived by teachers, are important characteristics in creating and maintaining a positive school climate, increasing student learning, and retaining teachers in the elementary school setting. The participants in the study were teachers from 13 elementary schools in a North Carolina county. This study used both quantitative and qualitative data from a combined principal soft skill and climate survey, 2015–2016 North Carolina report card on teacher retention, 2015–2016 EOG math/reading scores, and results from teacher interviews to examine the …

The Alignment Of Instructional Practices With Digital Learning Environments, Angela Szakasits

Education Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to examine how teacher instructional practices aligned with digital learning environments. The following four research questions guided this investigation: How do teachers demonstrate leadership in digital learning? How do teachers model and teach digital citizenship? How do teachers use digital content and resources for instruction? How do teachers use technology for data and assessment? The North Carolina (NC) Digital Learning Competencies for Classroom Teachers (NCDPI Digital Teaching and Learning Division, 2016) provided the theoretical framework for this study, and the research questions aligned with the four focus areas of these competencies. This mixed-methods study …

Math I Benchmark Testing: Friend Or Foe?, Shelley Gainey West

Education Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative study addresses the ability of locally developed Math I benchmark assessments to predict student performance on the Math I end-of-course (EOC) state assessment for a rural county in North Carolina. Many districts in North Carolina lack funds to purchase commercially developed benchmarks and must rely on district personnel to develop these assessments. Locally developed benchmark assessments are not typically validated or considered psychometrically sound. Signal Detection Theory (SDT) was used to determine cut-off values on the locally developed Math I benchmark assessments for pass/fail grouping of students that will inform instructional interventions prior to the Math I EOC …

General Education Teachers' Self-Efficacy To Teach Autistic Students In Kindergarten Through Fourth Grade General Education Classrooms, Tanya Michelle Wynn

Education Dissertations and Projects

Children are being diagnosed with autism at an alarming rate; and as these students enter schools to be educated alongside their peers, general education teachers need to feel prepared to teach them. Many years ago, students with autism were placed in separate classrooms and were not in general education classrooms. As times have changed and autistic students enter into general education classrooms that are taught by general education teachers, this study examined the self-efficacy of those teachers when it comes to educating these students. This research was done in a rural school district, and kindergarten through fourth-grade teachers from three …

Representations Of Black Characters In Children’S Literature: A Product Of Histories, Ideologies, Narratives, Depictions, Politics, And Laws, Annie Calloway

Education Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative, directed content analysis examined fiction and nonfiction children’s literature published between 2015 and 2017. Through the lens of Critical Race Theory, the study describes the ways in which Black characters are represented in early readers. Using books located in community libraries, school media centers and retail outlets, the study concludes that Black characters are represented less frequently and in ways that often do not take into account cultural, political, and legal manifestations of White privilege. This discussion of race, identity, power structures, and education aims to create and promote thought and discussions surrounding the genealogies of racial oppressions. …

In It Together: The Impact Of Data-Driven Teams On Student Learning, Collaborative Practice, And School Culture, Marcie Wilson

Education Dissertations and Projects

The goal of this study was to determine the impact of data-driven teams on student learning, collaborative practice, and school culture. The participants in the study were the data-driven team members from four middle schools in a North Carolina county. The study used EOG test results in 6–8 reading and math from before implementation to after implementation of data-driven teams, EVAAS growth in 6–8 reading and math from before implementation to after implementation of data-driven teams, results on Gruenert and Whitaker’s (2015) School Culture Survey given after implementation, interviews with the principals of each middle school, and focus group interviews …

Optimal Conditions To Support School Climate And Increase Teacher Retention In Middle School Classrooms, Kimberly Taylor Coleman

Education Dissertations and Projects

This study addressed the increasing attrition and migration of teachers from middle school classrooms. The study also sought to determine to what extent specific research-based factors motivated teachers to remain in the middle school classroom. An explanatory sequential mixed-methods design was used in this study. The first portion of the study included quantitative and qualitative data collection through the administration of an online survey instrument. Survey data results were utilized to create and modify questions used to gather additional qualitative data during the administration of two focus groups. This study found a positive school climate, administrative support, and collegiality to …

Teacher Perspectives Of Their Experiences In A Professional Learning Community And How These Experiences Contribute To A Collaborative School Culture, Kimberly Janette Kelley

Education Dissertations and Projects

Fullan (1998) stated, “Student achievement increases substantially in schools with collaborative work cultures that foster a professional learning community among teachers and others” (p. 8). Vandevoort, Amrein-Beardsley, and Berliner (2004) also found that the quality of the teacher in the classroom is the single most important factor in determining how well a child learns. The purpose of this study was to determine practices and experiences within a Professional Learning Community (PLC) that contribute to a collaborative culture and student performance. The research question for this study was, “What experiences in a PLC do teachers perceive contribute to a collaborative culture?” …

Impact Of The Mathematics Curriculum Coach On Teacher Instructional Practice And Teacher Self-Efficacy, Alison Rollins Syverson

Education Dissertations and Projects

This mixed-methods study sought to explore the impact the role a mathematics curriculum coach has on teacher efficacy and instructional practice. School systems across the country are being asked to do more with less money. At the same time, districts are faced with mathematics standards that require a new approach to instruction. In response to these issues, school districts are choosing to implement the role of a mathematics curriculum coach. As a result, the question is raised, “are the funds utilized for math coaches being used effectively?” This mixed-methods study compared two schools of similar makeup. School A employs a …

Efficacy Of A Summer Math Academy Program To Improve Student Motivation And Student Knowledge And Skills In A Rural Southeastern Community, Danielle Grier

Education Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a Community Math Academy (summer camp) in a southeastern school district in an effort to prevent the summer learning loss often experienced by students. The study intended to provide the Community Math Academy staff insight into the nature of the site, to assess the success of the 3-week implementation, to observe student interaction with program lessons and materials, and to provide feedback to the funding agencies, partner organizations, project team, participants, and stakeholders.

Data collection procedures included student journals examining student attitudes towards math, pre and posttest data, …

Exploring The Impact Of Feedback On Learning Transfer In The Liminal Space For Information Literacy, Natalie Edwards Bishop

Education Dissertations and Projects

Mastering new knowledge is a transformative process, but what happens between initial confrontation with new knowledge and the moment it is mastered? This qualitative case study investigated perceptions on how feedback loops influenced student growth and learning transfer in the liminal space. Myer and Land (2005) described the liminal space as a stuck place where learners are wrestling with their conceptual understanding of knowledge that is troublesome.

Students were adult undergraduates in an online information literacy course. Librarians teaching the course were early adopters of ACRL’s The Framework for Information Literacy in Higher Education (the Framework) and participated in on-site …

The Value Of Career And Technical Education In Addressing College And Career Readiness And The Ill-Prepared Workforce: A Study Of The Perceptions Of Community College Administrators And Instructors; District High School Administrators, And Guidance Counselors, And Cte Department; And A Workforce Employer In North Carolina, Kamina A. Fitzgerald

Education Dissertations and Projects

This study examined the perceptions of community college administrators and instructors; district high school administrators, guidance counselors, and CTE department; and a workforce employer of the value of career and technical education. This study also examined the historical and present perceptions of the district- and state-level officials regarding career and technical education and its ability to address the issue of an ill-prepared workforce and college readiness.

Data were collected from several sources. Quantitative data were collected in the form of questionnaires to administrators, teachers, guidance counselors, and a workforce employer in North Carolina. The quantitative data can be used to …

Voices Of The Implementers: The Perceptions And Experiences Of Educators Implementing Pbis, Jacqueline Nicole Freeman

Education Dissertations and Projects

This qualitative research study was developed around the problem that teachers are resistant to change when implementing educational initiatives that are new to them. “Rather than blame teachers and ask, ‘Why do teachers resist?’ perhaps those of us who lead change should ask, ‘What can we do to make it easier for teachers to implement new practices’” (Knight, 2009, p. 508)? Research supports the need for district and school administrators to focus on strategies that positively impact change and develop successful initiation and implementation procedures. This study focused on the types of strategies identified by the teachers that facilitated and/or …

An Investigation On Cyber Safety Awareness Among Teachers And Parents, Teresa M. Lester

Education Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this mixed-methods investigation was to determine how teachers and parents understood and educated themselves on cyber safety. This research explored how teachers and parents found and used resources available to stay informed of the constant threats and changes for students while online.

The amount of time young people spend with media has grown to where it’s even more than a full-time work week . . . When children are spending this much time doing anything, we need to understand how it’s affecting them for good and bad. (Henry J. Kaiser Foundation, 2010, p. 2).

It is now …

A Study Of Teacher Perceptions Of 21st Century Student Learning In A One-To-One Instructional Environment, Laura Michelle Brooks

Education Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to examine teacher perceptions of the extent to which they promoted student acquisition of 21st century skills in a one-to-one laptop program. Many proponents of one-to-one learning suggest that 21st century learning skills are best acquired in a student-centered, constructivist learning environment; therefore, constructivist learning theory was the conceptual framework for this study. The researcher also sought to discover any benefits or challenges that teachers encountered while implementing the laptop program. Eighty-six teachers at a southeastern state public high school responded to a survey, and 10 of those teachers were interviewed. The researcher …

The Perception Of Administrators And Guidance Counselors In Five Rural High Schools Of The Ninth Grade Transition Program And/Or Strategies, Sheila Vonta Mcgee-Carlton

Education Dissertations and Projects

Ninth-grade students are in danger of not succeeding more than any other grade level in high school. High school freshmen are at a higher risk of dropping out of high school than any populace of students. The purpose of this study was to determine the perceptions of administrators and guidance counselors on the interventions/strategies utilized to achieve success of first-time ninth-grade students in five rural high schools located in southeastern North Carolina. Data-driven documentation assisted with methods that were in place with decreasing absenteeism and behavioral issues along with increasing course performance during the transitional phase in ninth grade. An …

Did We Get It Right? A Study Of Process Fidelity In The Response To Intervention Program, Lashanda Wardlow Foust

Education Dissertations and Projects

For valid disability determination to occur, a diagnostic team needs to be able to determine that a student has received appropriate instruction in the general education classroom” (Johnson, Mellard, Fuchs, & McKnight, 2006, p. 4.2).

The purpose of the study was to determine whether a middle school Response to Intervention (RTI) program is being implemented with fidelity. The researcher used the RTI Essential Components Worksheet and the RTI Fidelity of Implementation Rubric as the evaluation tools.

The research focused on how effectively the RTI process was implemented at the focus middle school. A qualitative method design was used in the …

Students With Learning Differences From College Star: A Case Study, Haley Nulty

Education Dissertations and Projects

This case study focused on the perceptions from students, family members, and faculty of students utilizing programs funded by the College STAR grant. The College STAR grant provides funds to welcome and support students with unique learning needs. As a newer initiative, minimal data exist on college students’ utilization of the resources provided by College STAR. The success of these students was the focus of this research. An analysis of feedback from one of the three participating universities including faculty members, family perspectives, and student qualities was conducted. This qualitative research approach consisted of a six-part design to collect and …

Underachievement In Gifted High School Students: Examining School Administrator Perceptions, Lamont Moore

Education Dissertations and Projects

hroughout the history of gifted education, the underachievement of gifted students has been a conundrum for educators. In fact, underachievement in gifted students is defined in various ways by researchers. A wide range of contributing factors for gifted underachievement exists in previous studies. The perceptions held by students and educators regarding these factors have been studied by many researchers as an attempt to understand the nuances that exist within the concept of underachievement in gifted students.

This quantitative study examined the perceptions of school administrators concerning the factors that impact underachievement in gifted students. The study surveyed administrators from multiple …

Teacher Preparation Programs And Motivation Strategies For Student Achievement In Select Elementary Schools, Sharonne Denise Simmons

Education Dissertations and Projects

According to Ashton (1984), teacher self-efficacy can produce a prevailing paradigm in the field of education. Ashton stated that there is no other personality trait of teachers that has such a profound effect on student academic success. A teacher preparation program that has an aim of developing teacher self-efficacy and includes the important elements of motivating students, “should develop teachers who possess the motivation essential for effective classroom performance” (Ashton, 1984, p. 2). Teacher self-efficacy denotes the belief or discernment that one can perform tasks adequately to reach a desired goal (Bandura, 1997).

According to Bandura (1986), self-efficacy judgments are …

Program Evaluation Of The Leader In Me In A Rural Elementary School With Emphasis On Hispanic Students, John Shepard

Education Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of The Leader in Me (TLIM) program and philosophy on a highly diverse, rural elementary school in North Carolina. TLIM is a program for school-wide transformation that seeks to teach all students 21st century leadership and life skills. TLIM is based on The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Covey (1989) and is an integrated approach to teaching leadership development. The study took place at School X, which has over 440 students. School X is diverse: 46% of the students are Hispanic; 41% are White; and 13% are Asian, …

Middle School Teacher Perspectives Toward Classroom Practices And Groupings Of Academically Gifted Students, Bethany Settlemyre

Education Dissertations and Projects

This mixed-method research study was designed to examine middle school teacher perspectives toward the classroom practices and groupings of academically gifted students. The Classroom Practices Questionnaire (Archambault et al., 1993) was used to survey middle school teachers on their use of instructional strategies with gifted students. Focus groups were then held to gain insight on teacher perceptions of differentiation practices for gifted students and homogenous and heterogeneous groupings of gifted students.

An analysis of the data revealed that teachers held positive perceptions of teaching AIG students. Data also revealed that teachers believe that homogenous groupings are more beneficial for AIG …

Filling The Reading Void: Studying Reading Stamina In A Suburban High School Through Action Research: A Companion Research Study, Lindsey Ruth Weycker

Education Dissertations and Projects

A common practice in elementary schools is to allow students silent reading time during school. Experts agree this is best practice due to the benefits to students, especially in vocabulary development and reading stamina. As students age, however, this practice tends to decline in favor of activities that are meant to teach vocabulary in isolation and test preparation skills. In addition to these activities, English language arts classes typically read and study novels together as a class for the purpose of studying literary devices and literary analysis. Because of these practices, secondary students tend to read less, which in turn …

A Study Of Staff Development And Teacher Efficacy In Implementing Standards-Based Grading At The Elementary Schools In A Rural School District In North Carolina, Brayton Alan Leonhardt

Education Dissertations and Projects

Standards-based grading is still in its infancy within North Carolina. At this time, only 12 of the 115 school districts have incorporated the standards-based form of grading into their system. As school districts across North Carolina look to implement different forms of grading to assess student learning, it will be important to look at the effectiveness of the professional development that accompanies the shift. The research questions that guided this work center around the support needed by teachers during the transition period and the impact of the professional development on their understanding of how to successfully implement standards-based grading. The …