National teacher shortages have received attention in the last few years, and researchers have projected turnover rates will grow in the upcoming years. As a result, districts and administrators were challenged to hire highly qualified teachers. There needed to be more educational research regarding why teachers remained in urban Title I schools.…

Educator retention is a concern plaguing the nation. Schools struggle yearly to fill positions for classroom educators as teachers leave the profession. This phenomenological study examined a rural Central Texas school district and its educators' perceptions of retention issues. Multiple classroom educators were interviewed at a Title 1 rural…

The role of play in early elementary education (K-2) generates dichotomous opinions, and more research is required to support efficacious pedagogical decision-making. This pilot study explored the effects of pedagogical approaches on Title I kindergarten students' executive function (EF) to test the hypothesis that children, especially those from…

The purpose of this exploratory study was to examine variables that contribute to burnout among Texas choral teachers. Specific research questions included: (1) What demographic variables predict burnout in Texas choir teachers? and (2) How do perceptions of teacher agency impact Texas choir teachers' experience of burnout? After providing…

Elementary students' literacy skills are decreasing nationwide ("The Nation's Report Card," 2019). This is concerning because as literacy skills slip, the literacy demands for American workers are steadily increasing (OECD, 2013). Unfortunately, adding to the situation is the fact that students' attitudes towards reading are worsening…

In 2021, the U.S. Surgeon General declared a children's mental health crisis, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported an increase in the prevalence of youth mental health needs stating that adolescents are in crisis (Reinert et al., 2021). Since 2021, a significant amount of literature has been published, indicating that,…

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore how school leaders in Title I elementary (K-8) schools in the Atlantic Coast region describe the factors that lead black male students to the school-to-prison (STPP), what strategies they use to create social justice within the school and divert students from the school-to-prison…

This study was designed to address questions related to the phenomena of why beginning teachers leave or do not stay within the field of education. The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to determine what factors influence beginning teacher retention/attrition in Title I schools. Twenty-nine beginning teachers from a Title I district in a…

Because no government body has mandated a national or state curriculum for music education in the United States, elementary general music teachers can vary widely in their curricular choices about whether and how to include movement. To contribute to an understanding of children's experiences engaging in movement during their elementary music…

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of secondary traumatic stress (STS) among elementary teachers from Title I schools. This study sought to understand teachers' perceptions of STS and the personal, behavioral, and environmental factors that influence their impact. Methodology: This study…

Ten middle school principals of Title I charter schools were interviewed in this qualitative, phenomenological narrative study to explore the influence of parental involvement on students' success in Title I charter schools in Texas as perceived by middle school principals. Each interview was analyzed before combining them to develop a complete…

There is well-documented research and data that echo the concern for the future of United States' ability to globally compete in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) innovation and to fulfill the shortage in talent that exists within this field of study. This concern compels us to seek more impactful and long-term solutions to…

This guide delves into often-overlooked federal funding sources that can be used to support local efforts to pursue rapid turnaround. Although focused on spending at the district and school levels, this guide is appropriate for those involved in school improvement at the state, district, or school level because policies and procedures at all those…

This annual report provides information for the 2018-19 school year on grade-level retention in the Texas public school system. Data on retention are provided by student characteristics, including grade level; race/ethnicity; gender; degree of English proficiency; and economic, at-risk, dyslexia, foster care, homeless, immigrant, migrant,…

State and school district leaders in Wisconsin are interested in improving education outcomes among Black students across the state. To achieve this goal, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction encourages schools to implement culturally responsive practices, which prior research suggests are related to improvements in outcomes among…