Literacy is a prevailing challenge of student achievement within urban schools. Capitol City Intermediate School's Extended Day Program, also known as the Real World Learning Program, is an academic after-school program that focuses on literacy. The incoming 4th grade students who have underperformed on the NJSLA 3 assessment are the target…

In this dissertation, I investigated the impact of the involvement of students with disabilities in the ASPIRE intervention program and examined the relationship between student involvement in the ASPIRE program and academic performance and growth. To do so, first, I outlined how I built my perspective for this study in the areas of transition,…

Despite the plethora of research highlighting the adverse impacts on children's social emotional, behavioral, and physical wellbeing, children impacted by trauma are among the least likely to receive mental health services. Schools have been identified as a promising setting for early prevention and intervention, with evidence-based strategies…

This study explored the ways that STEM faculty learn about, design, and implement inclusive STEM teaching practices to improve student belonging. An interpretive phenomenological approach was employed to understand the personal experiences and thought processes of faculty as they worked to further develop their understanding of issues of equity…

Beginning on July 1, 2022, in the state of Connecticut, all new Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for special education began to be written in the new Connecticut Special Education Data System commonly known as CT-SEDS. This investigation sought to understand to what extent Connecticut's implementation of CT-SEDS had impacted parents'…

This program evaluation delves into the hybridization of implementation science and traditional site planning at ABC Elementary. Over an 18-month period, this evaluation utilizes an array of instruments within the principal's professional duties, including reflective notes, internal documents, and developmental materials. These tools are aimed at…

The COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent shift to online and hybrid learning brought to the forefront several long-standing issues within the educational domain, including engagement, collaboration, and motivation. During this period, many faculty members and students struggled to find viable solutions to these challenges. Previous studies have…

The phenomenological study explored how effectively the MTSS process was implemented pre-COVID and post-COVID based on participants' lived experiences. The participants were educators with 10+ years of experience who shared their perspectives about the MTSS process before, during, and after COVID. The participant interviews revealed that many…

The Local Control Funding Formula, executed in part through the Local Control and Accountability Plans, allows California school districts to allocate funds based on their needs as identified through goals and action items. This research project sheds light on the extent to which the funds have been utilized in the classroom and at the school…

This dissertation explores how environmental engineering can utilize STEM education as a strategic tool, enhancing social sustainability and thereby empowering underserved Hispanic communities in West Texas. Responding to significant educational and resource disparities, this research introduces an innovative interdisciplinary framework that…

Family engagement is a major component in assisting student success and academic growth; however, within the inner city, it can be difficult to get families engaged due to many different factors. Schools can increase family engagement by giving families the knowledge to be successful. The purpose of this dissertation is to present how effective it…

This dissertation is published in the format a white paper series which tells the story about Butler Tech's Fifth Day Experience across six issues. FDE is a student-centered initiative that was launched in the spring of 2020, and aims to operationalize deeper learning by exploring student voice, teacher agency, equity, personalized learning and…

Understanding the experiences of elementary principals is important due to the rising number of special education students educated in general education classrooms. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore elementary principals' involvement in special education, barriers faced implementing special education, and the types of support…

Parent-Child Reading Program (PRP) was an intervention program designed by Ms. Dai, who was a Chinese teacher at Future School in China, to promote reading literacy among elementary students. Program participants included the teacher in the PRP (Ms. Dai) and the parents of students who participated in the program. The goal of this program was to…

Research examining the administration, evaluation, and continued implementation of technology-based nutrition education interventions for low-income populations is lacking. This dissertation evaluated the implementation of Food eTalk, a statewide online, self-paced nutrition education program. Implementation occurred in various community- and…