The original design of zero-tolerance policies was meant to support school safety through an anti-drug and violence campaign but in the years following their implementation, school districts have employed them repeatedly without merit. Exclusionary practices have become controversial, leading to high rates of recidivism, imbalanced implementation…

Underrepresented students struggle with academic and engagement behaviors in online learning. This study aimed to explore the perceived educational needs of underrepresented high school students during online learning. The conceptual framework created for this study utilized two different frameworks, combining the students' perceived educational…

Many working understandings of giftedness exist within dominating Western frameworks, gatekeeping gifted education from students who do not "fit" inside such frameworks (Owens et al., 2018; Rinn et al., 2020; Sternberg et al., 2021). As a result, K-12 Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian students are underrepresented in…

In 2016, the United States Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights reported that Black girls were overrepresented among students who face discipline that excluded or criminalized them. Although Black girls constituted only 8% of K-12 students nationwide, 14% had received one or more out-of-school suspensions. Out-of-school suspensions…

The underrepresentation of Black girls in high school STEM courses is a pressing issue reflecting broader societal inequities and diminishes the potential for innovation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The problem of low enrollments of Black girls in high school STEM classrooms impacts not only the educational outcomes for…

This program evaluation investigates the effectiveness of a Long Beach Unified School District's High School College and Career Center, focusing on strategies to close ethnicity gaps in College and Career Readiness (CCR). Utilizing surveys, interviews, and focus groups, data was collected from current and past students, parents, and staff at VAPA…

In an era characterized by evolving perspectives on diversity, inclusion, and decolonization within the domain of education, the exploration of African presence in educational literature emerges as an important endeavor. This study delved into a half-century of published works in "Educational Considerations," with a particular focus on…

Academicians, administrators, and policymakers in New Orleans have pointed toward a disproportionate academic and life-cycle outcome where Black American males are particularly disadvantaged as compared to White students. An often-cited cause of these disproportionate outcomes for Black male students is inequality and mistreatment in schools.…

This study utilizes interviews with five Hispanic presidents at Hispanic-serving community colleges in the United States to understand how presidents define and perceive their role in ensuring Hispanic servingness, that is, guaranteeing that the Hispanic population is being fully served, at Hispanic-Serving Institutes (HSIs). We employ Garcia and…

The importance of educator diversity is becoming increasingly evident as research demonstrates the positive impact of Teachers of Color and Indigenous Teachers (TOCIT) on student learning and achievement, particularly among underrepresented groups (Dee, 2004; Gershenson et al., 2018; Grissom & Redding, 2016; Shirrell et al., 2021). Despite…

Despite the growing popularity of computing bachelor's programs, women remain vastly underrepresented in these fields. Using Social Cognitive Career Theory and intersectionality as guiding theories, this qualitative study explores how postsecondary institutions shape women's experiences choosing and entering computing bachelor's programs.…

Prior research documented disproportional representation across racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic lines within the population of students identified as gifted and talented (GT). Less research has focused on what predicts improved representation for English learners (ELs) or students with disabilities (SwDs), or how state GT policies facilitate…

Many science fiction conventions host interactive sessions and activities related to science fiction, fantasy, and popular culture media for the public. Specialized sessions known as "science tracks" are spaces where science professionals and conference attendees discuss and question the science embedded within science fiction fandoms.…

This qualitative, grounded theory research study explored the impact of school environment on racial identity among 36 elementary school students of color. The use of an expressive-arts-based questionnaire allowed for rich description of participants' racial identity perception. Findings yielded three themes: racial identity awareness, racial…

This dissertation explored male students' perspectives on male dominance within career and technical education (CTE) programs and examined how these perspectives impact their educational experiences and career opportunities. The study uncovered a complex interplay of social, cultural, and educational dynamics that influence male students'…