Private school choice options are being proposed and adopted in numerous states across the country. As of the spring of 2019, 62 private school choice programs were in operation in 29 states and the District of Columbia, serving more than 400,000 children. Although growth in private school choice programs and enrollment has been considerable over…

The purpose of this study was to gain an understanding of the perceived impacts of Positive Behavior Supports (PBIS) on high school climate. The research question was how PBIS impacts school climate. Three Indiana schools with different demographic make-ups matching the criteria of having used PBIS for at least three years were chosen for this…

The purpose of teacher professional development is to enhance teacher quality so that students may achieve at high levels. Many times, professional development is too general or not connected to teachers' needs or learning preferences. The purpose of this study was to investigate and compare the perceptions of teachers, administrators, and…

This brief provides guidance to policymakers and practitioners on the challenges and opportunities of the "dual language immersion" (DLI) model and presents research conducted with teachers and administrators both before and during their first years of implementing new DLI programs in several Indiana school districts. The brief also…

The purpose of this study was to identify if a relationship existed between the implementation of professional evaluation processes and the use of research-based teaching practices, factoring in both perceptions of principals and practicing teachers. The variables of professional development on the evaluation model and the principal's years of…

As teacher recruitment intensifies to locate qualified teachers for our nation's classrooms, alternative teacher certification programs are becoming prevalent. Initially these programs were designed to attract professionals and college graduates to enter urban classrooms. However, what has occurred is that over 140 alternative certification…

Prior research has classified strategies to facilitate adult learners' transitions to postsecondary opportunities into five broad categories: advising, General Educational Development-plus (GED-plus), English as a second language, career pathways, and college preparatory (Zafft, Kallenbach, & Spohn, 2006). This two-part study relied on…

Little is known about the supply side of voucher programs, despite schools' central role in program effectiveness. Using survey and interview data on the Indiana Choice Scholarship Program (ICSP), I analyze schools' participation decisions and early implementation experiences to understand better how schools respond to program regulations. I find…

This descriptive study investigated the attitudes of middle school building principals toward the desirability of preservice teacher preparation programs conducted wholly or almost wholly online. This project included middle schools in the states of Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio where random cluster sampling was utilized to select participants from…

School improvement initiatives have been the focus of recent political agendas, professional conferences, and publications. A recent educational change initiative in Indiana has been Project Lead The Way (PLTW). According to Rogers (2005) the state's technology education teachers have embraced PLTW and its infusion into the high school curriculum.…

Objective: Tailored nutrition Web programs constitute an emerging trend in obesity prevention. Initial investment in innovative technology necessitates that the target population be well understood. This pilot study's purpose was to determine the feasibility of a workplace nutrition Web program. Design: Formative research was conducted with gaming…

This paper examines alternative teacher certification in the NCREL region (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin), reviewing relevant literature, analyzing current Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS) data, reviewing information on alternative certification programs in these states, and offering results from a survey of…

Special education directors (n=71) in Indiana and Massachusetts were surveyed concerning critical factors in their personal and organizational success. Highest ranking factors were demonstration of instructional effectiveness and regular/special education integration. Intergroup differences in some rankings were attributed to urban versus rural…

This project identified models, practices, and existing projects, both in Indiana and throughout the United States, that demonstrated partnership efforts between families/home (particularly those families having students with disabilities) and educators/schools. This report presents a literature review on the nature, extent, effectiveness, and…

This policy brief examines several questions regarding the impact of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) on students with disabilities, including: What are the benefits of the law? What are the unintended consequences? Does NCLB conflict with the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA)? In addition, the author conducted an…