The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) contracted with three child welfare providers that operate transitional living (TLP) or independent living (ILO) programs (or both) to implement LifeSet, an intensive case management program developed by Youth Villages, for youth in care who are 17.5 to 21 years old. LifeSet helps…

Currently, there is limited data available evaluating the benefits of implementing social-emotional learning (SEL) programs independently in high schools. There is a moderate level of literature examining the outcomes of Restorative Justice at the high school level. Collectively, both interventions have been documented to yield positive findings…

In his letter introducing the 2011 reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, former President Barack Obama stated "we know that from the moment students enter a school, the most important factor in their success is not the color of their skin or the income of their parents--it is the teacher standing at the front of the…

This dissertation presents two essays on econometric methods for program evaluation and policy choice. In Chapter 1, I develop a statistically optimal way of using data to make policy decisions when the performance of counterfactual policies is only partially identified. Specifically, I consider a class of statistical decision problems in which…

In this qualitative case study of a district-led, school leader preparation program in Tennessee during the 2021-2022 school year, I sought to reveal district stakeholder perceptions using an open-ended questionnaire, on the design, possible benefits, and possible challenges of the district's Associate Principal Program. For this study,…

This study sought to understand Extension Education's trends and research needs as perceived by members of the American Association for Agricultural Education (AAAE) and Joint Council of Extension Professionals (JCEP) by comparing and contrasting findings from questionnaires using open-ended questions. Both groups identified changing technology…

Teacher use of formative assessment is lacking worldwide despite evidence supporting its potential for improving student outcomes. To address a local problem of formative assessment implementation, Franklin County School's professional development team designed and implemented a yearlong program to improve teacher knowledge and practice of…

Education decisionmakers need access to the best evidence about the effectiveness of education interventions, including practices, products, programs, and policies. It can be difficult, time consuming, and costly to access and draw conclusions from relevant studies about the effectiveness of interventions. The What Works Clearinghouse (WWC)…

Despite the growing body of literature investigating education abroad programs, there remains very limited empirical research examining the perspectives of local community members who interact with visiting students. The purpose of this qualitative case study is to explore the varying perspectives of residents within a community in Costa Rica that…

In the 21st century, the demand for proficiency in mathematics has escalated, as it underpins critical thinking, problem-solving, and innovation in various fields. Recognizing the significance of mathematics education, after-school programs have emerged as potent supplementary platforms to enhance students' mathematical skills and achievement.…

Non-governmental development organizations (NGDOs) are responsible for ensuring basic human rights for socially marginalised people. In situations of migration, people's opportunity to regularise their migratory status and to secure their fundamental rights to key public services is entirely dependent on communication with the local…

This original study followed up ten beneficiaries of a UK charity-led programme that supported disadvantaged students in applying to elite US universities. First interviewed in 2015 during their early university days in the United States, in our 2019 follow-up all participants had graduated. Six remained in the United States and four had returned…

The United States, in less than 50 years, has gone from legal segregation and exclusion of students with disabilities in schools to an emphasis on inclusion in the least restrictive environments based on individual student needs. The United States has made great strides in the physical inclusion of students with disabilities, but work is still…

This report presents the results of an evaluation of the Partnership in Enhanced and Blended Learning West Africa Programme (PEBL-WA). The programme was implemented by the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) working in partnership with Staff and Educational Development Association (SEDA), the Commonwealth of Learning (CoL), The National…

The purpose of the current study was to examine the effect of utilizing a program based on post-constructivism to develop adult learners' English language fluency. The study started with the literature review and previous studies handling post-constructivism and English language fluency. The researcher nominated a group of pre-intermediate to…