Hispanics, and women in particular, continue to be underrepresented in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The purpose of this study was to analyze cognitive and motivational factors that inspired Hispanic female college students to major in STEM programs and aspire to academic success. This mixed methods study…

This report provides evidence on the implementation and early impacts of one promising effort to meet the needs of low-income students and local employers for skilled workers, the Valley Initiative for Development and Advancement (VIDA). VIDA, a community-based organization, is one of nine career pathways programs in the Pathways for Advancing…

The purpose of this study was to determine whether first-year community college student retention rates varied with student age and learning community enrollment status at a mid-Atlantic, suburban community college. In particular, the researcher considered how first-year retention rates may differ between adult community college students (age 25…

A major force in urban neighborhoods across the country, gentrification is also transforming the nation's capital. In 2011, Washington, DC reached a non-black majority for the first time in more than a half century, and since 2000, the city's white population has increased from just over a quarter to well over a third of the total population. This…

This study examined the retention policies, practices, and interventions in school districts in 4 counties in Southern California. It was based on a study conducted by Olds (2008). A content analysis of retention policies and practices in 9 elementary (K-6) districts found that districts used the state's Pupil Promotion and Retention regulations…

In 2011, the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) received an Investing in Innovation (i3) Grant through the U.S. Department of Education. UAF applied for the grant to expand the predominantly rural-serving Alaska Statewide Mentor Project (ASMP) to urban settings. ASMP is a professional development initiative that supplies fully released, highly…

Completion of a baccalaureate degree is positively associated with economic independence and upward mobility in an increasingly competitive world. Student success, through persistence to graduation, is a central goal for institutions of higher education, but only a fraction of students who begin college will graduate with a degree. Despite decades…

Research from authors Danielson (2007), Darling-Hammond (2006, 2009), and Moir (2009) found that mentoring increased the probability that a novice teacher would renew his or her teaching license and remain in the profession. Data from the Arkansas Department of Education were used to determine the impact of mentoring in Arkansas on license…

This study explored principle licensure students' sense of engagement, program effectiveness, and preparedness to lead engagement focused on academic achievement. Data analysis using attributes of effective preparation programs, and positive psychology constructs (e.g., flow) found "Goal Achievement," "Commitment," and…

We investigate the effects of a statewide program designed to increase the supply of teachers in designated "hard-to-staff" areas, such as special education, math, and science. Employing a difference-in-difference estimator we find that the loan forgiveness component of the program was effective, reducing mean attrition rates for middle…

Objective: The purpose of this study is to apply Yosso's community cultural wealth framework to the experiences of Latino male community college students to understand how they balance family obligations, work, and academics while also navigating their educational pathways. Method: The research team conducted 23 semistructured focus groups with…

Supplemental Instruction (SI), a higher-education academic support program, targets challenging college courses and uses peer-led review sessions to develop academic skills, improve grades, influence persistence, and ultimately increase student retention (Arendale, 2001). The goals of this study were twofold: to determine if differences existed in…

Because of increasing mobility among various college student populations, both the baccalaureate degree attainment of community college beginners and the role played by their receiving 4-year institution are growing in importance. In this study, we examined how the academic and social involvement of community college transfer students differs by…

The purpose of this study was to investigate the ways middle school students utilized visual photographing literacies during a participatory action research project as they jointly investigated factors that support and/or hinder students' academic success. Research questions included: (a) How do Sage Middle School (pseudonym) students perceive…

Efforts to recruit and retain Teachers of Color are rarely accompanied by policy and programmatic changes that adequately address their unique learning needs. In this article, I propose a framework that draws on sociocultural learning theory and Critical Race Theory to examine how programmatic structures embedded in a racially structured society…