In the past decade, public sentiment has shifted increasingly to question the value of a college education. These concerns have diverse causes, including the rising cost and questions about the return on investment of higher education, the growing precariousness and insecurity of middle-class households regarding paying for higher education, and…

This resource provides states with an overview on how to gather representative parent involvement data for State Performance Plan/Annual Performance Report (SPP/APR) Indicator B8. The resource defines key concepts such as representativeness, sampling, nonresponse bias, response rates, and weighting. It also offers information on how to improve the…

While previous research of maker spaces has primarily been focused on public and community spaces, this dissertation looked at maker education in independent schools. Maker education often challenges traditional approaches to teaching and learning, positioning teachers more as facilitators who support students to make meaningful decisions as they…

This was a sequential explanatory mixed-methods study that sought to determine parents' perceptions regarding the extent to which districts involved them in the IEP transition plan, inclusive practices, provided opportunities in training and obtaining integrated employment, preparation for adult life after graduation, and parent satisfaction with…

The five Latino parents in the three ethnographic case studies presented in this document were experienced with stepping into third space zones of discomfort as undocumented immigrants unwelcome to the United States. They could have chosen to remain silent and invisible. Instead, they entered third space visibility that amplified their presence…

Models of nurture group best practice at primary level are now well established. In secondary schools however, best practice models are less clearly defined and guidance on establishing a successful nurture group in a secondary school is currently lacking. This research project aimed to create an evidence-based guide to opening a secondary school…

This research study was situated in the policies of the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) and motivated by the different ways parents from different socioeconomic groups navigate special education. IDEA requires parents to make informed decisions about their child's special education needs. It assumes access to information is the same as…

The digital age is reshaping learning and instruction and encouraging educational technology advances within higher education institutions. However, online faculty are not integrating technology into their classes despite the technology related professional development they receive. The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine if a…

Educational engagement and advocacy of parents is a central priority for increasing the academic performance of African American male students at risk of academic underachievement. This research explored six types of parental involvement in education to evaluate which ways of engagement have the best relationships with African American male…

This study examined the experiences of first-generation college students at an Ivy League institution in their pursuit of international education. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight first-generation college students at an Ivy League university in New England. Narrative Inquiry was the methodology used to analyze the transcripts…

The purpose of this basic qualitative research study was to explore how positional student leaders accessed and developed social capital as a result of their involvement with student organizations. The study was guided by the theory of social capital as the theoretical framework. Through semi-structured interviews and social network maps,…

The release and implementation of the Common Core National Standards of Mathematics (National Governors Association Center for Best Practices & Council of Chief State School Officers, 2010) have continually compelled teachers and students to rethink teaching and learning in math. For students to learn at the speed and rigor requested, they…

Participatory Learning (PL) integrates several learning approaches, engaging students throughout the entire assignment process for both online and face-to-face courses. Beyond simply providing a solution, students also craft a problem (problem-based learning), grade each other (peer assessment and feedback), evaluate themselves (self-assessment),…

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore how urban school principals describe the use of their leadership practices to engage faculty in dialogue regarding inclusion and racism to address the needs of twice exceptional (2e) African American and Hispanic students in California. Purposive sampling was used to invite urban…

This qualitative study explored experiences with parental involvement and reading achievement among low-income African American students. The researcher collected data from 18 teachers and 30 African American parents with in-depth interviews and a focus group. Findings revealed factors that significantly influence reading achievement among…