The purpose of this qualitative, single-site case study is to explore the impact of one middle school's advisory program on teachers' perceptions of student engagement and connectedness within the school community. Advisory programs have been identified as a critical component of effective middle schools by supporting students' academic and…

The purpose of this descriptive study was to assess volunteer involvement in school-based agricultural education (SBAE) programs. An electronic survey (based on Seevers and Rosencrans, 2001) was sent to a census of SBAE instructors in three states. Attitudes of involving volunteers was positive although there were some roles SBAE participants'…

The purpose of this study was to understand how schools address two specific criteria of the Schools to Watch® (STW) program: Social equity and developmental responsiveness. Descriptions of replicable practices, program/school characteristics, and initiatives created by each of the STW sites in Pennsylvania were analyzed. The data also includes…

A survey method was used to examine suburban middle school students' reports of the social supports they received through their school's advisory program. A widely used middle school practice, advisory program, in this study, referred to a weekly, structured class period (44 minutes) designed deliberately to foster healthy relationships between…

The turn of the century brought a profound change in the accreditation of teacher preparation programs. This shift--from curriculum-based reviews to standards-based reviews--took place in the context of the accountability movement of the late 20th century. The 21st century ushered in what many refer to as "a culture of evidence." From…