This dissertation investigates the complex phenomenon of high school dropouts and the social factors that contributed to them making that decision. The research included interviewing six high school dropouts, whose ages ranged from 35-45, all of whom were interviewed using a semi-structured interview protocol. Each interview was conducted in…

College and career readiness (CCR) has become a priority in national education policy, leading to changes to CCR standards, practices, and measurements. In response to the COVID pandemic, school closings altered student engagement in career and technical education (CTE) courses. CTE teachers played a crucial role in providing CCR support to…

This study focuses on creating a reliable and valid instrument to measure high school students' perceptions of academic challenge. The research is divided into four phases: qualitative analysis, item development, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and validation. Initial data from college students' retrospective views and high school students'…

Cognitive load is the effort needed to process and store information in memory and can be measured via subjective, physiological, and performance methods. Virtual reality learning environments (VRLEs) enhance science aptitude and motivate students to pursue science careers. Cognitive load is divided into three types: intrinsic, extraneous, and…

This study examines the impact of high school academic indicators and participation in the federally funded Upward Bound program on college graduation rates for first-generation, low-income students. Specifically the extent to which participation in the federally funded TRIO Upward Bound program and related factors--high school GPA, course rigor,…

The problem addressed in this narrative inquiry study was that though transfer high schools' programs were designed to improve at-risk students' academic and future life outcomes there are aspects of the processes that have not been assessed. The purpose of this qualitative narrative inquiry study was to explore the narratives of transfer high…

This mixed methods study aimed to categorize and analyze the frequencies and percentages of complex thinking in the PARCC practices assessments in English Language Arts grade 10 and Geometry. The Hess' Cognitive Rigor Matrix was used for the first part of the study to code each of the PARCC assessment questions in Language Arts grade 10 and…

The divide between those who do and those who do not excel in mathematics is patterned in problematic ways. Women and people of color are typically underrepresented in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) and other quantitative fields (ex. Finance) where mathematics plays gatekeeper. However, mathematics is not a subject these groups…

An increasing number of international students are choosing to study abroad in the United States, the experiences of cross-cultural learning have become a crucial factor that both students and educators must take into consideration. During the period of intercultural education, Chinese high school international students are inevitably exposed to…

Strategies mathematics teachers use can unintentionally have an adverse impact on student anxiety in the classroom. The purpose of the Action Research study was to investigate and strengthen strategies that mathematics teachers use to reduce student anxiety. Participants and data collected in Cycle 1 consisted of interviews and a focus group with…

This capstone project addresses the crucial task of equipping students from rural and poverty-stricken school districts for success beyond high school. While conventional markers of academic achievement often center around standardized testing, this study takes a wider perspective, emphasizing comprehensive approaches to education. By conducting a…

Schools are under tremendous pressure to close achievement gaps and increase students' college and career readiness. Research has shown that students' interactions with rigorous curriculum and instructional practices positively impact their postsecondary outcomes (e.g. Adelman, 2006; Oakes and Saunders, 2007). With an established standard of rigor…

The lack of college readiness in the United States is a critical issue that jeopardizes our economy. The demographic inequality of the crisis, particularly for low-income as well as Black and Latinx students, emerges from systemic problems of race and class in American education and society which suppress students' educational and economic…

Although a focus on writing pedagogy is on the rise in English education programs, early-career teachers still often struggle with writing instruction. Writing is notoriously difficult to teach--even for seasoned instructors--and previous studies have indicated that novice English teachers tend to base their writing instruction more on influences…

This phenomenological study presented the lived experiences of eight high school principals who led through the COVID-19 pandemic. The participants represented eight different school from five school districts from across Colorado. Each participant's school implemented 1:1 devices, namely Chromebooks or iPads, for each student prior to the…