Motivation is a complicated concept and difficult to measure and study; nevertheless, it is a substantial factor in students' performance that demands extra attention. Instructors across all grade levels and disciplines struggle to cultivate classroom environments that focus on student interactions and promote interest where high-quality work is…

This study examines the perceptions of female administrators in California's K-12 schools. The research will explore the perspectives of female administrators in California, tracing their experience through their professional journey from classroom teaching to administrative positions. A comprehensive analysis of questionnaire and interview data…

Office hours are a part of nearly all science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) courses, with many academic and affective benefits for students who attend. However, despite their ubiquity, there has only been limited past work examining the sources of knowledge students draw from to shape their perceptions of office hours, as well…

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…

Given that over two-thirds of children in the United States are exposed to at least one traumatic event by age 16, it is imperative that schools support these students with trauma-informed practices and resources. The current study investigated factors that affected teacher use of trauma-informed resources within two school districts in California…

The purpose of this study is to examine self-rated levels of reading motivation and reading activity among Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing (DHH) Adolescents and the relationship to overall Language Arts skills. This study is framed by social learning theory and self-determination theory. DHH Adolescents (n=38), between the ages of 11 and 17, with…

Motivation to read is crucial to improving reading skill. While there is extensive research examining reading motivation among elementary students, with respect to adolescents, research is limited. Employing a person-centered approach can aid in developing a better understanding of adolescent reading motivation and would help address possible…

Research has focused on the various reasons why high school principals leave their positions, yet minimal research has been done on the reasons why they stay. The problem of inconsistency of high school principals' tenure within the first 4 years of service was addressed in this study. Deci and Ryan's self-determination theory was used in this…

Our study explored current environmental sustainability practices of U.S. camps as well as the motivations and barriers influencing integration of sustainable operational approaches. Using a web survey of camp organizations in Spring 2021, we identified participation in sustainable actions across five broad categories: waste management,…

The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds that chose to pursue a career in STEM at STEM High School. For the purposes of this study, students from low socioeconomic backgrounds were generally defined as students that qualify for the free and…

Purpose: The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore how LGBTQ secondary public school administrators in California use the dimensions of centered leadership to find and create opportunities for connection, mentorship, career advancement, and joy at work. Theoretical Framework: A conceptual model that incorporated the…

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore how public middle school teachers describe their current strategies (RQ1), motivations (RQ2), and challenges (RQ3) when using computer technology (CT) in their instruction in California. In contrast to most prior studies into CT integration, this study followed a qualitative…

The Latinx population in California surpassed 15 million in 2022, constituting 39% of the state's residents. Despite Latinx students making up nearly half of the California Community Colleges (CCC) student body in 2019, there remains a notable lack of Latina representation in CCC leadership. To understand this disparity, a qualitative study…

The present study advances a model of critical civic motivation grounded in expectancy-value theory and highlights diverse manifestations of motivation among marginalized adolescents. The participants were 447 high school youth (85.0% Latinx; 62.9% low-income). Two complementary methodological approaches were employed to examine civic motivation,…

Financial aid plays a significant role for many students when deciding to pursue a postsecondary education. The California State University (CSU) prides itself on making education available and affordable, and about 80% of attending students are receiving financial aid (California State University, n.d.-e). With so many students relying on aid,…