Background: Graduate education provides students with specialized skills needed to advance science and discovery and prepares future educators and role models for future generations of learners. Given the importance of graduate education, the estimate that more than half of the students who begin it do not complete their degrees is troubling.…

The effective use of data plays a critical role throughout the policy process -- from accurately capturing populations being served to monitoring and measuring implementation and allocation of resources. In order for data to be used in a manner that supports evidence-based decision-making there is a need for education leaders and policymakers to…

In California, Black students have markedly lower academic achievement than their White peers and Black students are also more likely to experience exclusionary discipline, such as suspensions (Cano, 2020, Losen & Martinez, 2020). What can be done to mitigate these racial disparities in schools? In this brief, we investigate whether increasing…

In the U.S. educational system, it is too common to see African American males overrepresented in special education classrooms, including segregated special education settings. African American males continuously experience disproportionate representation and placement in special education, especially under the label of ED (Harry & Anderson,…

Minority studies are underrepresented in gifted and talented education programs across the nation and the methods used to identify students for advanced services may be the issue. This study examined the Scales for Identifying Gifted Students (SIGS), a set of nationally normed behavior rating scales, for the purpose of updating the instrument. The…

This dissertation explores the social, institutional, and structural conditions believed to be at the center of the racial disparities that influence access and participation within secondary and post-secondary environments of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. More specifically, this study investigates the…

The lack of diversity in STEM professions is an ongoing concern for the US both in terms of social justice and in having a globally competitive workforce. This study provides information for campus leaders to be proactive in considering a wide array of identities to meet the needs of students beyond attending to structural forms of diversity. Data…

Student engagement on college campuses is linked to a range of student outcomes and student retention (Tinto, 2007). Engagement in support programs can be even more important for underserved populations including first generation students. First generation students are more likely to leave a four-year institution at the end of the first year and…

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is diagnosed using the same criteria for males and females (e.g., DSM-5, ICD-10). Our understanding of ASD, including its etiology, symptom presentation, and prevalence has evolved significantly over time motivating several changes to the diagnostic criteria and the tools with which symptoms are measured. One aspect…

The purpose of this study was to examine the perception, confidence and awareness levels of teachers to overcome the underrepresentation of English Learners in high ability programs in the State of Indiana. This was done by examining the status of teacher perception and confidence levels based on three levels of awareness: high ability…

The racial discipline gap in schools is inextricably connected to the achievement gap. Staff professional development and training must intentionally promote dialogue and learning centered around racial disproportionality in school discipline capable of withstanding the defenses of whiteness and white fragility that arise when examining racialized…

The purpose of this quantitative correlational-predictive study was to analyze if and to what extent the underrepresented undergraduate STEM students' gender and perceptions of faculty leaders' mindset as growth or fixed predict their academic performance within a university in the Southwestern United States. The predictor variables…

In this case, Mary, a cisgender White principal, is struggling in a contentious school climate with a mostly White staff and a racially divided school community. A lunchroom incident highlighted the unaddressed conflict among students, families, and the community that can no longer be ignored. Her unresponsive leadership raises questions about the…

Little information exists concerning underrepresented students' talent development in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. This retrospective qualitative study investigated the talent development processes of five Black, seven Hispanic, and three Native American graduate students enrolled in STEM disciplines. All…

Increasing the participation of students of African descent and other minoritized populations in the scientific workforce is imperative in generating a more equitable biomedical research infrastructure and increasing national research creativity and productivity. Undergraduate research training programs have shown to be essential tools in…