This generic qualitative study aimed to identify the benefits and barriers of implementing social-emotional learning (SEL) in K-12 public schools in southern Illinois. Overall schools are beginning to implement SEL mainly in the wake of COVID-19. Participants were chosen via convenience and snowball sampling to take part in a semi-structured…

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore teachers' and counselors' perceptions of the challenges of implementing service learning with fidelity to best practices consistently in a school district in the U.S. Virgin Islands and to identify resources necessary to support the implementation of best practices in service learning. With only…

Over the past 20 years, large scale crisis events categorized as adversarial incidental, human caused threats, biological hazards, natural disasters, and technological hazards have increased and posed significant challenges for executive leaders in curriculum and instruction (ELCIs) in K-12 educational settings. These crisis events disrupt K-12…

The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to explore if and to what extent a correlation existed between the implementation of the Sown to Grow social and emotional learning curriculum, academic growth, and attendance. The study was grounded in the CASEL framework used by district leaders and curriculum designers to guide the…

The problem addressed in this study is that the number of historically marginalized and diverse students in U.S. classrooms is rapidly increasing and schools are not prepared to address the need for culturally responsive curriculum and instruction. This study is important because K-12 principals are challenged to address equity, inclusion, and…

Computer science (CS) education has experienced rapid growth over the past decade with student demand leading to new courses or course pathways being offered in K-12 educational settings. Student demand has been matched by parent/community and technology industry support. Educators have quickly responded to the demand by expanding course…

This dissertation study delved into how three undergraduate teacher education programs were preparing pre-service teachers with the skills necessary to implement standards-based grading in PK-12 educational environments. As educational assessment has evolved toward systems that emphasize mastery, equity, and transparency, it became critical for…

This dissertation examined the relationship between school reform initiatives in the United States over the last thirty years and multicultural teaching practices. The methodology chosen was a qualitative phenomenological research study that was conducted with six participants, three novice teachers and three teacher educators. The research…

The purpose of this research study was to examine the perceptions of STEM teachers on the factors contributing to successful STEM education in a Title I school district. A sample of educators who earned their degree in STEM fields and teach STEM related coursework in their district were interviewed and observed. The educators were interviewed to…

In order to assist in building a successful music program that is conducive to the learning of all students within a school district, administrators and board members must be informed of the role and impact of a district music administrator. The purpose of this qualitative research study was to identify perspectives that have not yet been explored…

Children in under-resourced schools are often subjected to a "pedagogy of poverty," in which their school days consist primarily of independently completing worksheets and preparing for assessments. By contrast, children in more affluent schools often experience engaging, hands-on learning opportunities. This discrepancy is identified as…

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to develop an understanding of the lived experiences of educators who are responsible for implementing SEL strategies in alternative education settings serving kindergarten through twelfth grade students. The daily education practices and strategies in SEL continuously change, and the new…

Since the launch of Sputnik by the U.S.S.R. on October 4, 1957, the United States has aimed to bolster nationwide STEM education with the intention of creating a strong STEM pipeline. Despite many efforts, there remains a distinct lack of diversity in the STEM career fields, and many people cannot accurately describe what engineers do. These two…

The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of "yutori" reforms on Opportunity to Learn (OTL), as defined by Stevens' (1993, 1996) multidimensional framework, and to examine how the changes in OTL may have subsequently affected Japanese 8th graders' mathematics achievement as measured by the Trends in Mathematics and Science…

Self-service design tools are flooding K-12 environments and altering the way instruction can be designed and delivered. As a result, schools are utilizing existing academics to both design and teach their own curriculum. These academics, called "designers-by-assignment", tend to have limited training in instructional systems design and…