Education Commons^™

The Effects Of Lunch Eligibility And School Size On The Literacy Achievement Of African American Males Communication, Sandra Smith

Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to examine the effects of lunch eligibility and school size on the literacy achievement of African American males. While researching the effects of lunch eligibility and school size on the literacy achievement of African American males, this scholar observed that a correlation between historical viewpoints and the academic performance of African American males were intertwined in the findings and research of some experts. Therefore, this researcher was compelled to intimately explore the literature as it related to the literacy achievement of African American males and how it evolved throughout history. During the development of …

School Climate And Demographic Factors’ Influence On Seventh-Grade Students’ Perceptions Of Bullying In Arkansas Public Schools, Kelly Powell

Dissertations

The purpose of the study was to investigate the influence of an authoritative school climate on perceptions of bullying among middle school students after controlling for demographic characteristics. In this quantitative nonexperimental study, 320 seventh-grade students were selected from four public middle schools in Arkansas using a multistage sampling technique. The Authoritative School Climate Survey was used to obtained data on the students’ perceptions of their school climate (disciplinary structure and support systems), their demographic characteristics (gender, ethnicity, and school location) as well as their perceptions about bullying in the following areas: (a) prevalence of teasing and bullying, (b) prevalence …

Effects Of School-Wide Poverty Level On 9-12 Rural Teachers' Perceptions Of Six School Culture Components, Jackwyln Underwood

Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation was to determine the perceptions of teachers at schools with moderately high poverty versus teachers’ perceptions at schools with moderately low poverty in six areas: Collaborative Leadership, Teacher Collaboration, Professional Development, Unity of Purpose, Collegial Support, and Learning Partnerships measured by the School Culture Survey for 9-12 teachers in six rural Arkansas high schools. During this era, schools are focusing on student assessments correlated with poverty level and targeting better instruction as the key to a student’s successful learning. Even though more rigor has been pushed through the educational systems, a positive school culture seems …

Effects Of Lep Status, Gender, Instructional Type On Positive Student Engagement And Motivation Of Middle School Students, Holly Harris Cothren

Dissertations

The researcher used a causal-comparative, 2 x 2 factorial between-groups research strategy for all four hypotheses. The two independent variables for the Hypotheses 1 and 2 were gender and LEP status (students designated as LEP versus students not designated as LEP). The dependent variable for the first hypothesis was positive student engagement, and the dependent variable for the second hypothesis was positive student motivation. The two independent variables for Hypotheses 3 and 4 were gender and instructional type (traditional instruction and small group pull-out with hybrid computer-based instruction). The dependent variable for the third hypothesis was positive student engagement, and …

Effects Of Participation Status In The Arkansas Aaims Program By Gender, Race, And Ses On Ap Calculus Achievement, Wayne Fawcett

Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation was to explore whether the Arkansas Advanced Initiative in Mathematics and Science (AAIMS) as implemented by schools within the state of Arkansas had an effect on mathematics achievement as measured by the 2015 AP Calculus AB exam. In 1955 the College Board created the Advance Placement program to be implemented in high schools in an attempt to address the growing gap between secondary education and college curricula. Then, in 2007 the Arkansas Advanced Initiative in Mathematics and Science was established in Arkansas to further train high school AP teachers, support AP programs throughout the state, …

Effects Of Teaching Level, Subject Area, And Degree On Grades 5-12 Educator Learning Modes, Meredith Young (Jones)

Dissertations

The purposes of this dissertation were two-fold. First, the purpose of this study was to determine the effects by subject area taught between educators in high schools versus educators in middle schools on the Abstract Conceptualization, Active Experimentation, Concrete Experience, and Reflective Observation learning modes measured by Kolb’s Learning Style Inventory in one central Arkansas school district. The independent variables for Hypotheses 1-4 were educator teaching level (high school versus middle school) and subject area taught (mathematics/science, literacy/social studies, and other). Second, the purpose of this study was to determine the effects by degree level between educators in high schools …

Effects Of The Master Principal Program On Perceived Principal Leadership Effectiveness In Arkansas, Lewis Villines

Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation was to examine the perceptions of stakeholders of principals who were participating in the Master Principal Institution to determine principals’ leadership effectiveness in regard to the ISLLC 2008 Standards. This study surveyed stakeholders of principals who were participating in the Master Principal Institute. A quantitative, causal-comparative strategy was used in this study. Hypotheses 1-5 were tested by 2 x 2 factorial between-groups designs. The independent variables were level of school (Elementary or Secondary) and Master Principal Program phase (Phase I and II) for each of the hypotheses. The dependent variables for the hypotheses were the …

Survey Of Teacher Attitude Regarding Inclusive Education Within Rural School Districts, Laura Daniel

Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation was to determine if teacher attitudes towards inclusive education were influenced by the variables of gender, age, educational level, teaching level, and number of special education courses taken for regular general education teachers in rural school districts in South-Central Arkansas. Next, the purpose of the study was to determine the predictive effects of teaching years at the teachers’ current level, total years teaching experience, and years of special needs teaching experience on perception of inclusion for regular general education teachers in rural school districts in South-Central Arkansas. Third, the purpose of the study was to …

Effects Of Balanced Literacy Instruction, Gender, And Ses On Student Literacy Achievement, Kerry Schneider

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to add to the limited available research related to the effects of balanced literacy instruction, gender, and SES on literacy achievement for third- and fifth-grade students in western Arkansas. Student literacy scale scores included in the study were from eight elementary schools, four of which participated in Workshop instruction and four that did not participate in Workshop instruction. The independent variables for Hypotheses 1 and 2 were instruction and gender; the independent variables for Hypotheses 3 and 4 were instruction and SES. The dependent variable for Hypotheses 1 and 3 was literacy achievement as …

Effects Of Experience And Certification On Teacher Perceptions Of The Arkansas Teacher Excellence And Support System, Nita R. Bohannon

Dissertations

Teacher evaluations have been a facet of the education sector throughout history. Meaningful teacher evaluations entail an accurate assessment of teacher effectiveness. Of late, States have implemented evaluation mandates that called for a more comprehensive teacher evaluation approach when assessing the effectiveness of teachers. In 2011, Arkansas adopted the Teacher Excellence Support System (TESS), which standardized the evaluation system to support licensed and non-licensed educators. Teachers’ perceptions are critical in understanding an evaluation system that assesses for teacher effectiveness.

The purpose of this dissertation was to investigate the effects of experience and certification on teachers’ perceptions related to the effectiveness …

Effect Of Previous Role And Experience On Principals' Self-Reported Behaviors, Kiffany Pride

Dissertations

Leading schools in the 21st Century is not a straightforward matter. Principals are responsible for the bifurcated role of managing and leading instruction in schools. However, many administrators lack the requisite skills to be instructional leaders. There are no national or state mandates designating a continuum of previous roles and experiences essential to being an effective principal. Despite the immense pressure for principals to cultivate effective learning cultures, there is limited research linking principals’ effectiveness or the lack thereof to the progression of their career path. Therefore, this research study was designed to add to the diminutive body of research …

Effect Of Small Class Setting On The Algebra I Achievement Of Ninth-Grade Students, Lisa Kissire

Dissertations

The effects of class size on student outcomes has been widely studied at the elementary level. Many such studies have found important relationships between class size and outcome in the areas of academic achievement, student discipline, and teacher retention. However, little attention has been given to the examination of how class size may affect student outcomes in the middle school and high school levels. The purpose of this nonexperimental study was to examine the effects of class size setting, gender, socioeconomic status, and school configuration on the Algebra I achievement of ninthgrade students. Participants were drawn from four rural schools …

The Effects Of Explicit And Systematic Phonemic Awareness Instruction On Reading For English Language Learners, Annette Freeman

Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation was to find effective phonological instruction for improving reading comprehension and oral language proficiency of ELLs. In addition, this study was conducted to inform school administrators without ESL certification about best practices in ELL education so they could make informed, school-wide decisions for better serving ELLs before entry into secondary schools.

The sample included first and second-grade students identified as ELLs in two Northwest Arkansas elementary schools. The two schools were selected based on their similar student demographics of grade configuration, ethnicity, and poverty rate. All students selected for the study were identified as ELLs …

Effects Of Tli- Versus Nwea-Interim Assessment On Academic Achievement Of Sixth- And Seventh-Grade Students, Walt Davis

Dissertations

This project focused on two online providers, The Learning Institute (TLI) and Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA). The purpose of this dissertation was to provide additional research concerning the effects of interim assessments (TLI versus NWEA) and gender on literacy and mathematics achievement for students in Grades 6 and 7 in Northwest Arkansas. Of the four included school districts, two used TLI and two used NWEA as their interim assessment. For all four hypotheses, the independent variables were gender and interim assessment type. In the first and second hypotheses, the dependent variable was literacy achievement as measured by student performance on …

Effects Of 1:1 Computing By Ses On Student Motivation, Engagement, And Literacy Achievement, Bryan Appleton

Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation was to investigate the effectiveness of the combination of 1:1 computing with collaborative instructional strategies. In the first and second hypotheses, exposure to a 1:1 computing environment in a literacy classroom (participation versus no participation) and SES (participating versus not participating) were the independent variables. The dependent variable for Hypothesis 1 was positive student motivation. The dependent variable for Hypothesis 2 was positive student engagement. Hypothesis 1 revealed that the interaction between the independent variables was significant. In the two groups participating in the 1:1 Program, the students not participating in the free and reduced …

Effects Of Traditional High School Versus Career Academy High School On Literacy And Mathematics Achievement, Dana Brown

Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation was to determine the effects by gender and by socioeconomic status between students in career academy high schools versus students in traditional high schools on literacy and mathematics achievement for 8th-11th grade students in 6A and 7A high schools in the state of Arkansas. In the context of this study, relevance has to do with the connection or link established between something learned and an opportunity to apply that learning. Critics of the traditional learning structure argue that because information is learned in isolation, a difficulty arises in how that learning is readily applicable to …

Effects Of Experience And Certification Level On Professional Development, Teacher Quality, And Increased Leadership Opportunities Of Nbcts, Jamie L. Burris

Dissertations

The focus of this dissertation was to provide insight into the perceptions of Arkansas National Board Certified Teachers (NBCTs) in regard to how the certification process impacted teaching and learning and overall student achievement. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of experience and certification level on the perceptions of NBCTs in Arkansas concerning the quality of professional development earned, enhanced teacher quality, and increased leadership opportunities as a result of the National Board Certification process. An additional purpose of this study was to determine specifically how NBCTs perceived the certification process influenced student achievement within the …

Read 180 Participation, Ell Service Length, And Year On Literacy And Mathematics Achievement For Middle School Students, Paul A. Griep

Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation was to add to the limited available research. In both hypotheses, the independent variables were whether or not the student used the READ 180 program, the number of years the student received ELL services in the United States (6 years or less or more than 6 years), and the year tested (2011 or 2012). The dependent variables for the first hypothesis were literacy and mathematics achievement measured by scaled scores obtained on the seventh grade Arkansas Augmented Benchmark Literacy and Mathematics examinations. The dependent variables for the second hypothesis were literacy and mathematics achievement measured …

Athletic Participation And Gender On Act Achievement For Private School Students In The Southeast, Cade A. Smith

Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation was to add to the limited available research concerning the effect that athletic participation has on academic achievement in private schools. For each hypothesis, the independent variables were athletic participation and gender. For the first hypothesis, the dependent variable was academic achievement as measured by the ACT Composite score. For Hypotheses 2-5, the dependent variables were academic achievement as measured by the ACT Reading, Mathematics, English, and Science Reasoning subtests, respectively. Through a review of the literature, the history of interscholastic athletics was examined and the positive and negative effects of athletic participation on academic …

Effects Of Gender And School Size On Mathematics And Science Achievement For Students In Western Arkansas, Jason Edward Moore

Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation was to research the effects of gender and school size on mathematics and science achievement for schools in western Arkansas. Related research revealed historical performance gaps in mathematics and science achievement between males and females, but also showed that those gaps have closed over the past few decades. However, the research also showed that there is still a large gap in the number of males and females working in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) careers. This study also investigated this trend within western Arkansas to determine whether the gender gap in STEM is caused …

Student Participation In The Arkansas Better Chance Preschool Program Versus No Participation On Academic Achievement, Netlla Cureton

Dissertations

Education is the key to success and is vital for participation in a global society. With access to the internet, students in the United States are competing with students around the world. Providing excellence in education, pre-kindergarten through graduation, is vital to the success of America. To achieve excellence in education, students must have a solid educational foundation. In building this educational foundation, the groundwork must begin with rich early learning experiences in preschool settings.

In 1991, the Arkansas Better Chance (ABC) preschool program was created to help Arkansas students succeed academically by providing them with access to early childhood …

School Size And Socioeconomic Status On Mathematics And Literacy Achievement For Students In Arkansas, Robert Childers

Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation was to add to the limited available research concerning the effects of size of school and socioeconomic status (SES) on literacy and mathematics achievement for students in Grades 9 through 12 in Western and Northwestern Arkansas. Of the four high schools, two were larger 6A/7A schools, and two were smaller 3A/4A schools. In all four hypotheses, the independent variables were size of school and SES measured by lunch status. In the first hypothesis, the dependent variable was literacy achievement as measured by student performance on the 2012 End of Course (EOC) literacy examination. In the …

Impact Of A Freshman Academy Versus A Traditional High School On Academic Achievement In Mathematics And Literacy, Jim Buie

Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation was to explore the impact of a freshman academy versus a traditional high school on the academic achievement in mathematics and literacy. The dissertation first outlined a brief history of school reform in the United States from colonial days to present. It then presented an extensive review of the literature related to the pivotal nature of the ninth-grade year and the use of freshman academies to improve student success during the ninth-grade year. The dissertation then outlined a study between two south-central Arkansas schools: a traditional high school with 151 participants, and a freshman academy …

The Effect Of Assessment Method On End Of Course Geometry And Algebra Achievement, Miguel Hernandez

Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation was to add to the existing research concerning the effects of assessment on mathematics achievement. The effects by gender or SES of students enrolled in school districts that used a commercial assessment versus school districts that used local assessments on mathematics achievement as measured by the end of course algebra I exam or end of course geometry exam.

This quantitative, causal comparative study was performed in six rural high schools in the Arkansas River Valley. The high schools had an approximate 700-student population of which 53% were categorized as free and/or reduced lunch and 51% …

Effects Of The Preparation And Perception Of Middle School Teachers On The Infusion Of Multicultural Education, John Mccraney

Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation was to determine the difference of how teachers perceive multicultural orientation, multiculturalism and cultural relations, multiculturalism and perceived sense of community, and multiculturalism and sense of responsibility based on gender, experience, and racial identity. The subscales on the Multicultural Emphasis Inventory (MEI) measured the teachers’ perceptions. The sample included middle school teachers in a large urban district in central Arkansas.

A quantitative, non-experimental research used four one-way analyses of variance to determine whether the evidence existed to reject the formulated hypotheses. The independent variables were as follows: gender for Hypotheses 1-4, teacher experiences for Hypotheses …

Honors Program As A Predictor Of College Readiness Of Private School Students In Arkansas, Jonathan G. Jones

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to add to the research available related to college readiness. Each of the four hypotheses were constructed to determine the predictive effects of academic program type (honors or regular) over and above the predictive effects of gender, Plan test scores, number of times the ACT was taken by individuals, and longevity in years on mathematics, English, science, and reading performance measured by ACT scores for 12th grade students in a private Christian school in Arkansas. A review of the literature identified the various aspects of college readiness, the characteristics of effective programs for college …

Read180 Computer Software By Gender And Ethnicity On Reading Achievement For Identified Special Education Students, Sherrie Bayles

Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation was to conduct an independent study to determine the effectiveness of the READ 180 reading intervention program when implemented with middle and junior high school students with disabilities. To address the first and third hypotheses, gender (male versus female) and change over time (fall, mid-year, and at the end of the school year) served as the independent variables for sixth/seventh and eighth/ninth grade students with disabilities, respectively. For the second and fourth hypotheses, ethnicity (White versus all non-White students) and change over time served as the independent variables for sixth/seventh and eighth/ninth grade students with …

Differences In Mathematics And Literacy Achievement Between African American Males And Other 11th-Grade Students, Jeffery Flanigan

Dissertations

The gap in school performance between African American students and students of other subpopulations has shown up in a range of academic success measures including course grades, test scores, course selection, and college graduation rates (Johnston & Viadero 2000); college and high school grade point averages [GPAs] (Banks & Banks, 2004); and dropout rates (Gordon, 1999; Green, 2001; Irvine & Armento, 2001; Jencks & Phillips, 1998; Kober, 2001; Lee, 2002). These indicators all point to a disturbing pattern in the educational system and beg the question: What is going on with the education of African American males in the United …

Effects Of Poverty Funding On Literacy Achievement Over Time In Arkansas Schools, Rick Gales

Dissertations

This dissertation provides additional background to the limited research regarding the effectiveness of the use of state categorical money on literacy achievement measured by the Arkansas Literacy Benchmark Exam for a cohort of third through sixth grade students and a cohort of fifth through eighth grade students in Arkansas school districts. Using a non-experimental design, the researcher tested two hypotheses using a mixed factorial analysis of variance (ANOVA). The independent variables for the two hypotheses were change over time with two levels measured in school years (2008 versus 2009 versus 2010 versus 2011) and the two NSLA funding levels. The …

Factors Predicting The Satisfaction Of 12th Grade Students In Christian Schools, Darren Mathews

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine if any predictive effects existed between gender, religious affiliation (church of Christ versus non-church of Christ), academic achievement measured by GPA, longevity measured by years, and college readiness measured by ACT composite scores on academic, social, faculty, and spiritual satisfaction for 12th grade students in four private, Christian schools in Arkansas. This study determined the accuracy of predictor variables in explaining the criterion variables. It also provided an indicator of the percentage of variance on the criterion variables explained by predictor variables and showed how well they explained the varience. It was …