Secondary Education Commons^™

Impact Of Student Voice On Self-Efficacy, Melanie Shaver

Doctor of Education Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to (a) relate the impact of the development of student voice in middle school to the perception of achievement measured by self-efficacy and (b) explore how the transformative learning theory affects developing adolescents through the development of student voice in a project-based learning model. The theory is grounded in Mezirow’s (1991) Transformative Learning Theory. The study explored if an instructional method such as project-based learning allows the development of student voice and builds self-efficacy. Utilizing the explanatory sequential model, survey and achievement data were collected and compared between treatment school to nontreatment school to …

A Program Evaluation Of An Alternative Educational Program In A School District In North Carolina For High School Students At-Risk For Dropping Out, Janice Duffie

Doctor of Education Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to conduct a program evaluation of an alternative educational program in North Carolina for high school students at-risk for dropping out. The CIPP model was used to evaluate to what extent the alternative educational program is achieving its stated mission. This mixed-method evaluation consisted of quantitative and qualitative data that included interviews with district- and school-level leaders, surveys from selected staff at six high schools and the alternative educational program, and historical data. The program evaluation explored the program’s strengths and weaknesses, and recommendations for improvement. Based on the findings, the research questions examined …

The Relationship Of Career And Technical Student Organizations To College And Career Readiness, Brenda Haynes

Doctor of Education Dissertations

Many schools are waking up to the reality that students need programs that will keep them alert and ready for their next level in life. Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSO) are the co-curricular programs associated with every career and technical education course and promise to offer opportunities for a peek into the real world. This study examined the relationship of CTSOs to college and career readiness. Career and technical education is oftentimes overlooked. Qualitative data were collected in the form of interviews of former high school students who were CTSO participants and teachers who were advisors of CTSOs. This …

A Study Of The Impact Of Career And Technical Education In Determining The Skills Gap In Selected Rural Communities In North Carolina, Chad Beasley

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This study was an investigation of three rural high schools in western North Carolina to examine the perceptions of community employers, principals, and career and technical education (CTE) directors as to the skill levels of graduates from CTE programs. The study also determined if the skills being taught in secondary schools meet the needs of community employers. Qualitative data were collected from high school principals, CTE directors, and regional employers via open-ended questions and one-on-one interviews. Findings indicated participants perceived that CTE has a positive effect on student ability to be career and college ready. In addition, participants perceived CTE …

Grit In The Performing Arts: A Mixed-Methods Study Of High School Theatre Student Perceptions Of Grit, Kelsey Gibson

Doctor of Education Dissertations

Previous grit research has not yet studied how the performing arts may have an impact on student grit scores and perceptions of grit. Grit is defined by two main characteristics: consistency of interest and perseverance of effort. Continued participation in an extracurricular theatre production requires students to maintain interest and sustain effort throughout the rehearsal and performance period. This mixed methods interpretivist research study examined how high school students from three groups (performing arts, non-performing arts, and non-arts) measured on Duckworth and Quinn’s (2009) Grit-S scale, as well as how performing arts students perceived their own grit after participation in …

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 …

Middle School Parent Involvement: Perceptions In Two South Carolina School Districts, Jessica Vanvalkenburgh

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This study was created to explore the parent involvement perceptions of teachers and parents of middle school students in two South Carolina districts. The study is grounded in Epstein et al.’s (2019) theory of overlapping spheres and six typologies of parent involvement. An exploratory mixed methods study was used to gather research. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected to determine the perceptions of teachers and parents at five different sites. Cronbach’s alpha was used to test reliability, and a MANOVA test was used to test for mean differences of dependent variables. Univariate ANOVA tests were used to further explore differences …

Summer Reading Loss: A Program Evaluation On The Impact Of A Summer School Program On Reducing Summer Reading Loss In High-Poverty Middle School Students In An Urban School District, Rossi J. Volley

Doctor of Education Dissertations

Summer vacation is an opportunity for students to relax from the academic demands of school. Unfortunately, during the summer break, student literacy skills decline, and growth is limited. This decline is especially significant for high-poverty students within urban public school districts. High-poverty students lose, on average, 3 months of academic learning over the summer months while other students gain or stay the same (Stein, 2016). Participating in an intensive reading program and engaging in academic experiences similar to those of their advantaged peers minimize summer reading loss (Schacter, 2003). The purpose of this program evaluation was to examine the impact …

Parental Involvement In Middle School: The Parent's Perspective, Brittany D. Orange

Doctor of Education Dissertations

Over the years, parental involvement has been studied from the perspectives of administrators and teachers. The purpose of this phenomenological study is to expound upon parental involvement from the parent’s perspective. The researcher’s goal is to understand the reasons why parents choose to get involved and the strategies they consider beneficial and a hindrance in facilitating their involvement. Parental involvement declines as students move through the K-12 system (Benner, Boyle & Sadler, 2016). As students move to middle school, the educational structure changes. Students go from having one teacher to multiple teachers, which presents a challenge to parents, as they …

A Study Of The Preparedness And Efficacy Of Middle School Teachers To Teach Literacy Skills, Lorinda Brusie

Doctor of Education Dissertations

This study examined the preparedness of middle school teachers to teach literacy strategies to middle school students. The study also examined the significance between teacher licensure pathways and their self-efficacy level as it relates to using literacy strategies in content areas. This was a mixed methods study using quantitative data collected through a survey. The survey measured the efficacy level of teachers as it relates to teaching literacy skills. The qualitative data were collected through focus groups. The research questions examined (a) how middle school teachers rate their self-efficacy as it relates to the use of literacy strategies; (b) the …

Fast Track To Excellence: Impact Of English I Acceleration On Gifted Learners' Academic Achievement And Course Selection At The Secondary Level, Camey Whitt

Education Dissertations and Projects

Academic acceleration, sometimes referred to as “appropriate developmental placement” (Lubinski & Benbow, 2000, p. 138), is a differentiation practice providing academically gifted students with opportunities to learn curriculum more quickly. The research study was a mixed method experimental design where the evaluator examined two dependent variables in the study: academic performance and scheduling choices of academically gifted students. The independent variable was the intervention put into place for academically gifted students at the middle school: accelerated English I. The study compared AIG students who accelerated the English I class with those who did not in order to isolate whether or …

A Phenomenological Investigation Of Mindfulness Practice Through The Lived Experiences Of Secondary Educators, Karen H. Styers

Education Dissertations and Projects

Teacher burnout and stress are at an all-time high. The teaching profession is reported to be one of the most stressful occupations, especially in 21st century learning environments. The researcher discovered mindfulness and was amazed how this practice allowed her to “breathe” through the difficult and challenging moments. Inspired by her own mindfulness practice, the researcher wanted to discover if mindfulness was as powerful a tool to other mindfulness teachers and educators. This phenomenological investigation explored the lived experiences of 11 secondary educators who self-identify as mindfulness practitioners. Through carefully constructed open-ended questions, the researcher was able to delve into …

Parental Involvement And Access: A Phenomenological Study Of Urban High School Communities, Jared Thompson

Education Dissertations and Projects

In an urban school district, four high schools were studied in an effort to assess how Epstein’s (2001) six types of involvement were currently being experienced by parents. In a phenomenological study, this research gathered data on how parents of secondary students are currently experiencing their involvement with the high school. The research gathered quantitative and qualitative data from 443 parents through the use of a survey and focus group sessions over the course of 4 weeks. Parents expressed their current experiences with how they engage with the school concerning parenting practices, communication, learning at home, volunteering, decision-making, and collaborating …

The Perceived Impact Of Relational Care On The Psychological Growth Of African-American Males In An Alternative Educational Program In South Carolina, Robert Smalls

Education Dissertations and Projects

Alternative schools/programs are prevalent throughout this country; however, some struggle to meet the holistic needs of the students. Many alternative schools in this country are disproportionately populated by children of color. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand how alternative education teachers in an urban school district in South Carolina embody the ethics of care to support the psychological growth of the students. Second, the study sought to understand the perceived influence of caring on student motivation and behavior. Using criterion sampling, the student population consisted of five African-American males who received their education in an alternative school …

A Program Evaluation Of The Implementation Of Personalized Learning In A Rural Elementary School, Jaime Hembree

Education Dissertations and Projects

The global workforce is constantly changing. Students sitting in today’s classrooms are being prepared for jobs that do not currently exist. Students must graduate ready to be problem solvers, collaborators, and self-starters. Students must become in charge of their learning, and teachers must possess the skill set in order to facilitate this kind of learning. As a result, many states and school districts are implementing personalized learning. This study provides a program evaluation of the implementation of personalized learning, and focused primarily on the implementation of student data notebooks and teacher-shared flexible grouping and measured teacher efficacy and student achievement …

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 …

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

Education Dissertations and Projects

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

Ready Or Not: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Of Early College Graduates’ First-Year Experiences, Jennifer Elizabeth Wilson

Education Dissertations and Projects

Current frameworks of college readiness fail to address the impact of college readiness on the postsecondary educational experiences of traditionally underserved students such as low socioeconomic and first generation. The purpose of this study was to utilize the interpretative phenomenological analysis approach to investigate the first-year postsecondary educational experiences and understandings of the graduates of an early college high school in western North Carolina. The phenomenon studied was the use of early college high school experiences in a first-year college or university setting. The researcher employed the use of individual interviews to explore the transfer of college readiness instruction into …

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

Education Dissertations and Projects

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

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

Education Dissertations and Projects

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

Filling The Reading Void: Studying Reading Stamina In A Rural High School Through Action Research: A Companion Research Study, Meredith Eubanks Lynch

Education Dissertations and Projects

Experts agree best practice in elementary education allows students time for silent reading during school due to the benefits to students in vocabulary development and reading stamina. As students age, this practice typically declines in favor of activities meant to teach vocabulary, prepare for standardized tests, and study novels together as a class to explore and analyze literature, resulting in less reading and subsequently decreasing reading stamina. -- Teachers at a high poverty South Carolina high school, recognizing reading stamina as an issue, implemented a protocol described by Penny Kittle (2013) in Book Love: Developing Depth, Stamina, and Passion in …

Student And Teacher Perceptions Of Multiliterate Assignments Utilizing 21st Century Skills, Jessica Kennedy Miller

MA in English Theses

Today’s society requires students to be knowledgeable in both content and skill to be successful. In the secondary classroom it is important to fully prepare students for their futures in the post-secondary classroom or for their career, and through the implementation of Common Core State Standards, this focus has been emphasized in educational pedagogy. This thesis outlines a study and the implications of the perceptions of teachers and students on utilizing 21st century skills in the secondary English classroom through the implementation of multiliterate assignments. This thesis outlines reasons for the study, important terminology to ground the study, the methodology, …

A Study Of High School Students Of Military Personnel And Their Perceptions Of Support In A Rural Public School, Eileen Marie Farley

Education Dissertations and Projects

This study sought to understand the unique social and emotional characteristics of the high school military-affiliated students and student perceptions about the school’s efficacy in meeting those social and emotional characteristics. To address the problem, this study looked at a high school in a rural community 20 miles outside of a large military base with a 25% military-affiliated population. The quantitative study surveyed students in the ninth and eleventh grades using a previously validated tool, the California Healthy Kids Survey, and the data were collected and analyzed by loglinear analysis. The data suggested that while the military students felt supported …

A Comparative Study Of Two Graduation Pathways: Traditional Vs. Stem At A Southeastern High School, Chemisi Asha Kogo-Masila

Education Dissertations and Projects

This mixed-methods study approach investigated the impact of standardized tests on student achievement from the STEM program and the traditional program in a suburban high school. Qualitative data were collected from interviews, focus groups, and questionnaires to get perceptual data from teachers. Quantitative data were collected from different demographic information and the standardized tests American College Testing (ACT) and end-of-course examination (EOC). An independent sample t test, the Chi-Square Test of Independence and Pearson R Correlation of association test were used to analyze the data collected. Documents with the graduation rates for the participants were reviewed, and both programs had …

The Feasibility Of Implementing Early College Instructional Strategies And Design Principles In Traditional High Schools As A Reform Model, Shelia Smith Wyont

Education Dissertations and Projects

Early college high schools were developed as a partnership between school districts and colleges to provide students an opportunity to earn a high school diploma concurrently with an associate’s degree or transferable college credit at little or no cost. In 2011, North Carolina New Schools implemented the Rural Innovative Initiative with the purpose of expanding college readiness and reducing dropouts by applying early college design principles and strategies into 18 existing traditional high schools in low-wealth districts. The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility of implementation of early college principles and strategies into traditional high schools. The …

A Case Study Of A Business-Education Partnership Through Internships, Dana Blue Chavis

Education Dissertations and Projects

Economic and demographic shifts are disturbed due to high school and collegiate dropout rates as well as discrepancies in scholastic achievement. This shift in the labor market has caused policymakers, educators, and employers to seek answers for how the knowledge and training of scholars can boost their skills to make them college, career, and life ready. Internships are resurfacing as an extra educational appeal that might bridge the gap between the knowledge and work, once these are aligned with the values and expectations of the major key players (scholars, employers, and educators) with the substantive support of policymakers. The purpose …

Case Study Of The Classroom Culture That Impacts Teacher Efficacy Of Secondary Level Teachers Of English Language Learners, Connie Marie Davis Banks

Education Dissertations and Projects

Throughout the United States a dramatic shift in demographics is taking place, similar to the changes of the early 20th century, as thousands of immigrants cross the threshold of Ellis Island (Karathanos, 2009). Undergoing a greater makeover is the culture of classrooms and American teachers who have seen, firsthand, an increase of more than 60% of English language learner (ELL) students over the past decade (Ballantyne, Sanderman, & Levy, 2008). The purpose of this study was to develop a more in-depth understanding as to whether mainstream teachers from a school district located in upstate South Carolina perceived themselves to be …

Family And Community Engagement In One High School: Where Perceptions Meet Practices, Coreen Ann Marie Anderson

Education Dissertations and Projects

The intent of this study was to explore the perceptions of administrators, teachers, students, and families of students in one urban high school regarding the importance of family, school, and community engagement; and to explore the steps they take, or not, to develop and sustain such engagements. The study is grounded in Bandura’s (1977, 1986) work which indicates self-efficacy influences peoples’ beliefs to perform different tasks. Additionally, the study relies on Epstein’s (1995) theory of overlapping spheres which postulates six typologies to guide family and community engagement. A two-phase, explanatory sequential mixed methods was used to obtain statistical results from …

A Mixed-Method Case Study On The Impact Of Career Academies On Student Dispositions, Self-Efficacy, And Behaviors, Jessica Thompson Perry

Education Dissertations and Projects

The purpose of this case study was to examine the impact of career academies on student dispositions, behaviors, and self-efficacy at three high schools within the coastal plain region of east central North Carolina. This mixed-method case study used program structures as well as teacher and administrator perceptions to estimate the effects of career academies on student academic dispositions, learning behaviors, and educational self-efficacy with greater accuracy. The researcher developed a Career Academy Questionnaire to assess the perceived impact of the teachers and administrators on the career academies’ impact on student dispositions, behaviors, and self-efficacy. The quantitative data consisted of …

A Study Of The Self-Determination Of High School Students In A Blended Learning Environment And Meeting The Goals For 21st Century Student Outcomes, Vincent Keith Wilks

Education Dissertations and Projects

The 21st century has ushered Generation Z into every educational setting. Their expectations for how, where, and how fast they learn are as diverse their world views. With the use of electronic, mobile learning devices increasing each year, there is a noted deficiency in research to provide insight into how this computer-based learning is impacting students in high schools.

In this investigation, a self-paced, internet-based instructional program is utilized by students in a brick-and-mortar location with a certified teacher as well as anywhere the student has an internet connection and a computer device.

An internet based, five-part Likert scale survey …