There has been an increasing number of students being referred to mental health services due to behavioral problems they exhibit at school. Behavioral and social concerns impede academic success for the individual child as well as their classroom peers. Many factors can contribute to challenging behaviors in early childhood students within rural…

Intervention following alternative events is essential for continued cognitive development. Prior research has cognitive growth models and the effect of alternative stimuli on youth when given similar foundations. Following the return to school after a national pandemic and extended school closure following the COVID-19 outbreak of 2020, it is…

This qualitative, exploratory, comparative case study examined plant-based innovations in Title I PK12 public-school nutrition programs (PSNPs) in the context of the School Health Index (SHI) and Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) objectives. The study explored the perceptions of PK12 superintendents, school board members, nutrition…

Extensive research has examined the relationship between classroom-based physical activity and academic achievement. The literature presents mixed results when examining the effect that physical activity has on academic achievement. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of classroom-based "Take 10!" physical activity…

Within most models of multi-tiered systems of support, Tier 3 supports are the most intensive supports public schools can provide to their students. These supports may be delivered to address academic, behavioral, or mental health concerns. Because many schools do not have the mental health personnel to effectively deliver Tier 3 mental health…

School mass shootings have been increasing, leading to the need to better understand how exposure to these events affects high school and college students' academic performance, psychosocial functioning, and mental health. With a greater understanding of these effects, results can be used to inform the contemporary literature on the psychological…

This dissertation aims to elucidate that current school-based mental health services need a more LGBTQI+ affirmative stance to counter and disrupt the heteronormativity, homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia that LGBTQI+ students regularly encounter at school. Many LGBTQI+ students continue to be harassed, bullied, and discriminated against;…

College students who have experienced mental health issues are at a higher risk for suicide and suicide ideation than students who do not suffer from mental health issues. Approximately 1,100 college students die by suicide in the U.S. annually (Furr et al., 2001; Taliaferro & Muehlenkamp, 2015). Although there are research studies that seek…

Background: Collegiate recovery programs (CRPs) aim to support the unique needs of students in recovery, promote academic success, and facilitate psychosocial development (i.e. coping, self-efficacy, differentiation of self, self-acceptance, and quality of life). Strategies used to achieve these goals vary considerably based on the culture of the…

Acute and chronic health conditions may be important factors impacting absenteeism and student achievement in schools. Coordinated school health programs can support students who have these conditions. Although such programs have had documented success, implementation can be costly and time consuming. The local problem addressed in this project…

The purpose of this exploratory study was to analyze the perceptions (through survey data) of Disability Support Services (DSS) personnel regarding the transition process for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) from secondary to postsecondary institutions. Participants from 408 postsecondary institutions completed the survey with 60.4%…

Recent research literature suggests that students benefit from positive relationships with their teachers. Small high schools attempt to formalize expectations for such relationships through a variety of organizational structures, including the advisor role. As advisors, teachers work with a group of students in order to guide and support them.…