Deep poverty is the result of economic and social policies that inhibit the life chances and opportunities of children experiencing material hardship. These barriers to success are compounded when children are discriminated against because of their race, ethnicity, English learner status, religion, dis/ability status, and immigration status.…

There is a dearth of career intervention literature pertaining to underprepared community college students. This student population has insufficient college coursework preparation (CCCSE, 2016), and often exhibits low career decision-making self-efficacy (CDMSE), which hampers career decision making ability, career goal setting (Hughes &…

The purpose of this qualitative study is to investigate further the factors that lead first-generation Latino/a students to pursue a college education. Study participants included ten first-generation Latino/a students. Five participants attended a Hispanic-Servicing Institution (HSI) and five attended a non-HSI. The following research questions…

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between college persistence and family income, parental education level, and type of financial aid for first-time, full-time Hispanic economically disadvantaged students selected from a South Texas Hispanic-serving institution. The dependent variable, college persistence, was measured by…

This comparative case study investigated how two Title I elementary schools within the same school district implement, promote, and maintain familial/community engagement programs. The district adopted and implemented a family engagement model based on Dr. Karen Mapp's Academic Parent-Teacher Team approach within the Dual Capacity-Building…

Although Montessori is the most common unconventional education model, no multi-state study has compared standardized test proficiency of Montessori schools with districts. Here we report on this for the 10 states/regions with the most public Montessori schools (n = 195). In 3rd grade, Montessori schools were less proficient in math but more…

A child's environment is thought to be composed of different levels that interact with their individual genetic propensities. However, studies have not tested this theory comprehensively across multiple environmental levels. Here, we quantify the contributions of child, parent, school, neighbourhood, district, and municipality factors to…

Using mixed methods, this case study explored outcomes associated with the adoption and implementation of a community schools approach in four Title I schools using the Community Collaboration Model for School Improvement. Trends in school data demonstrate academic achievement improvements in three of the four schools. Absenteeism and the number…

Public schools in the United States have become more diverse over the past two decades, and there is an emerging push for equity considerations in instruction in public schools across the country. However, there is a lack of clarity around the types of messages that teachers receive about teaching with an equity lens and how teachers enact…

This report describes the implementation efforts of the first grantees under the Statewide Family Engagement Centers (SFEC) and how they aligned with program priorities. Begun in 2018, SFEC is one of the key U.S. Department of Education programs designed to address disparities in family engagement in schools. The program provides grants to…

This volume serves as a companion to the "Lessons from the First Statewide Family Engagement Centers: Alignment with Federal Priorities and Factors Influencing Implementation" report. The report focuses on the Statewide Family Engagement Centers (SFEC) program and provides insights into its implementation and alignment with federal…

Researchers have noted that some primary grade teachers do not have the cultural competence to meet transcultural learning goals for primary grade students in diverse schools. This qualitative study explored perspectives of kindergarten through second grade teachers on their cultural competence to meet transcultural learning goals for…

This study investigated the interplay of digital capacity building (skills) and infrastructure (Internet access) in shaping teaching and learning practices in a rural community. Educators in rural areas, especially in developing nations, face difficulties in accessing digital resources and Internet connectivity, which hinder the integration of…

Edmentum offers a personalized learning platform called Exact Path. Over the past five years, about 56 schools and districts in Virginia have implemented the program. This quasiexperimental study, designed to meet ESSA Tier 2 evidence and What Works Clearinghouse standards with reservations, aimed to investigate the efficacy of Exact Path in…

This edited volume illustrates the idea of a successful research capacity model, critically addressing preconceived notions of early career research projects' impact and drawing together insights and implications around the encouragement of newer researchers to conduct useful, robust studies with real-world effect. Centring on research undertaken…