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Full-Text Articles in Education
A Study To Determine The Relationships Among Grit, Engagement, And Student Achievement, Jill Dennison
A Study To Determine The Relationships Among Grit, Engagement, And Student Achievement, Jill Dennison
Dissertations
In the absence of high quality and impact interventions, undesirable consequences of poverty will be seen to fruition. In this study, the Golden Circle business model (Sinek et al., 2017) served as the framework to understand how students’ grit, engagement, and achievement are related in Title I elementary schools. The purpose of this study was to determine if there is a relationship between grit and engagement, engagement and student achievement, and finally grit and student achievement. The relationship between grit and engagement was measured by teacher and student perceptions, respectively. Student engagement and achievement were analyzed using student self-perceptions of …
The Effects Of Principal Feedback On Instruction And Student Achievement, Jeremy Brownfield
The Effects Of Principal Feedback On Instruction And Student Achievement, Jeremy Brownfield
Dissertations
Legislative and educational reform through the first 20 years of this century has focused largely on the impact of the teacher and principal on student achievement (Kraft & Gilmour, 2016; Marshall, 2017). Principals’ influence upon achievement is second only to that of classroom teachers; however, principal impact is indirect and difficult to quantify (Leithwood, Louis, Anderson, & Wahlstorm, 2004). This mixed-methods study involved the analysis of secondary data and elicitation of teachers’ and principals’ perceptions in order to determine the impact of principals on student achievement. The quantitative portion of the study involved an analysis of secondary data including the …
An Evaluation Of One School District Standards Assessment Program, Derrick King
An Evaluation Of One School District Standards Assessment Program, Derrick King
Dissertations
This project focuses on how one school district uses quarterly assessments to identify standards students have not mastered. This project identifies how some schools utilize quarterly assessment data with varying results. One problem I have identified is a lack of a consistent expectation from district leadership, regarding the expectation for how schools should use the assessment program. In my research, I examine two schools that use the assessment program differently. The literature I present reveals how the program can help improve student achievement. The research reveals what is working well, and what is not. In closing, I recommend implementing a …
A Comparative Study Of Student Achievement And Teacher Perceptions Between Differently Structured Special Education School Districts, Leigha Wetter
A Comparative Study Of Student Achievement And Teacher Perceptions Between Differently Structured Special Education School Districts, Leigha Wetter
Dissertations
In order to provide recommendations for special education service organization practices, the researcher investigated student achievement and teacher perceptions of differently structured special education school districts that collaborated with a special school district to provide special education services and schools that provided their own special education services. Through evaluating the varying school districts, this study aimed to address possible best practices within the structuring of the organizations to increase student achievement for students with special needs. In order to evaluate the organization of the school districts, the researcher analyzed the student achievement of special education students at the elementary and …
Student Achievement And Teacher Efficacy In Multiage Team-Taught Versus Single-Age Classrooms, Troy A. Marnholtz
Student Achievement And Teacher Efficacy In Multiage Team-Taught Versus Single-Age Classrooms, Troy A. Marnholtz
Dissertations
This study was conducted to compare the effects of classroom setting on student performance and teachers’ sense of efficacy. In this study, student performance on the Missouri Assessment Program grade-level assessments at the third and fourth-grade levels was utilized to compare the multiage team-taught classroom setting versus singleage classroom setting. The teachers’ sense of efficacy on the Teachers’ Sense of Efficacy Scale (TSES) survey was also analyzed to compare multiage team-taught classroom setting and single-age classroom setting. The data were interpreted to support that students in multiage team-taught classroom settings outperformed similar age students in single-age classroom settings on the …
A Comparative Analysis Of Student Achievement Of First Grade Students Using Fundations Vs. Heggerty And Words Their Way, Stephen Schwartz
A Comparative Analysis Of Student Achievement Of First Grade Students Using Fundations Vs. Heggerty And Words Their Way, Stephen Schwartz
Dissertations
The Orton Gillingham (OG) teaching method is commonly used in schools (Ritchey & Goeke, 2006, p. 172). However, there is little evidence to support the use of OG based reading programs to help students learn more effectively in tier 1, 2 and 3 settings (Ring, Avrit, & Black, 2017, p. 384). The researcher sought to shed light on the effectiveness of an OG based reading program in comparison to the use of Heggerty’s Phonemic Awareness Program and Words Their Way. The Investigator completed a study to shed light on the Fundations program. Fundations is an OG based reading program that …
A Mixed Methods Investigation Of Student Achievement And Satisfaction In Traditional Versus Online Learning Environments, Jessica L. Manion
A Mixed Methods Investigation Of Student Achievement And Satisfaction In Traditional Versus Online Learning Environments, Jessica L. Manion
Dissertations
To evaluate student achievement and satisfaction in different course delivery modes the researcher investigated both traditional and online undergraduate accounting courses at a private Midwestern university. By comparing student achievement and satisfaction in traditional versus online undergraduate accounting courses, the study aimed to highlight what works best in education and provide guidance to administrators and instructors alike. This investigation included students enrolled in undergraduate accounting courses during the 2016-2017, 2017-2018, and 2018-2019 school years. The mixed-methods framework allowed the researcher to examine this educational issue from the quantitative and qualitative perspectives. Quantitatively, the researcher examined secondary data from both student …
A Quantitative Case Study On School Climate, Student Behavior, Student Achievement, And Classroom Facility Factors In An Urban Midwest High School, Shamonda Owens
Dissertations
This research was a quantitative case study on the possible relationship between school climate, student behavior, student achievement, and classroom facility factors in an urban Midwest high school. Specific variables included lighting, wall color, classroom temperature, school climate, student behavior, and student academic achievement. The researcher collected the following data: student behavior, number of out of school suspensions (OSS) students received in 2014 through 2017, End of Course data, 2014-2017, in the areas of Biology, American Government, English I, and English II. To measure school climate, the researcher used the district’s annual climate survey. School climate survey data measured student …
Comparing Student Achievement And School Climate In Four-Day And Five-Day Secondary Schools In Missouri, William Gordon Daleske
Comparing Student Achievement And School Climate In Four-Day And Five-Day Secondary Schools In Missouri, William Gordon Daleske
Dissertations
This quantitative study was conducted to determine whether a significant difference existed between secondary schools that observed the four-day school calendar and the five-day school calendar when comparing secondary schools’ Annual Progress Report (APR) scores of academic achievement levels and attendance levels, as well as the secondary school teachers’ perception of school climate. Five of the participating schools observed the four-day school week and five schools observed the five-day school week. The first portion of the study consisted of taking the average APR scores for attendance from both the four-day and the five-day schools and comparing them in an independent …
An Analysis Of Research-Based Leadership Practices And The Principal’S Impact On Student Achievement, Tisha Georgette Glasper
An Analysis Of Research-Based Leadership Practices And The Principal’S Impact On Student Achievement, Tisha Georgette Glasper
Dissertations
The purpose of this study was to analyze the research-based leadership practices demonstrated by principals; in addition to how principals managed to lead others to become involved in student achievement. The participants of this study consisted of school principals from seven successful schools in Saint Louis City and Saint Louis in Missouri and Madison County, Illinois. For this study, a successful school can be defined as a school where student achievement met or exceeded the Adequate Yearly Progress targets set by the No Child Left behind Act of 2001. There were also 71 teachers who participated in this study. Effective …
A Mixed-Methods Study On The Relationship Between Corrective Reading Interventions And Student Achievement In An Urban Middle School After-School Program, Emma Campbell-Cornelius
A Mixed-Methods Study On The Relationship Between Corrective Reading Interventions And Student Achievement In An Urban Middle School After-School Program, Emma Campbell-Cornelius
Dissertations
The researcher investigated the corrective reading interventions implemented in an urban middle school’s after-school program to determine if the interventions were helping students perform better in English Language Arts (ELA) classes and improved their overall achievement on the Northwest Evaluation Assessment (NWEA). The researcher also investigated teacher perceptions of professional development hours and student achievement in ELA. This study primarily focused on students in fifth-eighth grade, due to the low academic performance in ELA scores at the middle school. The purpose of this study was to determine if students in middle school would perform better if they received additional supports …
The Relationship Between Political Affiliation And Student Achievement In The Areas Of Reading And Mathematics, With Respect To Black Students, Steven Michael Smith
The Relationship Between Political Affiliation And Student Achievement In The Areas Of Reading And Mathematics, With Respect To Black Students, Steven Michael Smith
Dissertations
The role of politicians is integral within the public school system. Politician influence directly the policies that impact student achievement. The impact could be based on ideologies. These ideologies could influence a significant difference in Black student achievement. In preparing for this study, the researcher was unable to find investigations of the potential influence political affiliations of state and local officials may have on student achievement, and specifically on Black student achievement. This exploratory, correlational study analyzed the potential relationship between political party affiliation and student achievement of fourth and eighth grade students in the areas of mathematics and reading, …
Student Achievement Versus Technology In The Catholic Classroom: Correlation Or Added Bonus, Cheryl L. Boze Hall
Student Achievement Versus Technology In The Catholic Classroom: Correlation Or Added Bonus, Cheryl L. Boze Hall
Dissertations
Spending limited educational budgets on technology for classrooms is a strategy many school districts have used to increase student achievement (Levenson, Baehr, Smith, & Sullivan, 2014). In recent years, the technology movement allowed for arbitrary purchasing of devices with little to no pedagogical planning for how technology device usage was expected to increase student achievement (Johnston, 2014). The purpose of this study was to analyze the correlation between student achievement and the amount of money spent on technology hardware, technology software, and technology-related professional development. The research design incorporated quantitative methods through collection of test scores and survey data regarding …
The Relationship Between Teacher Evaluation Ratings And Student Achievement In A Rural, Midwest School District, Margaret A. Mathus
The Relationship Between Teacher Evaluation Ratings And Student Achievement In A Rural, Midwest School District, Margaret A. Mathus
Dissertations
While many factors have been identified as influencing student academic performance, previous studies consistently determined effective teaching as the most significant factor, within the control of educators, leading to improved student achievement. Nonetheless, educational experts, statisticians, and policy-makers alike acknowledged the complexity of isolating the contributions of individual teachers on their students’ achievement. Converging with these changing beliefs about teaching and learning, the landscape of education faced an additional challenge — marked by an increased demand for schools and individual teachers to be held accountable for the academic growth of his/her students. Local districts have been empowered to create and …
Fine Arts Coursework And Student Achievement Among African-American Students In A Midwest Setting, Douglas Erwin
Fine Arts Coursework And Student Achievement Among African-American Students In A Midwest Setting, Douglas Erwin
Dissertations
The researcher designed this study to investigate a possible correlation between the number of years of fine arts coursework and achievement on the American College Test (ACT). The district studied was predominantly African American; therefore, similar schools may use the results to plan strategies to reduce the achievement gap. Results included a mild positive correlation between student ACT achievement and coursework in visual arts, and a moderate correlation between ACT achievement and performing arts. The more fine arts coursework a student received, the higher his or her ACT score. The researcher conducted a z-test for difference in means to compare …
A Mixed-Methods Study On Student Achievement In Reading And Teacher Professional Development In A K-2 Urban Public School Setting, Michelle Chism
A Mixed-Methods Study On Student Achievement In Reading And Teacher Professional Development In A K-2 Urban Public School Setting, Michelle Chism
Dissertations
To determine if a relationship existed between teacher professional development and student reading achievement for grades K-2, the researcher conducted a mixedmethods study to examine reading achievement and teacher professional development in a Midwest urban school district. If the researcher was able to show a relationship between teacher professional development and student reading achievement, recommendations could be made on research-based professional development models proven to increase student academic achievement and improve instructional practices within an underachieving school district. To determine if a relationship existed between the above-mentioned variables, the researcher examined student standardized reading achievement scores and teacher survey responses …
The Role Of Technology In Personalized Learning And The Effect On Student Achievement, Allison Jean Pilley
The Role Of Technology In Personalized Learning And The Effect On Student Achievement, Allison Jean Pilley
Dissertations
Personalized learning is not a new concept and can be traced back to the 1700s, but it has become increasingly popular in today’s schools (Bray & McClaskey, 2015). With the high rate of technology introduction into classrooms, the implementation of personalized learning has become easier as instruction shifts from teacher-led to student-centered (Grant & Bayse, 2014). The purpose of this study was to identify the role of technology in personalized learning and to determine if the implementation of the pedagogy had an effect on student achievement scores. Elementary classroom teachers and elementary principals served as the participants for this study, …
A Quantitative Study Of International School Working Conditions And Learning Environments In Relation To Student Achievement, Melissa Allen
A Quantitative Study Of International School Working Conditions And Learning Environments In Relation To Student Achievement, Melissa Allen
Dissertations
With an increased focus on global competition, many educators and policymakers relied on international assessments such as the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) to evaluate the ability of their education system to prepare students for the global economy. Students in the United States continued to demonstrate disappointing results on the PISA, which led to an outcry by American educators and policymakers and a call for reform. To lessen the achievement gap between the United States and other countries, experts suggested the importance of identifying the characteristics of high performing countries and adapting effective policies to fit the needs of …
An Investigation Of The Relationship Of Teachers’ Attitudes Towards A Computer-Based Assessment System And Student Achievement, Felicia M. Griffin
An Investigation Of The Relationship Of Teachers’ Attitudes Towards A Computer-Based Assessment System And Student Achievement, Felicia M. Griffin
Dissertations
Since the introduction of No Child Left Behind (NCLB), districts across the country implemented computerized benchmark, or interim assessments, into their curriculum as a means to monitor and improve student achievement. Often, a change in curriculum entails a demand of educators’ time, whether through professional development or lesson planning, and therefore affects teachers’ attitudes. The purpose of this study was to determine what, if any, relationship there was among middle school teachers’ attitudes, monthly computerized benchmark assessments, and student scores on the Missouri Assessment Program (MAP). Educators of the communication arts and mathematics content areas from one middle school were …
Teacher Evaluation And Student Achievement In Elementary Education, Eric L. Allen
Teacher Evaluation And Student Achievement In Elementary Education, Eric L. Allen
Dissertations
Historically, the state of Missouri has utilized the Performance-Based Teacher Evaluation (PBTE) system developed by Dr. Jerry Valentine from the University of Missouri (Valentine & Harting, 1986). The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001 mandated more rigorous accountability standards for state education systems (Moe, 2014). The 2012 revisions of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) provided to Missouri by the U.S. Department of Education relieved the original mandates of the NCLB Act (MODESE, 2015a). However, added were provisions for teacher and administrator accountability which required evaluation of research-based principles of effective instruction (MODESE 2015a). In this study, …
A Study Of The Impact Of Retention On Student Achievement In Three Rural Missouri School Districts, Jon Thomas Johnson
A Study Of The Impact Of Retention On Student Achievement In Three Rural Missouri School Districts, Jon Thomas Johnson
Dissertations
A case study was performed using archival data from retained students in three rural Missouri school districts. The data were examined to determine if a correlation existed between grade level retention and improved student achievement in Math and English Language Arts. A t-test was used to determine the impact retention had on student achievement. Scores were collected from the Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) data from retained students the year before they were retained, as well as the year following when they were retained. Data were collected from 2006-2014. Data from this study revealed students who were retained showed significant gains …
Merit Pay For Educators: An Investigation Of Components Significantly Impacting Student Achievement, Lisa G. Carlon
Merit Pay For Educators: An Investigation Of Components Significantly Impacting Student Achievement, Lisa G. Carlon
Dissertations
With teacher evaluations, school ratings, and ultimately school funding being linked more and more to student achievement data, U.S. public schools are searching for new and effective ways to boost academic testing scores. This study examined teachers’ and administrators’ experiences with and perceptions of merit pay, with the goal of identifying key program components positively impacting student success. With this information, solid and successful merit pay structures could be implemented in schools across the nation. Professional educators from two Midwest states who were involved in performance pay programs participated in the study through both a survey instrument and personal interviews. …
Effect Of A Substance Abuse Intervention Program On Student Achievement At A Midwest University, Terry Russell
Effect Of A Substance Abuse Intervention Program On Student Achievement At A Midwest University, Terry Russell
Dissertations
Through empirical research, this dissertation examined whether a substance abuse intervention program implemented at a Midwest university could prove beneficial in addressing the problem of substance abuse on college campuses. Drawing on multiple resources, including Department of Education, psychologists, scholars, and other professional sources, this dissertation provides information on the importance of intervention and behavioral adjustment. This study covered statistical data over a two year period on an intervention program including measurements such as: grade point average, attendance, number of months in the program, and degree persistence. A second area of research was directed at determining the effect of the …
A Quantitative Study Of Educational Poverty, School Location, And Student Achievement Measured By The Program For International Student Assessment (Pisa), Brett Barger
Dissertations
The performance of the United States’ students on international tests remains an ongoing source of concern, division, and anxiety for government, educational, and business leaders, teachers (and their unions), as well as the general public. These selfsame test results have been used as evidence to support diametrically opposed political and educational strategy and policy for decades. All too often the performance of students is discussed with a single test score number that is used to represent the entirety of the education system’s students without accounting for geographical, demographic, or socioeconomic differences among the student test takers. The contributing factors of …
The Long-Term Impact Of Preschool Education On Student Achievement, Amy L. Britt
The Long-Term Impact Of Preschool Education On Student Achievement, Amy L. Britt
Dissertations
While many studies have been published about the short-term effects of preschool on student achievement, few long-term studies have been completed. The focus of this study was to determine whether students who attended schools that offered preschool demonstrated improved student achievement in communication arts and math in fourth and eighth grades. Quantitative data, including MAP scores for 2010, 2011 and 2012 in communication arts and math, were reviewed. The participants included rural schools with similar demographics as evidenced by membership in Missouri Association of Rural Education. A survey was administered to superintendents of the same schools. The data revealed that …
A Correlational Analysis Of Teacher Observation Scores And Student Achievement, Michael David Evans
A Correlational Analysis Of Teacher Observation Scores And Student Achievement, Michael David Evans
Dissertations
The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between a teacher’s observation score and the academic achievement of his or her students. Little research has been conducted in this area and no studies have been conducted that looked specifically at the Network for Educator Evaluation (NEE) observation instrument. Included in the study were 25 teachers of communication arts and 29 teachers of mathematics. These teachers were selected from schools that utilized both the NEE observation instrument during the 2012-2013 school year and were members of the Southwest Center for Educational Excellence (SWCEE). A Pearson Product Moment Correlation was …
The Study Of The Impact Of Professional Learning Communities And Student Achievement, Jori K. Phillips
The Study Of The Impact Of Professional Learning Communities And Student Achievement, Jori K. Phillips
Dissertations
The purpose of this study was to determine if a difference existed between student learning, using the Missouri Assessment Program (MAP), and Professional Learning Community (PLC) implementation within fifth-grade populations in the state of Missouri. The following research questions were utilized to drive the research: What is the difference in MAP communication arts scores for fifth-grade students in Missouri districts that have adopted the Missouri PLC model as compared to those that have not adopted the Missouri PLC model? What is the difference in MAP math scores for fifthgrade students in Missouri districts that have adopted the Missouri PLC model …
Early Interventions And Student Achievement, Alana S. Hillman
Early Interventions And Student Achievement, Alana S. Hillman
Dissertations
Educating children is a costly endeavor; however, when children with special needs enter kindergarten unprepared emotionally, socially, or academically, the increased costs and support systems have to be absorbed by the schools and communities. The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a significant difference between the academic achievement of students participating in Early Childhood Special Education (ECSE) compared to students without ECSE services with DIAL-3 scores ranked in the 20th percentile or below. Achievement scores for second and third graders in one urban school district were utilized to compare the scores of ECSE and non-ECSE students. …
The Relationship Between Weather And Lunar Changes On Student Achievement And Measures School Districts Utilize To Combat Potential Impact, Kendra Stuart
Dissertations
Classroom disruptions present an obstacle to raising student achievement for teachers and school administrators. This study was designed to investigate potential relationships between weather, specifically barometric pressure, or the lunar cycle, and whether either had a direct correlation with student discipline referrals. The intent was to discover trends concerning barometric pressure or lunar phases and their predictability on the number of discipline referrals. Data were collected on three years of elementary student discipline referrals and compared to barometric pressure readings and lunar phases over the same period. The study also surveyed elementary principals on current measures school districts are utilizing …
A Study Of Best Practices And Student Achievement In Elementary And Middle School Reading, Tracey L. Hankins
A Study Of Best Practices And Student Achievement In Elementary And Middle School Reading, Tracey L. Hankins
Dissertations
Reading and writing proficiency are skills necessary to be successful academically and in today’s workplace. Literacy skills are directly linked to a better quality of life, the ability to read labels, civic documents, to expand knowledge, and to boost self-esteem (SIL International, 2012). Teaching reading and writing is a complicated arena in education and must be addressed in a systematic manner in order for students to excel. In this study, state test scores in Communication Arts for students in grades 3 through 8 in Missouri were examined to determine the top 10% of schools. Once the top 10% of schools …