Science reforms in the United States' education systems have been ongoing for over the last 50 years. These reforms are continually revised in response to the demand to increase employment in STEM careers. The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) released in 2013 are the most recent standards-based science reform effort created using years of…

As one-to-one computer initiatives become more prevalent in schools across the state of Missouri, school leaders are faced with the challenge of determining whether one-to-one initiatives are achieving the desired academic results. Studies show that there is a connection between one-to-one initiatives and increased student engagement; however, in…

The need to improve student academic performance and school reform continue to receive national attention, but there is limited empirical data that explicates the positive impact of programs that are designed to address this phenomenon. Educators are presented with seemingly herculean challenges in meeting the needs of students from cultural…

Research conducted by Tech Pro (2014) indicated that the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) concept is gaining momentum with 74% of organizations already having some BYOD program or planning to implement one. While BYOD offers several benefits, it also presents challenges that concern information technology leaders and information security managers.…

The purpose of this quantitative study was to explore the influence of principal leadership behaviors and potential of utilizing adult learning strategies on the development of a school's professional learning environment (PLE). The intention was also to determine if principals considered themselves prepared to develop and sustain such an…

The purpose of this study was to better understand how elementary principals with high populations of Hispanic English learners (Els) and low socioeconomic-status (SES) students were able to increase achievement outcomes in high performing schools. This study aimed to determine: (a) what programs successful elementary principals implement to…

Many colleges and universities face record numbers of first year students leaving during or after their first semester of the first year. With increased access to higher education over the past decade the demographic makeup of universities in Illinois and the United States has certainly diversified. In the state of Illinois universities are…

This mixed method study was a practitioner inquiry into the teacher evaluation system that was enacted as a result of Pennsylvania House Bill 1901 (Act 82 of 2012). The study was an effort to gain an in-depth understanding of (a) factors that led to the passage of the Act 82 teacher evaluation policy, (b) what the policy was intended to do, and…

This dissertation was designed to examine the impact of Conversation, Help, Activity, Movement, Participation, Success (CHAMPS), a classroom management program in elementary schools in a district in North Carolina. The participants included principals and teachers who attended a 2-day training course and implemented the CHAMPS program at their…

Since the introduction of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in 2010, the education world has experienced a paradigm shift in the pedagogical expectations of educators, and there have been a decidedly mixed results on the implementation of the new standards. This qualitative study explored the experiences of several school administrators…

The State of Michigan, as of 2012-2013, requires school districts to enroll students in full day kindergarten to receive full funding. This study investigated the decision-making process that was used by public school districts to determine kindergarten programs in their district. Specifically, how did administrators and staff members use the…

Identifying specific leadership behaviors of elementary school principals that create conditions for positive change is critical to implementing educational reform. The purpose of this research is to identify specific leadership behaviors of principals that have positively impacted the implementation of the Common Core State Standards through the…

A growing body of work has emerged regarding the responsibilities required of district leaders in establishing plans that initiate and create conditions for sustainability of continuous improvement achieved through a systemic reform structure such as professional learning communities. However, limited research exists in respect to sustaining…

The purpose of this study was to understand the decisions elementary principals have made during the Common Core State Standards reform. Specifically, (a) what decisions principals have made to support Common Core implementation, (b) what strategies elementary principals have employed to communicate with stakeholders about Common Core State…

National surveys regarding blended and online programs continue to document an increased enrollment of K-12 students. However, the overall research base for this age group remains limited. Although some states collect and report data of fully online programs, information regarding blended and online programs in traditional school districts…