Education Commons^™

The Impact Of School-Based Mentoring On At-Risk Students Of An Urban School District, Brandon B. Richardson

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

It is necessary to consider and implement a strategy to close the academic performance gap, particularly for at-risk adolescents in urban school districts. Mentoring programs have been around for a long time and continue to be successful. This research study's goal was to investigate the influence at-risk adolescents in an urban school district get from a school-based mentorship program. The study had a total of 40 participants (10 mentors, 8 parents, 10 teachers, 10 students, and 2 administrators). The study employed a mixed methods research strategy. Using a quantitative method approach, the researcher investigated whether a mentorship program had significant …

The Correlational Effects Of Academic And Demographic Factors On Nursing Students’ Attrition, Progression, And Completion At A University College Of Nursing, Adebusola A. Obafemi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

High United States nursing student attrition rates have attracted political, organizational, and social interest for numerous reasons. This attrition places financial burdens on the students, results in revenue loss for the college, and exacerbates the existing nursing shortage. Students' success in a nursing program is crucial for nurses to practice nursing. The purpose of this retrospective study was to explore the effects of academic performance and demographic/categorical factors on nursing students' progression and completion at a University College of Nursing in the Southern United States. The target population consisted of students enrolled at the University College of Nursing from January …

High School Students’ Expulsion Reintegration Following Alternative School: A Phenomenological Study, Michael Eric Zellous

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was used to understand the lived experience of ninth through twelfth-grade high school expelled students and their perception of support when returning to their home campus in "Pecan Canyon School District" (a pseudonym). This qualitative study examined existing research on exclusionary discipline and documents the expulsion and reentry processes the students faced when leaving and returning to their home campuses. The research, deeply rooted in Moustakas's approach to transcendental phenomenology, has produced a description text of life. Transcendental phenomenology is an attitude of approaching lived experience. Short-term expulsion was the removal of students …

Influence Of Athletic Participation On At-Risk Students: A Phenomenological Study, Jonathan Michael Lee

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this hermeneutic, phenomenological study was to understand the lived experiences of secondary athletic coaches concerning the influence of sports participation as part of an intervention strategy for at-risk students in a suburban school district in the southwest United States. The central research question was, what is the perceived influence participation in secondary sports programs has on at-risk students? The theories guiding this study are Bandura’s social cognitive theory and Vygotsky’s zone of proximal development theory, which explain changes in individuals resulting from environmental and mentor influences. This study used a questionnaire, individual interview, and a letter-writing prompt …

Music Education And At-Risk Students: A Home For Everyone, Sherry L. Francis

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Despite positive efforts toward inclusion, learners with special needs are progressively increasing in the United States today especially “at-risk” students; therefore, it is imperative music educators prepare to meet the needs of a diverse population. At-risk most commonly refers to students who struggle academically and have a higher probability of dropping out of school, ultimately, leading to an unstable life. Any student can be at-risk, regardless of background or ability level. Fortunately, music education plays an important role in reaching and retaining at-risk students, particularly, in high school. Music is a reinforcing, valuable tool that creatively encourages student achievement which …

A Causal Comparative Study Of The Difference In Achievement Scores Of At-Risk, Minority Students Based On Learning Styles, Linda Olene Green

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The American education system has historically promoted free and equal education for all, but history has shown that ethnic minority students’ academic achievement has been lower than ethnic majority students’ academic achievement. The resulting gap in achievement has been addressed throughout the research, but definitive solutions remain elusive. The study addressed the lack of research surrounding cultural learning patterns of at-risk students. The purpose of this quantitative, casual comparative study is to determine the difference among annual state mandated test scores of at-risk students who have visual, auditory, read/write or kinesthetic (VARK) learning styles. The participants for the study were …

Strengthening Paraprofessional Effectiveness Through Mentoring, Brooke Hansen

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

According to research, mentoring programs in schools have been inconsistent and unaccountable, putting new or existing paraprofessionals behind and ill-prepared in providing instruction to at- risk students. Paraprofessionals work with at-risk students to improve learning and assist them in achieving their goals while being supervised by professional and trained staff. Previous studies have shown that paraprofessionals play an important role in the support of at-risk students and training is needed but most times is not feasible for every school district to implement for each paraprofessional that is employed in their school. A school improvement plan was created to put in …

Postsecondary Experiences Of Title I High School Graduates Who Were At-Risk Students Of Low Socioeconomic Status: A Transcendental Phenomenological Study, Raquel Anya Grindley

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of high school graduates who were at-risk students (ARS) of low socioeconomic status (SES) who completed the state standards-based college and career readiness (CCR) curriculum at Title I high schools. For the purposes of this study, ARS of low SES were generally defined as students of low-income households with at least one parents failing to complete high school or a postsecondary degree program. CCR is defined as the level of preparedness for postsecondary schools and workforce settings. A Title I school is defined as a school that …

A Descriptive Quantitative Exploration Of College Students Of Promise During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Tameka Womack, Kim E. Bullington, Pietro A. Sasso

Educational Foundations & Leadership Faculty Publications

The term Students of Promise is used for students considered to have a heightened risk status, which not only has a negative effect on students but also on the higher education institutions they attend. This quantitative study explored how the COVID-19 virus has impacted student populations at various US higher education institutions and to uncover what specific issues (financial, emotional, social) impacted students during this unprecedented time in light of student categories and student demographics. This study found statistical significance in Students of Promise characteristics and presents data on the behaviors, activities, and tools necessary for success, concerns surrounding COVID-19, …

Assessing Texas School Social Work Practice: Findings From The First Statewide Conference Survey, Xiao Ding, Monica Faulkner, Cynthia Franklin, Beth Gerlach, Mary Beer, Eboni Calbow, Swetha Nulu

International Journal of School Social Work

Abstract

Aims: To examine the characteristics, perceived barriers, special student populations, and school-based tasks performed by Texas's school social workers in comparison to other Specialized Instructional Services Providers (SISP) professionals in schools.

Methods: A convenience sample from a survey of 212 school social workers and school services providers from the Texas School Social Workers Conference. The survey was developed using previous surveys and practice knowledge and assessed (a) demographics, (b) characteristics of school social work practice, (c) types of tasks, (d) special population served, (e) types of barriers), and (f) the tools and training that are most needed. …

Interventions For At-Risk Student Success, Keanon Lewis

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

At-risk students are a growing group in public education who, by definition, are not expected to meet school goals and need additional support to be successful. These students often have poor school attendance, low academic performance, high deviant behavior rates, and increased levels of substance abuse. Not only are public schools failing to prepare at-risk students for a successful future, but these students also bring their troubles to school and negatively impact other students, further hurting education and communities. This school improvement plan is designed to create a system of interventions to correct this downward trend for current at-risk students, …

A Transcendental Phenomenological Study Of Attachment Bonding Experiences Of At-Risk Students Who Graduated High School, Nancy Marie Lawrence

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this study was to describe the attachment bonding experiences of at-risk students who graduated high school. The theory guiding this study was the Attachment Theory by John Bowlby. This theory explains how attachment bonds help at-risk individuals form relationships that assist in the development of psychological health. Data collection sources were composed of participant surveys, semi-structured participant interviews, and written letters of advice to other high school at-risk students. The practical significance derived from this study demonstrated the need to train education professionals of the necessity of developing secure attachment bonds with students and to reflectively develop …

Recruiting At Satellite Campuses For Trio Student Support Services, Marla Harris

Education Projects

My consultancy project involved working with a Large Urban Community College (LUCC) to develop a recruiting model to assist in expanding their TRIO Student Support Services (SSS) program to their satellite campuses. LUCC consists of six campuses, one central campus and five satellite campuses. The TRIO program serves 175 students annually, and at the beginning of this project, all students enrolled in the program attended the central campus location. This is not in line with LUCC’s one college model and values which include being a student-centered institution and providing equitable and inclusive services for all students. This also does not …

Developmental Evaluation Of A Clinical In-School Counseling Program For At-Risk Students In Crisis, Anthony Andrew Mormile

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

A K–12 public school district in the northeastern United States implemented its own clinical in-school counseling program (CISCP) to help at-risk students in Grades 7–12 who were experiencing a crisis. The problem was that the district was unaware of whether the CISCP is helping its students through their crises. The study was important as it provided insightful data into the CISCP’s perceived effectiveness to meet the students’ needs. The purpose was to examine the perceived program effectiveness of the CISCP in helping its at-risk students in Grades 7–12 through their crises. Through a program evaluation using the developmental evaluation model, …

Understanding The Underserved Student: Barriers Experienced By At-Risk Students During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Melissa Rosado

Theses and Dissertations

The forced expeditious transition online induced by the COVID-19 pandemic caused a massive disruption to education. COVID-19 exacerbated the inequities that existed in education for years. As technology advances and integrates with education, it can both enhance inclusive instructional practices, as well as exacerbate issues of equity. Achievement gaps will persist unless colleges create equitable educational environments for all students, including “at-risk” populations such as those enrolled in the Extended Opportunity Program and Services (EOPS) program—a state funded equity program.

Through the lens of digital equity and inclusion theoretical frameworks, the purpose of this embedded mixed methods study was to …

Parental Involvement In At-Risk Students’ Academic Affairs Versus The Athletic Arena In Low-Performing Schools In South Florida, Antrell L. Dirden

Theses and Dissertations

The researcher designed a qualitative case study to delve further into the lack of consistent parental involvement and academic support in low-performing schools in South Florida with at-risk African American students, most especially when compared to the support in the athletic arena by those same parents. Educators and leaders in the field of education agree that the same effort and energy displayed in support of the athletic aspirations of their child should be equal or even greater in the academic success of the same students. Research questions focused on perceived challenges that prevent consistent parental involvement in academics over athletics, …

A Case Study: School Professionals’ Perspectives On Students Exiting Middle School Entering An Achievement High School, Joy Davis Lee

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Each year approximately 1.3 million students dropout of high school and an estimated 40% of minority students do not graduate on time (Roybal, Thornton, & Usinger, 2014). In high school, 22% of students repeat 9th-grade classes because students fail to make a smooth transition. This gives the 9th-grade the highest enrollment rate and the highest dropout rate (McCallumore & Sparapani, 2010). In an effort to increase high school graduation rates, the Peabody County Public School District created Achievement schools, an initiative to recruit highly effective administrators, teachers and staff members to support students with the highest academic and nonacademic needs. …

Heart Work: A Phenomenological Analysis Of School-Embedded Program Facilitators In High-Need South Florida Schools, Takia Bullock

Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

Student misconduct leading to youth violence has been recognized as a major public health problem requiring intervention. To reduce antisocial behaviors, school districts and non-profit organizations promote prosocial behaviors and problem-solving skills. Positive youth development, social emotional learning, positive behavioral intervention support, and conflict resolution programs have been implemented in many school districts; yet problems associated with aggression, poor decision-making, and low student achievement still occur. This Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis study explored the lived experiences of seven school-embedded positive intervention program facilitators implementing programs with conflict management components for at-risk students in high need South Florida schools. Semi-structured interviews were …

Prekindergarten Practitioners’ Perspectives Of The Creative Curriculum For At-Risk Students, Navine Fortune

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Investigators have addressed elementary practitioners’ perspectives concerning the concept of curriculum development and children’s learning; however, much less information is available on prekindergarten practitioners’ perspectives of curriculum for at-risk prekindergarten students. This basic qualitative study explored prekindergarten practitioners’ perspectives of self-efficacy, competence, and motivation in the implementation of The Creative Curriculum for Preschool Program with at-risk students in a southeastern state. The theories of constructivism and self-efficacy guided the conceptual framework for this study. The research questions focused on prekindergarten practitioners’ perspectives of self-efficacy, competency, and motivation during implementation of the curriculum. Data were collected using in-depth semistructured interviews with …

Urban High School Principals' Leadership Practices And Academic Progress For At-Risk Students, Mary Delouise Duhart-Toppen

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

Researchers have shown that principals are vital to improving student academic achievement. Urban principals often face significant challenges in their environments and have large populations of at-risk students. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore and describe the perceptions of urban high school principals regarding the type of leadership practices needed to support the academic progress of at-risk students. Elements from transformational leadership, transformative leadership, and effective leadership practices informed the conceptual framework. Research questions addressed how principals described and perceived the practices, processes, and procedures used to create environments that support students in urban high schools …

Teachers' Perspectives Of The Use Of A School-Wide Reading Program With Secondary Remedial Reading Students, Mary {Parker

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The problem of low reading scores on standardized tests prompted the implementation of a supplemental reading program to support students in a high school in a Southwestern state. It was unknown how effectively teachers were implementing that program. Reading is essential to all students; they must be able to read the content in their core subjects, state-mandated exams, and the end of course exams. In addressing the achievement gap for at-risk students, the district adopted a supplemental program, Achieve3000, for the remedial reading classes. The purpose of this study was to explore teachers perspectives of and experiences with the use …

Exploring The Effectiveness Of A Freshman/Success Academy Program Through The Perceptions Of Educators In An Urban High School, Michelle Pettiford

Doctor of Education Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the perceptions of educators regarding the effectiveness of an academic success program for ninth- and 10^th-grade students who are at-risk males. The term at risk has often been utilized to describe students who have low academic performance as well as social and emotional concerns observed during the transitioning process from middle to high school. The foundation of this study centered on past and current educational initiatives, achievement gaps, and pedagogical and cultural awareness for at-risk minority students as they entered high school. I used a 2-phase process that included …

Change In Attribution Perspective, Shame, And Academic Identity For Freshmen On Probation Enrolled In University Academic Recovery Courses: A Mixed Methods Study, Christine L. Robinson

Dissertations

Student retention is critical to the success of the student, the college or university, and society in general. Consequently, institutions of higher education continue to focus efforts on student retention strategies and one such strategy utilizes academic recovery courses to support probationary freshmen. Previous research studies of these courses largely focus on academic outcomes without examining the “why” or “how” behind such outcomes. Some studies also discuss constructs including attribution perspective, shame, and academic identity. However, the relationship between these constructs has not been researched, particularly with regard to any change that may occur for probationary freshmen engaged with an …

Peer Tutoring In Middle School: How It Changes Student Achievement And Attitudes, Lois A. Wright

CUP Ed.D. Dissertations

Research literature shows that mathematics is a gatekeeper to success. Providing alternative opportunities for students to strengthen mathematical reasoning over algorithmic computations while problem-solving in a collaborative environment helps to prepare students to compete locally and globally. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to investigate how an afterschool Peer Tutoring Club (PTC) affected academic performances and attitudes of Grade 6, at-risk or “at-promise,” (Samuels, 2020), middle school mathematics students. The gap found in literature revealed a need for additional research involving rigorous multistep problem-solving within peer tutoring programs. This study collected data from 46, 1-hour, afterschool peer tutoring …

Exploring Mathematics Anxiety Of Students At-Risk For Mathematics Difficulties, Sarah Mccarthy

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Students in mathematics classrooms are found to experience various levels of stress and anxiety during instructional time. Negative feelings associated with participation in math activities can lead to both physical and emotional manifestations, affecting performance, achievement, and even confidence with the academic subject. Students found to be at-risk for mathematics difficulties have greater risks when it comes to the possible experience of mathematics anxiety. Students with learning disabilities, students needing supplemental interventions, and students who are English learners can experience potential bouts of anxiety and stress, magnifying academic struggles in the math classroom. In addition, academic deficits can intensify levels …

Social/Emotional Interventions And Their Impact On Student Achievement, Janee Carson

Master's Theses & Capstone Projects

This purpose of this action research project was to determine the impact of combining social, emotional, behavioral and academic interventions and their effects on academic achievement for at-risk elementary students. Data was collected from SAEBRS to determine social/emotional risk and the FAST Early Literacy Universal Screener to determine academic risk. For twelve weeks the researcher implemented Resiliency interventions and targeted 1-on-1 literacy interventions. This was done in addition to Tier 1 classroom interventions and Tier 2 Title interventions. The intervention program was implemented every school day for 15 minutes. The teacher began each intervention session by allowing the student to …

Mikel Houston Thesis.Pdf, Mikel Houston

Mikel Houston

Examining Science Learning And Attitude By At-Risk Students After They Used A Multimedia-Enriched Problem-Based Learning Environment, Min Liu, Sa Liu, Zilong Pan, Wenting Zou, Chenglu Li

Interdisciplinary Journal of Problem-Based Learning

Most of the previous problem-based learning (PBL) studies have been conducted with gifted or regular education students and have shown successes. However, little research on PBL exists for disadvantaged middle school students, especially students who are considered to be at risk of failing academically. In this study, we examined the use of a multimedia-enriched PBL science environment by at-risk middle school students. The results, using a mixed-methods design, showed that these students significantly improved their science knowledge and attitude toward science after they engaged in PBL learning. While there were no differences in the scores between the genders, the gain …

The Importance Of Coaching: A Program Evaluation Of The Americorps College Completion Coaches Program, Latoya E. Rolle

All Theses And Dissertations

As more students enroll than earn a post-secondary credential, persistence toward completion and graduation have become issues in community colleges. This program evaluation highlights the AmeriCorps College Completion Coach program implemented across community colleges in Ohio during 2012–2017 under the leadership of the Ohio Association of Community Colleges (OACC). The program goal is to improve postsecondary credential obtainment by increasing course completion and credit hour accumulation. This outcome is achieved by providing coaching to at-risk students in community colleges across Ohio. This study sought to discover the AmeriCorps College Completion Coach program’s best practices for student support services and explored …

The Effect Of A 21st Century Community Learning Center Grant On Academic Progression, Attendance, And Disciplinary Incidents Of At-Risk Students At A High School In Rural South Carolina, Adam Lanford

Education Dissertations and Projects

This quantitative research study was designed to examine the impact of a 21st Century Community Learning Center afterschool program on students identified as at risk. The research study focused on three research areas. First, the study examined the number of Carnegie credits earned during the 2017-2018 school year. Second, the research studied the number of school days absent during the 2017-2018 school year. Finally, the study reviewed the number of disciplinary incidents that required administrative intervention during the same school year. The study utilized a chi-square test of homogeneity to determine if there was a statistically significant difference between at-risk …