This dissertation contributes to the discussion of what contributes to school district rankings in the state of Ohio. It uses Latent Profile Analysis to explore different variables at the contextual and district level as they correspond to Ohio's Performance Index academic measure and Value-Added academic measure. Results show that contextual…

This paper explores how the charter school sector evaluates the success of specialized education programs in order that the Nature School can learn from these best practices and develop its own framework. The researcher conducted in-depth interviews with five evaluation experts and eight diverse charter school authorizers overseeing a significant…

Accreditation holds a place within accountability systems as a mechanism to evaluate quality that leads to the practices that certify credentials. In K-12 school district these credentials manifest in curriculum, instruction, standards, and ultimately the certifying of credits that lead to receipt of a diploma. School district leadership would…

The hiring process is a shared responsibility between the employer and the prospective candidates seeking employment. The purpose of the hiring or selection process is to find the candidate with the right knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform the job or role and be successful within the employment process for the organization or…

This study investigated the efficacy of the Beyond Rubrics Toolkit (BRT) as an embedded assessment instrument within makerspaces. Conducted as a pilot study at two Boys & Girls Club sites during afterschool programming, the research aimed to address the following research questions: (1) What skills are Youth Development Professionals teaching…

No Child Left Behind (NCLB) cemented a standardized testing assessment culture in the United States but research has highlighted the inequities (Au, 2020; Dixon, 1978; Grodsky et al., 2008; Khan, 2020; Moses & Nanna, 2007), unreliability (Hunt et al., 2010; Pizmony-Levy & Green Saraisky, 2016) and negative impacts (Berryhill et al., 2009;…

This dissertation study delved into how three undergraduate teacher education programs were preparing pre-service teachers with the skills necessary to implement standards-based grading in PK-12 educational environments. As educational assessment has evolved toward systems that emphasize mastery, equity, and transparency, it became critical for…

The manner and method used to evaluate teachers has evolved over time. The methods employed often reflect the historical events and politics regarding education. Effective teachers versus a poor performing teacher can have implications on students' lifetime earnings (Hanushek, 2011). In the 2013-2014 academic year, Pennsylvania adopted the Teacher…

Recent studies suggest that preservice music teacher educators (MTEs) had more experience in assessment preparation at the graduate level than during their undergraduate experience. Although music standards and assessments emphasize providing information about student learning, research investigating what assessment strategies music faculty are…

In this quantitative study, I surveyed building-level administrators in Washington State to see whether their perspectives regarding the Teacher-Principal Evaluation Program (TPEP) that was current in 2022 had changed since they had moved from classroom teaching to building administration. The research consisted of a survey with three primary…

The National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM), has made an effort to increase the use of technology and the use of calculators into the classroom and curriculum. As a result, many studies and articles have been written on the subject of calculator use in the classroom. A review of over 600 studies revealed that it is not curricula that…

For the past 20 years Massachusetts has used a high-stakes, test-based accountability system for the state's public schools. The Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) are standardized tests administered in Grades 3-10 which account for the majority of district and school accountability measures, and the Grade 10 tests serve as an…

Intermediary organizations seek to make change in the world by strengthening the practice or building the capacity of direct service providers. In the education sector, these types of organizations often play important roles as technical assistance providers, capacity builders, additional administrators, investors, or funders. At the core of this…

Prior research demonstrates that school leaders can help develop teacher efficacy by creating positive school climates, providing opportunities for mentoring and purposeful feedback, and providing meaningful professional learning (Bressman, Winters, & Efron, 2017; Fry, 2009; Ross & Bruce, 2007). Yet despite significant prior research on…

This quantitative correlational study dives into the heart of understanding the significance of model fidelity for implementing school threat assessment teams. The target population was instructional staff and threat assessment team members from schools in Dutchess, Putnam, and Westchester Counties in New York State that use the Comprehensive…