Many empirical studies have established that financial aid improves college attainment. Few have been able to test why. This study used administrative records of employment and earnings to get a more complete picture of students' finances during college and test one potential mechanism, that financial aid buys students time by allowing them to…

The COVID-19 pandemic profoundly impacted and transformed public education and revealed deeply embedded inequities within educational systems. The unpredictable shift to virtual learning exposed these disparities, illuminating the need for innovative, student-centered educational approaches. This dissertation examines how Black educators who…

Quantitative data was collected from 926 traditional-aged postsecondary students, of which most (69%) respondents were upperclassmen in their junior or senior year of college. The findings from this overall research indicate that there has been a shift in how today's Generation Z learners view online and hybrid learning and their ideal way to take…

What are the attitudes, mindsets, and capacities that promote the full flourishing of individuals as well as our collective society? Based on a review of the literature on democratic education, the researcher posits a humble theory (i.e., a local theory in educational research) of the dispositions of democracy and then asks educators from…

As of 2024-25, Roswell Independent School District has four community schools, including Sierra Middle School--entering its fifth year of implementation--and University High School--an alternative school entering its third year of implementation. Sierra and University High have each created a nourishing school climate and culture by providing…

This 11th update of the Community College League of California's (CCLC) biennial Tenure and Retention Report includes late summer/early fall 2022 to July 31, 2024. This period witnessed perennial California CEO challenges: economic volatility, burdensome laws and regulations, dysfunctional boards of trustees, State legislative and policymaker…

Many of the variables that determine college admission are beyond a student's control, including the academic track they were assigned as early as primary school, a practice often referred to as "ability grouping" or constructing "skills-homogeneous" classes. Even in higher education, students feel the effects of unequal…

There are barriers that interfere with parental involvement in their children's education in many schools in the U.S. However, additional barriers are often encountered by immigrant parents across our country. This investigation proposes practices that will better serve this population and reduce the barriers that affect their school engagement.…

In this article, we present findings from our first iterative design study for Project ENHANCE to share our findings as well as provide an exemplar for others engaged in design inquiry. In particular, we explain how we used a data-informed design process with district partners to determine content and features of three foundational professional…

Along the P-16 continuum, intersecting systems of oppression work to invisiblize, dismiss, and disparage Latina first-generation students' existing sources of knowledge, identity, and culture, resulting in long-term visible and invisible harm to their growth and well-being. Despite significant gains in higher education enrollment in the last two…

This qualitative study aimed to explore retention at human service organizations by identifying employees' level of attachment to their organization. The results of this study can directly impact the quality of care for individuals utilizing inpatient and outpatient substance use treatment services and increase the quality of employee experience.…

This study explores the impact of student engagement on the success and involvement of undergraduate students. Student Engagement throughout this study includes extracurricular activities, mentoring opportunities for students, and advising experiences that students encounter during college. A further focus on the experiences of African…

Early childhood education and care (ECEC) programs are experiencing high turnover, resulting in lower teacher retention rates. High turnover hinders program quality, creates financial strain, and adversely affects program sustainability. Despite efforts to increase educator retention, a rural midwestern ECEC program's administrative team continues…

Latine/x are the second largest ethnic minority group nationwide with the highest rate of undergraduate enrollment (NCES, 2020). While that is true, Latine/x students are also retained at much lower rates in comparison to their White and Asian counterparts (Banks & Dohy, 2019). Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI), a model adopted by many…

In this study, we interrogated the efforts adopted by community and technical colleges in a Midwestern state to address racial inequities since the onset of COVID-19. We analyzed such efforts reported in institutional newsletters and associated media through critical content analysis supported by text mining techniques. Our findings demonstrate a…