This action research study investigates the role of Data-Based Decision-Making (DBDM) in increasing academic outcomes within a charter school network. During Cycle 1, interviews and focus groups with teachers, interventionists, and school deans shed light on critical themes, including leadership, data collection, analytic capacity, and a culture…

Reported rates of anxiety, depression, and lack of attention in adolescents have been on the rise for the past decade. The Centers for Disease Control reported that one in five high school students meets the criteria for a mental health disorder. School leaders are trying to address the growing challenge by providing students with tools they can…

This study examined how faculty and Resident Director (RD) staff collaborate with each other in a Faculty in Residence Program (FIR) at a mid-sized, urban, private, research university, located in the Northeast region of the United States. This study examined the experiences of these two distinct groups of participants, and ultimately how they…

Although the online delivery format can increase access to higher education, access does not necessarily translate to success for online learners. The purpose of this study was first to assess the needs of online students, particularly those with low GPAs and those who identified as male, at a graduate school of education. Results of a needs…

The purpose of this interview study was to explore teachers' perceptions of Response to Intervention (RtI) implementation in their school. Particularly, the study explored teachers' knowledge of RtI, teachers' perceptions of RtI tiers intervention/instruction in their school, and teachers' suggestions of RtI implementation in their school. The…

In 2013 the Iowa Teacher Leadership and Compensation planning grant (TLC) committed to providing 150 million dollars annually toward rewarding effective teachers with leadership opportunities and higher pay, attracting promising new teachers with competitive starting salaries, and fostering greater collaboration for all teachers to learn from one…

For decades, discussions regarding assessment have been taking place in higher education, which has forced institutions to take a look at outcomes and indicators of student achievement. Although the literature indicates an acceptance that assessment is not going away, the process that takes place within higher education institutions has led to…

Science education has undergone multiple reforms over the years, yet each reform continues to produce little change in student success. The latest reform of the standards--Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)--look to change that trend by focusing on what students can do, rather than just what they know. Modeling Instruction (MI) is one…

This study sought to determine if certain personality factors, time management characteristics, or demographics of school counselors were associated with comprehensive program implementation based on the ASCA National Model. Statistical analyses were conducted on the sample and subgroups based on whether ASCA Model use was required. While subgroup…

The implementation of professional learning communities (PLCs) in schools has been shown to increase the academic performance of students and develop a beneficial and productive culture of true teacher collaboration. Despite these demonstrated benefits, resistance to PLC implementation has been documented in various forms throughout the…

Preparing students to be successful in high school AP courses and exams begins at the middle school level. SpringBoard is a program created by the CollegeBoard to bridge content expected in high school with the current middle school curriculum. SpringBoard was introduced and piloted in the Colonial School District during the 2014-2015 school year…

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to examine select novice teachers' perceived knowledge of high-quality reading instruction, explore the extent that select novice teachers implemented high-quality reading instruction into their own classrooms, and to investigate any factors that explain the similarities and differences between…

This study examined how stakeholders in one school district located in a remote town perceived the instructional improvement efforts of the district, as well as the constraints and enablers of implementing instructional reforms. A qualitative approach, consisting mainly of interviews with teachers, principals, district administrators, and other…

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine the experiences of instructional designers and professors during the online course development process and to determine if their experiences had an effect on the process itself. To gain an understanding of their experiences, open-ended interviews were conducted, seeking descriptions of…

Education reform has been on a new path over the last 15 years; a path that leads to more accountability, more choice for students and parents, highly qualified teachers, as well as, best practices in instruction. In an effort to move along the path of reform and as a result of previous reform, the 2004 reauthorization of IDEA reviewed the field…