This study revealed that housing-impacted community college students in the north-central region of California experienced a range of academic, cognitive, behavioral, emotional, and environmental factors while pursuing housing-related resources associated with their institutions, as well as off-campus resources provided by local, regional, and…

The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experiences of Latina school administrators in their career pathway--specifically, the influences, resources, and supports they leaned on to navigate challenges as they pursued and persisted in educational leadership roles. The study also focused on the personal, professional, and spiritual…

The field of adult learning theory, or how adults learn, has exploded in recent years yielding increased knowledge and awareness of how adults learn. While preachers do have a wide variety of ages in their congregations, most of the people they preach to are adults. This dissertation looks at preaching and adult learning theory and what the…

The purpose of the qualitative descriptive study was to explore how elementary and secondary math teachers describe their understanding of the positive or negative factors affecting the creation of effective collaboration regarding transitioning student outcomes in a large southern California school district. The conceptual framework for the study…

Education in California has undergone a transformative revolution driven by a collective vision to reimagine teaching and learning. A crucial catalyst in this evolved landscape is the role of school counselors, whose task of preparing students for college and career readiness holds immense potential. Despite their role's critical importance,…

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to describe how Latino parents of children with disabilities perceived their involvement at home or their volunteering at their child's school in Southern California. This study used Epstein's Theory of Overlapping Spheres of Influence and Epstein's Framework of Six Types of Involvement as the…

This study explored the journeys of Formerly Incarcerated Latino Men (FILM) who are turning to higher education as a reentry support for their lives after being released from prison. Offering programs like higher education during reentry is not just about creating new paths and opportunities, something higher education already does for many. The…

Autistic students benefit from child-centered goals that align with evidence-based practices (EBPs) that meet their individualized needs, however, most teachers are not trained in how to implement autism-specific EBPs. The challenges do not lie with teachers alone. Professional development (PD) providers, such as district or regional autism…

This case study identifies promising practices for newcomer education implemented in San Juan Unified School District (SJUSD), one of 12 local educational agencies (LEAs) funded under the California Newcomer Education and Well-Being (CalNEW) project between 2018 and 2021. This report was developed through a partnership between the Policy Analysis…

Latina/o's are among the largest ethnic groups in California and have one of the lowest educational outcomes. The problem addressed by this study is the low rates of obtaining a college degree among Latina/o's who reside in the Central Valley. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to examine the lived experiences of Latina/o's…

Colleges and universities have increasingly worried in recent decades about college students' well-being, with the COVID-19 pandemic aggravating these concerns. Our study examines changes to undergraduate emotional sentiments and psychological well-being from before to after the onset of the pandemic. In addition, we explore whether certain risk…

A data party is an engaging way to involve stakeholders in program evaluation. We explain the use of a data party for engaging 4-H program stakeholders (e.g., staff and volunteers) in data interpretation and helping them understand, embrace, and use program evaluation information to make data-driven decisions about their programs. We present two…

As technology use continues to rapidly increase, so too does consumer use of web-based resources. While important, accessibility is often overemphasized by users when consuming and evaluating web resources. This prioritization may have particularly negative consequences for the selection of supports or interventions in educational settings. This…

This qualitative descriptive study aimed to explore how higher education leaders within Educational Opportunity Programs (EOP) and services describe the integration and marginalization of immigrant or refugee students in California Universities. The theoretical foundation utilized in this study was based on Barry's (1997) acculturation theory. The…

Objective: Community colleges, which can lead students to job opportunities and well-paying careers, are one of the main entry points to higher education for student parents. We use a conceptual framework that bridges career capital and community cultural wealth to understand student parents' college and career trajectories. This study asks (a)…