This study investigated the effectiveness of a Computerized Adaptive Reading (CAR) program on a cohort of middle school student's reading proficiency scores as measured by a state standardized end-of-year assessment. The scores used for the study were taken from the SCReady end-of-year assessment for reading proficiency over the three years the…

Purpose. The purpose of this quantitative correlational research study was to examine whether a relationship exists between academic advisors' leadership style as servant leaders and student satisfaction with academic advising at a 4-year private nonprofit university in Southern California. Additionally, gender, race, and first-generation college…

The problem addressed in this quantitative ex-post facto study was that African American, Latino, and Native American students have lower reading fluency than Caucasian counterparts. The purpose of this study was to determine to what extent incorporating more literature written by African American, Latino, and Native American authors had on the…

This study investigated the impact middle school tracking has on outcomes in high school and the factors associated with those outcomes. Utilizing data from a large, diverse school district, this quantitative study investigated the relationships between middle school and high school English course enrollment among 4,503 middle school students. The…

The COVID-19 pandemic led to worldwide school closures and a sudden shift to online instruction, which adversely effected academic performance for many students. This study investigated whether demographic characteristics were associated with decreased academic outcomes among newly struggling high school students during COVID-19 online learning.…

Longstanding inequities exist in community colleges across the United States. To address these inequities, California Community Colleges educators have engaged in a variety of practices including the writing of equity plans and participation in equity data inquiry. However, there is an urgent need for greater focus on racial equity and for more…

This paper examines the economics of education in the United States, highlighting twelve key facts that illustrate the pivotal role of education in empowering individuals and driving economic progress. It underscores the persistent racial and economic disparities in educational achievement and attainment, particularly exacerbated by the COVID-19…

Student absenteeism, which skyrocketed during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, has negative consequences for student engagement and achievement. This study examines the impact of the High-Impact Tutoring (HIT) Initiative, implemented by the Office of the State Superintendent of Education in Washington DC, on reducing absenteeism. The HIT…

This dissertation investigates the complex connections among loan debt burden, student experiences, and post-bachelor's outcomes, situated within the framework of systemic disparities in educational funding and opportunities. It identifies declines in state funding across educational levels as a systemic and politicized issue, disproportionately…

Academic preparedness is critical when it comes to student success in college, but research on factors such as academic performance indicators and behaviors has shown that many students are not prepared for college. While may studies highlight that college-bound students need help becoming academically prepared for college, fewer studies have…

The California Department of Education (CDE) identifies more than 970 public alternative schools across the state. Most of these are high schools designed to meet the needs of credit-deficient and other youth, over age 16 who are vulnerable to dropping out of school before completing minimum requirements for a diploma or completion certificate.…

As student athletes exhibit unique alcohol use patterns based on being in- versus out-of-season and biological sex, we aimed to explore student athlete (N = 442) alcohol use, pregaming behaviors, and associated negative outcomes. Results suggest being out-of-season and male are positively associated with negative alcohol-related consequences, and…

Background/Context: Implicit bias, or stereotypes and attitudes that may or may not reflect known positions, has been implicated in teachers' disciplinary interactions with students; however not all of the differences in discipline severity by race are accounted for by teachers. School administrators have received little attention concerning…

This study investigated factors associated with fourth graders' music knowledge assessed by the South Carolina Arts Assessment Program (SCAAP). Participants included 2,683 fourth-grade students nested within 35 elementary schools in South Carolina, United States. Hierarchical Linear Modeling (HLM) was used to examine both the student-level…

Families play a critical role in their children's career and college decision making. Students' academic and postsecondary choices are often shaped by their own parents/families' experiences and/or information they have about processes, deadlines, and requirements. The focus of this study is a college awareness and outreach program meant to inform…