In 1994, the Midwestern Higher Education Compact (MHEC) joined its sister compacts in offering a regional student reciprocity and tuition exchange opportunity known as the Midwest Student Exchange Program (MSEP). The program allowed students from one MHEC state to attend an institution at a reduced tuition rate in another MHEC state when the…

First-Year Teacher Surveys (FYTS) are essential for evaluating teacher preparation programs (TPPs), providing crucial feedback from recent graduates about their training and readiness for real-world teaching. This study focuses on Missouri's FYTS, utilizing Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) to investigate the…

The purpose of our mixed-methods study was to examine the motivations and obstacles associated with curricular revisions in music education degree programs. During Phase I, we surveyed a nationwide sample (N = 533) of music education program coordinators. Participants who had engaged in the curriculum revision process within the previous decade…

State takeover of school boards is a controversial policy choice aimed at reforming "underperforming" districts. It includes the limiting or complete removal of powers of an elected school board. However, this policy intervention is overwhelmingly implemented in school districts serving predominantly Black communities. Despite extensive…

This study investigated the ability of a redesigned teacher preparation program to effectively meet the needs of teacher candidates and partner school districts. The study examined the effects of the redesigned school of education program on perceptions of teacher candidates, administrators, teachers in partner districts, and faculty members.…

Human anatomy and physiology are challenging courses for many undergraduate students often leading to low rates of academic success and persistence. Implementation of growth mindset strategies has shown promise in improving academic success in challenging courses; however, few studies have focused specifically on anatomy and physiology courses. To…

This study was conducted to compare the impact of technology-centered instructional methods on student performance in literacy to the impact of non-digital instructional practices. Additionally, this research was designed to identify specific program implementation measures used during the implementation of the prevailing instructional method and…

Postsecondary education is associated with achieving economic self-sufficiency and other positive outcomes. Young people in foster care face challenges pursuing postsecondary education, which can lead to them being less likely than their peers to enroll in college and less likely to earn a degree when enrolled. One federal initiative meant to…

The purpose of this qualitative study was to gain insight into the lived experiences of preservice teachers amid the COVID-19 pandemic, including how such experiences impacted their perceptions of self-efficacy and pedagogical readiness. The participants were preservice teachers (both graduate and undergraduate) enrolled in an educator preparation…

The purpose of this qualitative study is to examine the effects of standards-based Individualized Education Programs (SB IEPs) on student achievement. Educators are required to develop IEPs for students with educational disabilities. The purpose of an IEP is to outline the goals and services to be provided to the student in order for the student…

Science fairs offer potential opportunities for students to learn first-hand about the practices of science. Over the past six years we have been carrying out voluntary and anonymous surveys with regional and national groups of high school and post high school students to learn about their high school science fair experiences regarding help…

A school-community partnership team implemented an aggression management curriculum in an afterschool program as an early-intervention strategy at the upper elementary level. Although statistically significant differences in physical or psychological aggression were not found, the partnership team gained a better understanding of evidence-based…

This paper examines the impact of diverse clinical field experiences on rural teacher candidates? perceptions of their ability to effectively teach urban, diverse students. The literature framework supporting the study builds on Nieto's description of socially-just pedagogy and responsive approaches to diversity while meeting national education…

The purpose of this study was to describe how states in the REL Central Region (Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming) evaluate teacher preparation programs and planned changes for evaluation. Publicly available documents were reviewed and interviews were conducted with state education agency representatives…

The purpose of this study was to examine music education majors' perceptions of lesson planning in the university curricula. Specifically, the author was interested in which classes the respondents were taught to construct and use lesson plans, their perceptions about the importance of lesson planning, and how prepared they felt to use lesson…