The purpose of this study was to determine the challenges and successes that educators encounter when incorporating Culturally Responsive Instruction (CRI) in their classrooms. I conducted a basic qualitative study involving four teachers and two administrators in the Washington County School District to assess teachers' experiences incorporating…

This dissertation examines a social policy exemplar case in New York State's education policy history, the legislation that established the NY State Search for Education, Elevation, and Knowledge (SEEK) program. This presently upheld state legislation passed in July 1966 to increase college access, retention, and degree attainment of students of…

Cultural centers on college and university campuses in the U.S. are deeply connected to student activism such that institutions were prompted by protests staged by Black, Asian American, and Latinx students to establish the first ethnic-specific centers in the 1970s and the first multicultural centers in the 1980s. Similar to their predecessors…

Storytelling is a cultural practice and tool supporting Black collective persistence and resilience against racial oppression. As incidences of racial tension have increased at historically White colleges and universities (HWCUs) over the past 10 years, little is known about the ways storytelling may be engaged as a coping mechanism in this…

Mathematics as a discipline has ignored the experiences of African American students, making it difficult for them to develop strong mathematical identities and racial identities in relation to math. Black children and their academic achievements are often framed negatively, and underachievement and failure are often emphasized over their…

The decade of the 1960s was rife with social and political change across the United States. The consequences of the changing times were often seen on college campuses and influenced campus culture, especially for Black students. Literature has shown that campus culture, and relatedly organizational culture, comprise of many aspects such as the…

As early as 1954, families of children who had been segregated into separate spaces fought and succeeded in having their concerns heard in the landmark Supreme Court case, "Brown v. Board of Education." In 1975, P.L. 94-142, "Education for the Handicapped Children Act" (EAHCA) was important because it exposed the history of…

Pedagogical approaches which aim to counteract discrimination and injustice have been identified as potential ways to reduce pervasive and persistent inequities in education outcomes, which emerge as early as preschool Despite this potential, however, empirical research is limited and suggests a disconnect between recommended practices for…

This report provides the Nebraska Legislature with comparative statistics to monitor and evaluate progress toward achieving three key priorities for Nebraska's postsecondary education system: (1) Increase the number of students who enter postsecondary education in Nebraska; (2) Increase the percentage of students who persist and successfully…

Sleep is critical to teen physical and mental health, daily function, and school performance. Yet, sleep deficiency is prevalent among ethnoracially diverse teens. The purpose of this community-engaged focus group study was to explore multilevel influences on teen sleep from teen and community stakeholder perspectives and to use this information…

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, there were large gaps in Maine's high school graduation rates, high school dropout rates, college persistence, and college completion across socio economic status, racial and ethnic groups, English learner status, and disability status. The pandemic has highlighted and exacerbated existing inequities and challenges,…

In "Reducing Stress in Schools," Mathew Portell, Ingrid L. Cockhren, Tyisha J. Noise, Julie Kurtz, and Julie Nicholson provide a toolkit of actionable, evidence-based practices for PreK-12 teachers, administrators, and staff to support students' and adults' nervous system regulation. Rooted in the tenets of trauma-responsive education…

Those tasked with leading large school districts direct incredibly complex organizations in what are often contentious political and social contexts, with powerful stakeholder groups espousing conflicting policy priorities. Because of their high-profile positions, superintendents often face uniquely persistent and powerful resistance and must…

Introduction: The impact of cyberbullying victimization on youth development, encompassing mental health, academic performance, and socioemotional well-being, has been widely documented. Research highlights the heightened vulnerability of sexual and gender minoritized youth, along with other youth from marginalized groups, to cybervictimization.…

While censorship has long been a reality for English teachers, the current censorship crisis represents a material change. This censorship is driven by politics, specifically Christian nationalism and related right-wing ideologies, and often is supported and upheld by local policies and statewide legislation. It is focused on large-scale book…