Little research has examined individual linguistic features that influence English language learners (ELLs) test performance. Furthermore, research has yet to explore the relationship between the science strand of test items and the types of linguistic features the items include. Utilizing Differential Item Functioning, this study examines ELL…

Globally, two current educational problems for students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) exist. Many teachers lack training in evidence-based practices (EBP) and in-service teachers are not transferring theory to practice. This study was locally conducted to establish the state of the EBP delivery systems, with a specific focus on rural…

The purpose of this two-phase mixed-methods study was to describe the relationship of the ratio of the number of minutes of instructional classroom time to the number of minutes of scheduled unstructured recess time and the reading scores of fourth- and fifth-grade students in Title I schools in the state of Texas. Further, the beliefs of teachers…

Background: Within the last few years, the focus on educational accountability has shifted from holding students responsible for their own performance to holding those shown to impact student performance responsible--students' teachers. Encouraged and financially incentivized by federal programs, states are becoming ever more reliant on…

The goal of improving student academic and behavior outcomes is to ensure that all students have access to the most effective and accurately implemented instructional and behavioral practices and interventions possible. Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports (PBIS) provides an operational framework for achieving these outcomes. In general,…

Adults ask children constantly, "what do you want to be when you grow up?", leading children to focus on an uncertain future as an adult. From very early in life, children attempt to parlay their likes and desires into a career choice. However, as children grow into adolescence, they begin to realize vocation is not as easy as simply…

In principle and practice, Michigan's public universities are committed to the sustained improvement of educational and economic opportunities in the state. However, their place in the state's general fund budget makes them especially vulnerable to reductions, when resources are low. The remarkable impact that higher education has on every person…

This mixed-methods study combines the sociocultural theories of Vygotsky's research on thought and language, Mezirow's Transformational Learning Theory, situated learning theory of Rogoff, Lave, and Wenger, to explore individual and group process and resulting products within an online university radio station system. The study…

This study addresses the importance of helping international students acclimate to their American campus culture in order to meet the aspirations of international education. The study includes a comprehensive overview of international student enrollment in American colleges and universities. It also identifies the many benefits, including…

In recent years, there have been increasing calls to develop a more contextually-based, sociocultural perspective of achievement motivation. With this in mind, this mixed method study examined Jamaican, of the West Indies, undergraduate students' perception of motivation. This study was conducted in two phases. First, a qualitative investigation…

Community colleges are experiencing many challenges that stem from political and fiscal uncertainties and these challenges are often exacerbated by high turnover in executive leadership positions (Floyd et al., 2010), which has implications for longterm strategic planning. The magnitude of the problems associated with high turnover rates for…

The purpose of this study was to identify the utilized strategies and practices that urban superintendents use to raise student achievement. This study examined the strategies, practices, and leadership skills that are applied by urban superintendents. Three research questions were used in this mixed-methods study. A survey instrument was used…

This research study examined constructs and beliefs essential to culturally responsive teachers for the purpose of understanding corps members' needs and promoting culturally responsive pedagogy (CRP) in the Colorado region of Teach for America (TFA). This study employed a transformative, sequential mixed methods design with a theoretical lens of…

This study sought to explore the ways that evaluation influenced changes in attitudes and actions at the individual and interpersonal levels and the pathways through which this influence occurred, all in a real-world evaluation context. Specifically, Mark & Henry's (2004) proposed model of evaluation influence was used as the framework…

This dissertation reports on a multi-dimensional longitudinal investigation of the factors that influence Enterprise Architecture (EA) diffusion and assimilation within the U.S. federal government. The study uses publicly available datasets of 123 U.S. federal departments and agencies, as well as interview data among CIOs and EA managers within…