Existing research consistently indicates that Black girls are assigned disproportionately exclusionary disciplinary consequences such as, suspension and expulsion rates, surpassing their White counterparts and Black boys. According to the Report to Congressional Requesters, (United States Governmental Accountability Office, 2018), exclusionary…

Background: The underrepresentation of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) remains a persistent international challenge with complex causes. This study draws on five complementary theoretical perspectives--theory of circumscription and compromise, situated expectancy-value theory, the internal/external frame of…

This research was conducted to examine the influence of parental involvement, in the form of parent conversations, on mathematics achievement for high school girls. Data from the High School Longitudinal Study of 2009 (HSLS:09) public-use file provided a sample of 13,694 students, including 6,592 girls for our analyses. A scale for measuring…

Students with disabilities have higher rates of attention problems than those without disabilities. This can impede their academic success and postsecondary transition, but these effects have not been well-studied. Understanding these effects is especially critical among high school girls with disabilities who additionally experience significant…

Students with disabilities have higher rates of attention problems than those without disabilities. This can impede their academic success and postsecondary transition, but these effects have not been well-studied. Understanding these effects is especially critical among high school girls with disabilities who additionally experience significant…

Background: Robust research indicates that social support is negatively associated with depression and anxiety. Less work has investigated social support as a network of support across sources like parents and classmates. Past work suggests that sources of support have differential associations with internalizing outcomes. More work exploring the…

This quantitative study sought to examine the role of self-efficacy on the enrollment decisions made by women for a second year of high school physics. Not enough information is known about why there is a significant decrease in the proportion of women in second year high school physics programs after their introductory year. This study took place…

Using linked high school and college records for a national sample of students, I document the first college math courses that students take and examine how they compare with high school coursework. Detailed 12th-grade math assessment data and variation in college math course-taking allow me to estimate the extent of redundant college math…

This correlational, quantitative dissertation in practice explored the influence of the timing of algebra 1, taking advanced math courses, taking AP math courses, math credits earned, math self-efficacy, math identity, and socioeconomic status (SES) on the decision by girls to choose computer science education or career pathway at the…

Background: After nearly a century of federal policies focusing on career-related high school coursework, a 2006 policy reauthorization especially called for increased rigor in STEM-themed career and technical education (CTE) courses and increased participation from all students, and particularly women and those with disabilities. We explore…

High school is a critical period for science identity development. Teacher influences are important but under-researched. Teachers' growth-mindset practices may help students meet the growing challenges to their ability, achievement, and identity in science and have long-term influences, especially for underrepresented students. We explored U.S.…

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of cognitive and non-cognitive factors on the academic achievement of female veteran students in a four-year university. Specifically, this research was interested in the influence of High School Grade Point Average (GPA), standardized test scores: Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) and American…

Obtaining a college degree can enhance many aspects of one's life including health outcomes and lifetime earnings. Given the racial opportunity gap that remains prevalent in the education system, and the gendered racial biases held against Black girls and women, they face many obstacles on their path to higher education. Considering the…

Women continue to be under-represented in science fields in Australia and internationally. Efforts to fix the 'leaky pipeline' producing this inequality are frustrated by declining enrolments in higher-level school science subjects. Researchers and policymakers need a better understanding of the factors which influence girls' decisions to take…

While demand for computer science and information technology skills grows, the proportion of women entering computer science (CS) fields has declined. One critical juncture is the transition from high school to college. In our study, we examined factors predicting college persistence in computer science- and technology-related majors from data…