This study examined the effect on pass rates from one community college after removing developmental English prerequisites on non-English credit-bearing courses in Fall 2020. This mixed methods quasi-experimental research evaluated whether a developmental English prerequisite is necessary for completion of credit-bearing courses and identified…

This action research study aimed to investigate and identify ways to increase persistence among underrepresented minority (URM) students who were pursuing science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) majors at a community college. Retaining STEM students is a concern for student success in community colleges, especially for underrepresented…

The construct of growth mindset has become an increasing focus of educators as they seek ways to promote goal attainment among students. The growth mindset framework suggests that attributes such as high performance, skill development, and ability can be developed through motivation, sustained effort, and grit. Allowing for the possibility of…

The current longitudinal, mixed-methods dissertation explored how various Family Language Policy (FLP) factors (including parent and child language ideologies, practices, and management) influence "Español"-English (hereafter, "Españ"Eng) bilingual students' home language maintenance/loss and their bilingual development.…

Considering the widespread focus on the academic achievement and social behavior of Black boys, there has been a limited focus on Black girls. Recent data from the US Department of Education Office for Civil Rights show disproportionate suspension and expulsion rates for girls with Black girls suspended at higher rates (12%) than girls from other…

A major concern in science education is how to help students form science identity to increase their aspiration for STEM careers. Given the key role of experiences in individual's science identity formation, STEM experiences related to project-based learning (PBL) have received increasing attention in recent years. The purpose of this study was to…

This qualitative case study explores the trajectory of one English writing teacher's self-directed development. The teacher's self-directed development incorporated the use of drama-based pedagogy, in assisting student writers' topic knowledge development. The study shows that the teacher's initial journey of self-directed development was zigzag,…

Organized out-of-school time (OST) activities are critical assets that help youth develop life and social skills. Latine youth have some of the lowest rates of participation in OST activities out of all racial and ethnic subgroups due to structural and interpersonal barriers that perpetuate and reproduce patterns of inequality. The purpose of the…

This study aimed to make and introduce a curriculum in Taiwan for fifth-grade students, merging Scratch animation with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The curriculum combined the Scratch Reflective AI digital learning platform with conventional teaching methods to assess its effect on students' empathy, self-efficacy, and scriptwriting…

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant financial impact on land-grant historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, which have historically faced underfunding by their respective state governments. This study examined the issue of low engagement rates and alumni giving among former…

This dissertation examines the impact of outdoor learning, including constructivist theories on student development in natural resource curricula. It highlights the importance of experiential, hands-on learning that connects students with nature. This approach challenges traditional methods by exploring active participation and sensory-rich…

Teacher education programs aim to prepare teachers by building repertoires of knowledge and skills, mindsets, attitudes, and beliefs to develop dispositions necessary to succeed in a teaching career. As teachers prepare to meet the needs of increasingly diverse student populations, they need to attend to diversity issues and challenges and develop…

This paper employs the lenses of timescapes, themselves shaped by wider conceptions of time, to view evolving patterns of private supplementary tutoring around the world. Such tutoring is commonly called shadow education because much of its content mimics that in regular schooling: curriculum changes in the schools lead to related changes in the…

This study investigated the knowledge, skills, and perceptions of school psychologists regarding prenatal opioid exposure in school-aged children. The study also aimed to explore school psychologists' awareness of the effects of prenatal opioid exposure on children's academic, social, and emotional development. Utilizing a quantitative approach,…

This dissertation explores the math identity development of Black and Latinx students who are taking developmental math classes in a community college setting. The study delves deep into the incorporation of inclusive pedagogical practices in the classroom. Placing emphasis on the successes of students, the research was based on Martin's (2000)…