School choice has expanded during the modern school choice movement and students in Indiana can now choose from several school options including public schools, charter schools, virtual schools, or participate in the Indiana Choice Scholarships program and attend a parochial school. The potential for increased educational stratification across…

The purpose of this mixed method phenomenological study is to examine a three-pronged problem of practice in the Notre Dame College (NDC) Division of Professional Education (DOPE). The study addresses that a) there is no specific advising model employed by DOPE, b) there is no codified expectation of the advisors' role and responsibilities, and c)…

The educative Teacher Performance Assessment (edTPA) has been adopted by many state legislatures and teacher preparation programs (TPP). These states require teacher candidates to pass the edTPA with a state-specific passing score to be recommended for licensure. In the 19 states where passing the edTPA has not been required as a condition of…

This sponsored study establishes quantitative data about the training effectiveness of a leadership education program in a southern Indiana community college by comparing the pre-intervention and post-intervention MLQ-5X test scores of 11 students participating in a leadership education program and then comparing the students' performance during…

School safety has emerged as an issue at the forefront of American society, particularly since the tragic events at Columbine High School in Jefferson County, Colorado on April 20, 1999. The magnitude of school violence has been perpetuated by not only the level of violence, but also the media coverage and availability afforded to these events. In…

The purpose of this qualitative study was to determine if teachers' lived experiences of trauma impact practices, relationships, and responses to student behaviors in the classroom. The common themes could allow colleges, school districts, and school leaders to reflect, develop, or improve access to therapeutic interventions and teacher…

Reading Recovery is a first-grade literacy intervention program with notable short-term benefits, but there are sustainability studies that highlight inconclusive evidence of its enduring success. It was unclear if formerly enrolled Reading Recovery students continue to have long-term literacy skill retention after exiting the literacy…

This study examined Indiana public school educators' perceptions of self-efficacy in three instructional practices: setting clear and high expectations, fostering collaborative inquiry, and providing feedback. Using a quantitative approach, it explored whether these perceptions varied by teaching experience (0-5, 6-15, 16+ years), school location…

Dual language education is an innovative educational model available for families selecting schools through school choice. While extensive research supports the academic benefits of dual language programs (DLPs) for non-English native speakers and communities of color in the United States, enrollment often does not reflect these populations. This…

The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of high school programs on the success of urban graduates. The success of the graduates in this study was defined by their contribution to society, durable skill levels, and personal introspection. Specifically, this study was focused on the impact of early college programs versus traditional…

Are our schools doing enough to create environments where learners are motivated to learn, and can problem solve and be autonomous in their learning? The purpose of this mixed methods study was to examine a sample of schools in Indiana and determine to what extent they are utilizing research-based methods to ensure an environment where learners…

As of 2021, eighteen states plus the District of Columbia have implemented legislation regarding mandatory test-based grade retention focusing on minimum reading proficiency levels (National Conference of State Legislatures, 2019) with many of those policies targeting the third-grade year. While grade retention has been largely viewed negatively…

The purpose of this study was to determine how placement, professional development, and the years of experience of special education teachers impacted the standardized test scores of special education students. This was done by comparing the type of placement of students, mainstream (80+% of the day), co-teaching, separate classroom (100%) and…

Response to Intervention (RTI) is defined by the National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE) as the practice of providing high-quality instruction and intervention matched to student needs and using learning rate over time and level of performance to make important educational decisions (2007). Both IDEA 2004 and the…

The purpose of this quantitative study was to gather information from elementary teachers who use best practices to examine the impact of self-efficacy and mindset. Data was gathered from elementary teachers who use best practices in mathematics instruction. This research examined if location type (rural, suburban, urban), years of experience…