Educational Administration and Supervision Commons^™

The Influence Of Curriculum Customization On Grade 3 Student Achievement In Language Arts And Mathematics In New Jersey’S 30 Poorest School Districts, Michael Deturo

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The purpose for my correlational cross-sectional study was to explore the influences of proximal and distal forces on curriculum development and how it affects student achievement as it pertains to NJ ASK Grade 3. I sought to determine the strength and direction of the relationships between curriculum customization at the local level and student achievement on the NJ ASK 3 in Mathematics and Language Arts. Seventy-four elementary principals were surveyed pertaining to development, design, and implementation of their curriculum.

The Influence Of Placement In A Co-Taught Inclusive Classroom On The Academic Achievement Of General Education Students On The 2014 New York State Ela And Mathematics Assessments In Grades 6-8 In A Suburban New York School District, Michael M. St. John

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This study examined the influence of placement in a co-taught inclusive classroom on the academic achievement of general education students in Grades 6-8 in a suburban New York school district on the 2014 New York State ELA and Mathematics Assessments. Propensity score matching was utilized to select the sample to provide a balanced sampling technique. The final sample was comprised of 746 students in Grades 6-8 in a suburban New York upper middle class district during the 2013-14 school year. The variables that were included in this study were gender, socioeconomic status, attendance, ethnicity, past academic performance as measured by …

Implementing Transformational, Professional Learning Communities In An Urban Elementary School: An Autoethnographic Case Study, Yolanda Mendez

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This autoethnographic study examined the transformational growth and development over a four-year period of professional learning communities (PLCs) at an urban elementary school in New Jersey. I sought to uncover the relationship between the principal's leadership behaviors, vision, and systemic planning and the development of transformational professional learning communities (PLCs) at the school. Ongoing surveys and questionnaires were distributed to teachers at the school, and my personal journal entries that maintained anecdotal notes of PLCs and interaction among staff during the four-year period along with PLC documents were analyzed. The findings from the study revealed that overall there is a …

The Influence Of Inclusion Classes On The Academic Performance In Language Arts Literacy On Suburban Non-Disabled Eleventh Grade Students As Measured By The 2013 New Jersey High School Proficiency Assessment, Jocelyn Easley Brown

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This study examined the influence of an inclusive secondary language arts classroom setting on the academic performance of Grade 11 general education students in two suburban New Jersey high schools on the Language Arts Literacy section of the 2013 New Jersey High School Proficiency Assessment (NJ HSPA). The sample was selected using Propensity Score Matching, a technique utilized to marginalize the influence of selection bias. The final sample was comprised of 214 students in Grade 11 in a New Jersey suburban, upper middle class district during the years 2010-2013. The variables that were included in this study were gender, ethnicity, …

Achievenj And Its Effects On Hiring Principals, Gina M. Cinotti

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The purpose of this quantitative study was to investigate New Jersey superintendents’ hiring decisions of principals during the implementation of AchieveNJ, the educator evaluation system. This policy created mandates for school districts, which were nonexistent in the past. The 2013-2014 school year was the inaugural year for AchieveNJ, and it is unknown if this new mandate has influenced superintendents’ hiring decisions of principals and whether superintendents’ own estimations of the new policy will shape their hiring decisions. The study described the influence, if any, AchieveNJ might have on superintendents’ hiring decisions of principals. A substantial amount of literature exists on …

Educational Opportunity Fund Program And Community College Student Retention, Aretha Watson

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The EOF program is a state funded student support services program designed to provide access and financial support to disadvantaged students, and to improve student success as measured by student retention and graduation rates. This research examined the effects of EOF program and other factors on first semester retention in a community college. . Three models were developed: baseline model (whole group), and two sub group models (EOF and comparable non-EOF). Logistic regression analysis revealed that participation in EOF was positively related to student retention at the end of the first semester. Gender, race/ethnicity, college placement test (reading and math), …

An Analysis Of The Influence That Community Demographic Data Have On Student Performance On 2012 Njask 8 Language Arts And Mathematics, Christian John Angelillo

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This correlational, explanatory, cross-sectional quantitative study intended to analyze the influence that community demographic factors had on student performance on the 2012 Grade 8 New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge (NJ ASK). The data that were analyzed were procured from the New Jersey Department of Education website as well as the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Factfinder. The sample size included all New Jersey school districts with an eighth grade population of 25 or more students. This ultimately equated to a sample size of N = 409. The studied explored the community demographic variables that explained the greatest amount of …

A Statistical Study Of The Influence Of Increased Instructional Time On Underperforming Students' Achievement Scores In Grade 7 And 8 Mathematics And English Language Arts, Andrew Trust

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Educational Systems across the country have been put under enormous amounts of pressure to improve student performance in their schools. Recently, New York State has required that struggling students, as defined by results of standardized tests, be given increased instructional time to make up for the deficits that they may possess. This study looked to determine the efficacy of the academic intervention classes being offered within a school district. The study analyzed student test results and performed a logistic regressing in an attempt to determine the odds of a students scoring in the proficient range on standardized exams after receiving …

A Study On The Relationships Of Professional Development, Teacher Working Conditions And Job Satisfaction While Controlling For Years Of Teaching Experience And Grade Level Taught, Daniel W. Silvia

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

“Over the next ten years, 1.6 million teachers will retire, and 1.6 million new teachers will be needed to take their place. This poses both an enormous challenge and an extraordinary opportunity for our education system: “if we succeed in recruiting, preparing, and retaining great teaching talent, we can transform public education in this country and finally begin to deliver an excellent education for every child” (Duncan, 2011, pg. 1). Indeed, teacher preparation and professional development is an extremely important issue facing our educational system today. There is a great deal of research that supports the idea that the most …

District Support Team Model As A Manifestation Of Central Office Transformation: Experiences From Central Office And School Based Staff, Danielle Pfeiffer

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The purpose of this study was to examine the described experiences of 20 participants—central office executives and specialists, principals, and teacher leaders—in the district support team (DST) process, a manifestation of central office transformation as an approach to school improvement. The site of this study was the Puget Sound School District in Washington State. The district was in its third year of central office transformation employing a differentiated support service model to assist its lowest performing schools. This case study utilized qualitative data from semi-structured interviews, document review, and field observations to understand the prevalence of the six elements of …

How Do Administrators Of New York City Early Intervention Programs Conceptualize And Implement Family-Centered Care?, Jennifer M. Longley

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Family-centered care, the mandated delivery approach outlined under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Part C, is considered best practice in providing services to families with children under three with special needs. It has been shown to benefit children and families through numerous positive outcomes. Yet, family-centered care is not implemented in all programs universally, and significant variation exists in how programs deliver family-centered services, to the detriment of families. Much of that variation can be attributed to programmatic leadership, as administrators establish the philosophy, policies, practices, and organizational climate of an agency.

This project intended to build on the …

A Study Of Instructional Scheduling, Teaming, And Common Planning In New York State Middle Schools, Chad M. Corey

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This descriptive study examined to what extent, if any, three school supports (instructional scheduling, teaming, and common planning) are in existence in New York State middle schools. For the purposes of this study, middle schools were defined as schools that contained the grade configurations of 5-8, 6-8, and 7-8. The sample surveyed was comprised of 232 New York State middle school principals in school districts with an average need/resource capacity. Instrumentation for the data collection was through a five-part self-administered online web survey. Demographic data of the participating principals and their school along with the data collected from the research …

The Teacher Pay For Performance Phenomenon, Deborah Viscardi

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The purpose of this dissertation research was to explore the link between teacher motivation and performance-based compensation. This topic has been a controversial issue over the last decade across the country. There is a critical need for more research on teacher pay-for- performance systems, especially as it relates to motivation, student achievement, and the profession of teaching. Qualitative in design, the intent of this research study was to make meaning of teachers’ perceptions about the influence of performance-based compensation on the profession and practice of teaching. This study extends the current understanding and adds to the discussion of compensation policy …

School Shootings And Principals' Perception Of Armed Personnel In An Education Setting, Richard Reyes

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The purpose of this study was to explore the dilemma principals have in determining the best approach to provide safe environment for their students and faculty, while at the same time creating an environment that is conducive to education.

The study looked at an urban school district with a marginalized community with low socioeconomic status as identified by the District Factor Group A. Twelve school principals were interviewed to gather information of their perceptions in relation to having armed personnel in their schools.

The literature on school shootings and armed personnel in schools was reviewed. The literature consisted of peer-reviewed …

The Inclusion Of Cognitive Complexity: A Content Analysis Of New Jersey's Current And Past Intended Curriculum, Dario Sforza

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Policy makers and educators have stated that the internationally benchmarked standards will place greater emphasis on 21^st century skills including creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, presentation and demonstration, problem solving, research and inquiry, and career readiness. Many educators believe that if schools are “injected” with creativity, students will have a better chance at a prosperous and productive future. Are the current reform movements thwarting the opportunity for students to “find their own niche” and perhaps turning “them into disciples of ‘intellectual clones’ who will do ‘our thing’ rather their own?” (Sternberg, 2003, p. 335). In response to inquiry, this dissertation …

This Is How We Did It: A Study Of Black Male Resilience And Attainment At A Hispanic Serving Institution Through The Lenses Of Critical Race Theory, Demond T. Hargrove

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This qualitative narrative inquiry based research sought to gain a better understanding of how Black male upperclassmen and recent college graduates experience the process of academic resilience and attainment within the context of their intersecting identities of race, class, and gender at a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). The theoretical framework guiding this study draws upon two distinctive collections of scholarship: Critical Race Theory (CRT) and academic resilience.

Findings revealed Black male risk to postsecondary attainment was adversely impacted by academic (dis)integration, fractured sense of belonging, physical and mental illnesses, lack of financial support, racialized and gendered experiences, and lingering affects …

The Influence Of Community Demographics On Student Achievement On The Connecticut Mastery Test In Mathematics And English Language Arts In Grade 3 Through 8, Albert Nii Lartey Sackey Jr.

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Student achievement has been measured in the United States for decades through the use of standardized state assessments. The purpose of this study was to examine which combination of 15 out-of-school community demographic variables best predicted and accounted for the most variance in a Connecticut school district’s percentages of students scoring goal or above on the 2010 Connecticut Mastery Test (CMT) for the third through eighth grade in Mathematics (Math) and English Language Arts (ELA). Analyses were conducted using both a simultaneous regression model and a hierarchical regression model. This study looked at the entire population of districts that were …

The Influence Of The Length Of The School Day On Grade 11 Nj Hspa Scores, Phyllis Deangelis

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This study examined the strength and the direction of the relationship between the length of the school day and Grade 11, 2011 New Jersey High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA) scores found on the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE, 2012a) website. Student achievement scores on the Grade 11, 2011 HSPA in Language Arts and Mathematics were analyzed separately. Analyses were conducted using simultaneous regression and hierarchical multiple models. All student data explored in this study pertained to 98,218 first-time, Grade 11 students (NJDOE, 2011c) enrolled in 326 public high schools in districts designated by District Factor Groups A-J (NJDOE, 2012a) …

The Impact Of Student Performance On Large-Scale Assessments: A View Of Long-Term Health, Career, And Societal Outcomes, Roman Usatin

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This study examined the predictive power of student growth for large-scale assessments on meaningful life outcomes, focusing on the three categories of health, career, and societal involvement. Analysis was conducted using the NELS:88/00 dataset–a longitudinal study that followed a nationally-representative sample of over 12,000 eighth grade students from 1988 to 2000, until the students were 26 years old and entered into the work force. The large-scale assessment variables included math and reading performance in the 1988 cognitive batteries administered by NELS. To gauge growth levels, I generated Student Growth Percentiles (SGP) from tests administered by NELS from 1988 to 1992. …

An Historical Perspective To Examine How Federal Policy Influenced The Definition And Evaluation Of Teacher Effectiveness Since 1950, Janine M. Mathesz

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Increased public demand to hold teachers accountable for student learning and to remove ineffective teachers has challenged state department of education officials to develop teacher evaluation systems that include student assessment data. Many educational researchers theorize teacher effectiveness is the variable under the control of the school with the most influence on student success.

This study examines the influence of federal government education policies on state teacher evaluation systems and how this influence has shaped the definition and evaluation of an effective teacher over the past 62 years. Teacher evaluations, when used as a proper tool, assist administrators in providing …

Why Do Undergraduate Women Persist As Stem Majors? A Study At Twotechnological Universities, Ronald Brandt

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Women continue to be underrepresented in STEM fields despite significant policy efforts to increase the number of qualified women. Prior research focused on access for women into advanced high school mathematics and science courses. Parity has been achieved in academic prerequisites for STEM studies in higher education, yet the number of women majoring in STEM has remained static. Recent research has focused on the socio-cultural obstacles that women face, including a lower self-confidence in their abilities, bias and gender stereotypes.

A survey was undertaken to examine the self-confidence, opinions and backgrounds of female students persisting as STEM majors at two …

“What The Hell Is Revise?”: Student Approaches To Coursework In Developmental English At One Urban-Serving Community College, Stefan A. Perun

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The primary objective of this dissertation was to help illuminate why most students who enroll in developmental English at community colleges never make it to a college-level course. The extant literature suggests that students’ learning experiences in a course largely account for success or failure, yet few studies have uncovered how students experience content and pedagogy in developmental English at community colleges, and how these experiences shape students’ success or failure in their course. To remedy this gap, I conducted a semester-long, classroom level, qualitative study of three sections of developmental English at one community college. I primarily relied upon …

Development Of University Related Foundations In China, Li Guo

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The major purpose of the study was to identify significant organizational changes that have taken place in foundations of national Chinese public universities from 1999 to 2012. The study also attempted to explore major forces behind these changes. A secondary purpose was to seek for ideas on promoting higher education philanthropy in China by explore successful experiences in other countries.

To achieve the goals, this study: (a) started by identifying challenges on financing higher education in China as well as pointing out that the Chinese government and higher education institutions have begun to generate diversifying revenue sources including recently adopted …

Boys' Academic Achievement At The Secondary Level In Jordan Between 2005 And 2009, Shadin Belal

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This study investigated factors linked to the underachievement of boys' education in Jordan. These school factors include the availability of male teachers, availability and infrastructure of school, student-teacher ratio (STR), and the quality of teachers. Both qualitative methods and archival research were utilized to collect data in urban and rural areas in Jordan. Findings reveal the existence of an academic disparity in achievement at the secondary level in Jordan. Male students have a lower participation in Jordan's Tawjihi exam. An analysis of Tawjihi results also reveals that girls outperformed boys in all Tawjihi stream exams except for sharia'h between 2004 …

The Impact Of Principal Knowledge, Attitudinal Favorability And Organizational Structure On Emergency Preparedness In New Jersey's Public Schools, Scott Rocco

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

School violence, an issue documented across the United States, has put a focus on school emergency preparedness for school principals. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to understand the school principal’s level of emergency preparedness in New Jersey public schools and how the confidence and behavior of principals affect emergency preparedness.

This study had three research questions that centered on the principal’s behavior and confidence. The population for this survey was New Jersey public school principals ranging from kindergarten to 12th grade schools, vocational, technical or institute schools, public schools for the handicapped, and magnet schools. Each selected principal …

A Study Of The Articulated Leadership Practices Of Principals In Relation To The Literature On The Characteristics Of High Performing Principals, Janet Grooms

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

2013

In the modern world of education and 21st century school systems, improvements in student achievements are recognized as the foremost objective of school reforms and restructuring efforts. The criticism continues to spread across the country for public schools that fail to meet students’ needs, especially in the urban areas where the achievement gap is widening. School communities and educational leaders continue to demand more accountability from principals as instructional leaders because of the decline in student achievement, as measured by states’ standardized achievement tests. The trend in most school systems is that the school principal is required by the …

The Impact Of The K-8 Reconfiguration Of Three Schools On Parent Trust In A Small Urban School District In New Jersey, Frank Ayirebi Asante

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of the reconfiguration of three schools, on parent trust, as measured by parent perceptions in a small urban school district in New Jersey.

For this study an interview protocol was developed to elicit parent responses about the reconfigured schools’ ability to meet the middle school needs of their children and it’s impact on one component of the parent school relationship; trust.

The reader is provided with direct quotations from the interview participants which consisted of parents with mixed socio-economic and racial backgrounds from the reconfigured schools whose children attend or …

A Qualitative Investigation: Why Teachers Are Not Aspiring To The Principalship, Jennifer Carne

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

While No Child Left Behind and Race to the Top inaugurated new movements in education, it has been reported that school districts are finding it increasingly difficult to recruit qualified new principals. Reports indicate there is an abundance of certified individuals able to assume this position. However, the principalship has evolved into a position that is associated with additional responsibilities and new accountability mandates.

The purpose of this study is to explore the reasons why teachers who hold administrative certifications are not pursuing the principalship. During this new era of educational accountability, it is important to understand why teachers pursued …

Exploring Community Colleges In The Stem Education Landscape : Development Of Stem College Major Choice Model, Colleen Evans

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Community colleges are becoming increasingly relevant as an entrance point into postsecondary education for potential science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) majors. These institutions are also an important education pathway for women and racial/ethnic minorities who are currently underrepresented in the STEM workforce. The purpose of this study is to understand how student demographics, high school, and college experiences influence the entrance of community college students to the STEM college majors. Data from the Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 (ELS: 2002) were used for the study. Students included in the study began their postsecondary education at community colleges. Descriptive and …

The Influences Of Race And Gender On The Leadership Of African American Female Principals Of Predominantly White Elementary Schools, Shauna Angelina Carter

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

No abstract provided.