South Carolina School District Takeover: A Critical Policy Analysis, David Osworth

Theses and Dissertations

School takeover is a reform strategy where a school or district is placed into the control of a state or municipal government agency. Takeover has become increasingly popular in many states as an attempt to improve schools and district that are struggling either academically or financially. Takeover, however, is more likely to be implemented in districts serving a higher proportion of Black students. Due to the racialized nature of this policy this study uses a Critical Race Theory (CRT) methodology to engage in a critical policy analysis of school takeover in one rural school district in South Carolina. This study …

The Effects Of Grading Equity Practices On Students: Do Student Perceptions Of And Teachers’ Exposure To Grading Equity Practices Matter?, Sarah Ruth Morris

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation critically examines grading practices within schools, tracing the evolution from traditional to modern approaches and highlighting the social dimensions and debates surrounding grading. Through a mixed-methods study spanning three empirical chapters, it explores students' and teachers' perceptions of grading practices, the impact of professional development (PD) on teachers' approaches to grading equity, and the resultant effects on student outcomes. Chapter Two reveals students' preferences for practices that recognize effort and support academic growth, alongside a tension between Pre-AP students' resistance and the support from students under high stress. Chapter Three finds that while PD can shift teachers' views …

Reflecting On, Resetting, And Reimagining Schools In The Post-Pandemic Context: A Case Study In Rural Vermont, Rachel A. Glickman

Dissertation Collection

This qualitative study examines the experiences of public elementary teachers and school leaders to better understand the shifting of educational priorities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants share ideas and practices while taking action steps and making recommendations to improve teaching and learning. The research incorporates both case study and action research approaches through a critical inquiry process that centers the voices of those on the front lines of education. This study contributes to the field of Comparative and International Education (CIE) using the original conceptual framework of Institutional Border Theory of Education (IBTE). IBTE draws on pre-existing foundational theories of …

The Growth And Governance Of American Classical And Christian Schools, Cassidy Syftestad Klutts

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Classical and Christian education has proliferated across education sectors over the last decade. As a result, school leaders must implement these timeless philosophies of education and navigate such high demand. This dissertation seeks to equip relevant parties with research about what drives their skyrocketing enrollment and how to support school leaders and their governing boards. My first chapter uses in-person focus groups to understand the school choices of 25 parents whose children are enrolled in Texas-based classical charter schools. I explore the ways in which parents found their children’s school; what made them enroll their children; and whether they are …

Stepparenting And Schooling: Challenges, Reconstitutions, And Outsider Perceptions, Christopher Repa

Dissertations

This study examined the challenges stepparents face in schooling their high-school aged children. An analysis of how stepfamily formation can impact this process was also investigated. The sample included 13 families composed of one biological and one non-biological parent with at least one child between the ages of 14 and 18 who was currently attending high school. Stepparents were asked to share their experiences with other family members, the school, and the community as they related to the education of their stepchildren. The primary research focus was to identify difficulties and successes that stepparents encounter as they engage with schools …

Indigenous Practices In Head Start Classrooms— Toward Survivance And Indigenization In Policy And Practice, Liza Xet Smith

LMU/LLS Theses and Dissertations

The Office of Head Start has prioritized holistic quality education services for children and communities in greatest need. First, since 1965, the federal government has funded, regulated, and publicly aided over 38 million children through Head Start programming, including AIAN and Migrant programs (Administration for Children and Families, n.d.). In 2019, over $10 billion was budgeted for the program, resulting in 1,047,000 low-income children and their families receiving services (Office of Head Start, 2022a). In addition, the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation has funded research to improve quality and child outcomes, with research recommendations that significantly guide state and …

Adopting Oer Course Materials: Instructor Experiences, Jenny Ceciliano

Dissertations and Theses

Traditional commercial textbooks used in postsecondary courses are often problematic due to their rigidity, tendency to mirror the dominant culture, and the substantial cost imposed upon students. Although replacing these texts with open educational resources (OER) can facilitate more equitable and inclusive pedagogical practices while removing a significant expense, there has been insufficient research surrounding instructors' experience of transitioning from a commercial textbook to OER course materials. Through semi-structured interviews with nine postsecondary instructors who teach with OER course materials, this basic qualitative study explores the experience of that transition. The findings indicate that adopting OER is a challenging and …

Shattering The Mask: Unveiling The Destructive Force Of Misogynoir, Ledominique Hubbard

Dissertations

As a Black woman, my professional journey has been consistently marred by encounters with racism and gender bias. In this research, I employed autoethnography to shed light on my experiences and meticulously examine the challenges of misogynoir I faced while holding pivotal positions, including that of a detested team leader, an ingenious instructional teacher, and an anti-racist assistant principal across three distinct school campuses in two states. My narrative unfolds in various contexts, notably as the sole Black female teacher and team leader within nine elementary schools in a predominantly white, female-staffed rural district. Furthermore, I underscore my role as …

Understanding The Relationship Between Teacher Turnover And Student Success Across Ethno-Racial And Socioeconomic Demographics: An Analysis Of Massachusetts Public Schools, Jenna O'Leary

Master's Theses

Teacher turnover in the U.S. has risen over the past decades. Urban districts have faced some of the highest rates of turnover amongst their staff. However, scholars still debate the impacts of teacher turnover on student academic success. This study aims to better understand this relationship across both ethno-racial and socioeconomic student demographics, as well as school region type. To accomplish this, student test scores, across demographics, on the Next Generation MCAS state standardized test are observed in relation to teacher retention across three year cycles (2016-2017, 2017-2018, 2018-2019). Using correlation analysis and t-tests, it is found that there is …

Culturally Responsive Leadership For Newcomer Students: A Case Study Of An Elementary Newcomer Program School Leadership Team, Ahmad Fayaz Amiri

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative case study focuses on the pivotal role of an urban elementary school leadership team with a newcomer program. It aims to uncover how school leadership decisions, practices, and policies address the diverse needs of newcomer students. Challenges faced by newcomers, including economic and social needs, cultural adjustments, and potential feelings of alienation despite academic success, are explored. The tension between preserving home culture and adapting to a new one adds complexity to newcomer students’ identity formation.

This study examines the practices of a newcomer school leader who addresses the diverse needs of vulnerable newcomer students. With schools being …

A Critical Policy Analysis Of Universal Preschool In Colorado: Its Roots, Intentions, And Development, Jamita Horton

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

High-quality preschool experiences are essential for preparing four-year-old children for a successful transition to kindergarten, benefiting them academically, emotionally, socially, and physically. However, access to such preschools remains limited, particularly for children from marginalized communities. This qualitative critical policy analysis examines transitioning from the targeted Colorado Preschool Program (CPP) to a universal preschool approach through the 2022 Colorado House Bill 1295: Department of Early Childhood and Universal Preschool Program. Drawing on Young and Diem's (2017) framework for critical policy analysis, this study explores the roots, development, and potential implications of the universal preschool policy.

This study analyzes documents and audio …

Black Superintendents’ Perceptions On The Effectiveness Of Diversity And Equity Professional Development In New Jersey Schools, Tanisha Hinton

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

Providing an accessible and equitable education for all students has been an ongoing process mandated by the Managing for Equality and Equity initiative to close the achievement and opportunity gaps among students. This qualitative study examined Black superintendents' perspectives about the effectiveness and impact of diversity, equity, and inclusive initiatives in majority White staffed school districts in New Jersey. Furthermore, the study explored the perceptions of Black superintendents across different regions of New Jersey to understand if there were significant differences in how DEI initiative was perceived. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 8 Black superintendents and the data was analyzed …

Undergraduate Students Of Color Raising Children And Persisting In Higher Education, Kimberly Denise Alvarez

Dissertations and Theses

Millions of undergraduate students have been identified as parents across the United States. Of those millions, a majority have been identified as undergraduate students of Color who are pregnant, parenting, frequently underrepresented, and often not equitably supported toward degree completion. The purpose of the qualitative single-site case study was to learn what undergraduate students of Color who are parenting have experienced, in terms of support for their continued enrollment, while earning baccalaureate degrees at Portland State University. Through an asset-based approach, this study elaborated on three key findings which include the persistent aspirations of undergraduate Students of Color (USPs of …

What Is The Deal With Federal Student Loans?, Marissa Lopez-Ona

Senior Theses and Projects

Student loan debt is in the trillions. So why aren't Americans more mad about that? This thesis explores the how the submerged nature of student loan policy shapes the politics around it. Suzanne Mettler suggest that federal student loan policy is part of the submerged state where Americans do not "see" the role of government within the student loan program. However, I argue that this is not that reason. I argue and show through an original survey that the role of federal student loan servicers is actually what is hidden about federal student loan policy. And that revealing the role …

Exploring Possibility Under Constraint: A Human Rights Approach To Higher Education In Connecticut’S Prisons And Jails, Emma Hersom

Senior Theses and Projects

This thesis investigates the landscape of higher education in prison (HEP) programs in Connecticut, aiming to evaluate their efficacy in ensuring a genuine right to education for incarcerated individuals. Through a comprehensive exploration grounded in human rights principles and informed by abolitionist perspectives, the research scrutinizes the availability, accessibility, acceptability, and adaptability of these programs. Drawing on insights from incarcerated students, program leaders, and existing scholarship, it delves into the intersection of education and incarceration, challenging prevailing neoliberal narratives. Furthermore, the thesis proposes actionable strategies for everyday abolition, emphasizing the need to dismantle carceral cultures and foster transformative approaches to …

Inclusive Policy, Diverse Perspectives: Affirmative Action And The Model Minority Among University Students, Jannie Nguyen

Honors Theses

In lieu of the recent Supreme Court overturn of affirmative action, Asian American students were on the forefront as the main racial group defended in this case. The model minority stereotype obscures societal perceptions of Asians and Asian Americans as collectively intelligent, hard-working, and submissive. Whereas the stereotype appears frequently in academic settings, this research aims to understand and contextualize the perceptions on affirmative action among Asian college students within the context and social dynamics of the model minority stereotype. A qualitative approach was deployed to garner nuance narratives of fifteen participants in the study. Participants in the study represent …

Inclusive Policy, Diverse Perspectives: Affirmative Action And The Model Minority Among University Students, Jannie Nguyen

Honors Theses

In lieu of the recent Supreme Court overturn of affirmative action, Asian American students were on the forefront as the main racial group defended in this case. The model minority stereotype obscures societal perceptions of Asians and Asian Americans as collectively intelligent, hard-working, and submissive. Whereas the stereotype appears frequently in academic settings, this research aims to understand and contextualize the perceptions on affirmative action among Asian college students within the context and social dynamics of the model minority stereotype. A qualitative approach was deployed to garner nuance narratives of fifteen participants in the study. Participants in the study represent …

Workplace Bullying In K-12 Education, Lorena Garcia

Open Access Theses & Dissertations

Workplace bullying within K-12 education settings has become an increasingly recognized concern, with potentially profound implications for educators' well-being. This quantitative research study aims to explore the phenomenon of workplace bullying among teachers and administrators in K-12 educational institutions. Findings from this study will contribute to the existing literature by shedding light on the prevalence and manifestations of workplace bullying in K-12 education, as well as its implications for individual well-being, organizational culture, and educational outcomes. The study aims to inform the development of targeted interventions and policies to prevent and address workplace bullying, thereby fostering healthier and more supportive …

Revealing The Superintendency: Developing The National Longitudinal Superintendent Database And Evaluating Trends In K-12 Superintendent Attrition, Sarah A. Harper

Chancellor’s Honors Program Projects

No abstract provided.

Where The Thunder Dragon Lives: The Case Of Human Capital Flight In Bhutan, Grace Subu

Undergraduate Honors Theses

Human capital flight (HCF) hinders developing economies striving to escape the middle-income trap by enhancing domestic institutions and improving living standards. Global development literature has focused on creating theoretical frameworks to understand and manage human capital flows. Recent iterations of the human capital flow paradigm have moved beyond the traditional 'brain gain' versus 'brain drain' dichotomy to emphasize the globalized nature of the reciprocity of knowledge and transfer of skill through human capital mobility, highlighting the concept of 'brain circulation.' This paper examines Bhutan's emerging HCF problem as a case study to illustrate these theoretical concepts. Bhutan's unique situation, characterized …

More Than A Monolith: Three Essays On The Diverse Journey Of Immigrant Students And Their Postsecondary Outcomes, Rian Rinaldi Djita

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

For many years, the United States (U.S.) has been the country with the largest number of immigrants. As a result, policy about immigrant students’ success becomes crucial since it carries not only ethical implications but also economic and societal implications. While there have been other alternatives for students’ success, such as Career and Technical Education (CTE), undeniably, college is still seen as a common pathway to success (e.g., Choi, 2015; Heckman et al., 2018; Turner, 2004). Unfortunately, there are several gaps in the literature on immigrant students’ success and postsecondary outcomes. First, while there is an increasing number of immigrants …

Countering Antisemitism Through Education Initiatives, Mattie Adaline Harris

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Since October 7, 2023, there has been a sharp increase in antisemitic incidents on American college campuses, highlighting the urgency for additional research on this issue. Chapter Two examines Jewish students' perspectives on freedom of speech on college campuses, using a 2022 survey of 44,847 undergraduate students on 208 campuses conducted by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE, 2022). The survey reveals that Jewish students often feel inhibited in expressing their opinions due to potential reactions from peers, professors, or their campus administration. Jewish students’ comfort levels increase when there are more fellow Jewish students on campus. Additionally, …

The Educator Labor Market In Times Of Change: Lessons From The Covid-19 Pandemic, Andrew Mitchell Camp

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The COVID-19 pandemic placed an undeniable burden onto the teaching profession which already faced levels of prestige and interest at 50-year lows. The strains of the pandemic resulted in educators reporting higher levels of job-related stress and burnout and exacerbated concerns about potential teacher shortages. This dissertation leverages administrative data from Arkansas to better understand challenges facing the teacher workforce following COVID-19 and evaluate two increasingly policies aimed at the teacher workforce. In the first chapter, I provide evidence that teacher turnover was relatively stable during the first two years (2020-21 and 2021-22) of the COVID-19 pandemic before a notable …

Well-Being Behaviors And Outcomes In Arkansas Teachers: A Qualitative Analysis Of Teachers In Arkansas During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Ashton Elizabeth Human

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic introduced new challenges to teachers and emphasized those already existing in the education system. The increased reliance upon technology and lack of administrative support perceived during distance learning led to lower levels of commitment to teaching and increased levels of teacher burnout. Burnout risk is associated with an increased workload, exhaustion from job demands, cynicism toward the professional community and has been shown to have a negative relationship with well-being. Teachers experiencing burnout are unable to establish positive relationships with students, understand students’ needs, stay in contact with trends in the education field, or provide pedagogically …

Erased From The Curriculum: Studying The Role Curriculum Plays On Students Political Attitudes At The University, Julie Jann Gallagher

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

University curriculum shapes political identity. Most studies focus on secondary education, overlooking the influence of university curriculum and its effect on students’ political attitudes. For this study, I examine the curriculum of three classes: American Government, African American Studies, and Astronomy. I argue that exposure to race-specific curriculum shapes racial identity. The results will suggest that students who take non-race-specific courses are more likely to support racially neutral and colorblind (White Nationalist) attitudes. I argue that curriculum affects students’ political attitudes.

Using Student Voices To Inform Educational Reform: Exploring High School Educational Desires To Improve Curricular Decisions, Anna Colquitt

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

In the education system, the integration of student perspectives into effective pedagogical strategies is gaining momentum. This dissertation delves into the concept of 'Student Voice' and its role in shaping educational frameworks. Recognizing the growing gap in soft skill proficiency among newly recruited employees, contrasted with the emphasis on hard skills within current educational standards, this study analyzes what those skill gaps are in the education and what skills students perceive are necessary to integrate into a high school education to better prepare students for life, the workforce, and higher education. Focused on recent high school graduates in Nevada, the …

An Analysis Of Truancy Causes And Prevention Programming In Clark County, Nevada, Jennifer Ashley Fletcher

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

In the United States truancy prevention is lacking two key elements to success; research that explains the causes of truancy and empirical evidence for best practices of truancy prevention. Truancy has been a problem in academics since the early 1900’s, when truancy became illegal. Since then, truancy rates have continued to see a steady increase, and today approximately 10% of public school students in the United States are truant every day (Maynard et al., 2017). To combat this problem, research needs to be conducted to understand why truancy happens. However, there is a severe lack of research on this topic; …

Dismantling Digital Inequalities: Urban High School Students' Perspectives Of Smartphones Use In Education, Artis Carneal Street

Graduate Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this research is to evaluate the use of and the attitude towards smartphone technology for in school and remote learning by urban high school students to reduce digital inequalities. High school students use smartphone technology in today’s society as an integral part of their lives. Yet the majority of the large school districts in the United States ban the use of students’ mobile phones in schools. Furthermore, while policy makers, school district personnel, and school administrators each year negotiate the school’s technology budget, technology use agreements, network maintenance, and which Internet application tools to adopt, almost all …

Shakamohtaa: Connecting And Coming Together To Support International Student Career Readiness, Sabreena Macelheron

The Dissertation in Practice at Western University

Abstract

In the evolving Canadian landscape, permanent residency acquisition has undergone a transformative shift from land sales to educational credential procurement. Canadian higher education markets post-secondary qualifications to international students (IS) seeking migration routes, posing nuanced challenges. IS, despite holding higher education credentials, often find themselves relegated to non-field specific jobs due to existing disparities in the Canadian job market. Amid this equation, IS grapple with the essential need for pre-and-post graduate career experiences to fulfill eligibility criteria for permanent residency application. This pursuit extends beyond merely aligning with their credentials, requiring conformity to approved national occupation codes aligned with …

Exploring The Role Of Intrinsic Motivation In Elementary Public-School Educators’ Willingness To Remain In Teaching, Lynnette K. Steinhoff

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The experiences and perceptions of novice educators’ willingness to remain in teaching have been without clear research. The problem addressed by this study was the need to understand why novice educators remain in the field in order to support districts and legislators in updating policies and funding measures. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how the intrinsic motivation of novice elementary educators within a K–12 public school influences their willingness to remain in teaching. Self-determination theory (SDT), with its psychological principles of autonomy, competency, and relatedness, was selected as the conceptual framework. Two research questions addressed intrinsic …