This qualitative phenomenological study sought answers about how first-year Tennessee Promise students viewed their experiences with the scholarship program. The Tennessee Promise scholarship was designed to allow more high school graduates to attend community college or technical school tuition-free. This statewide program was the first of its…

Training parents to serve as interventionists for their child is a common approach to enhance child well-being. The scope of parent training described in the literature spans diverse teaching practices, settings, and child diagnoses. Research demonstrates that parents can learn and implement a variety of skills with integrity; however, there is…

Mathematics education is constantly changing due to the growing use of computers worldwide, and these global changes greatly affect mathematics education. In a computerized and changing society, it is paramount schools prepare students to acquire both procedural knowledge and conceptual knowledge in mathematics. In the state of Georgia, fourth…

Improving STEM education is pivotal to our country's economic future and security. Unfortunately, most young students have limited access to standards-based science education. Science instruction is notoriously difficult to implement in the early grades. This dissertation explored the root causes for the lack of effective science instruction in…

Individuals with intellectual disability (ID) often experience a combination of both intellectual and adaptive functioning deficits which negatively impact their ability to obtain and maintain competitive employment. Fortunately, research has shown that assistive technology, and particularly video prompting, helps support employment for…

Objectives: There were three aims in conducting this pilot study. First, determine the Plus Minus Task assessment's reliability to measure the executive function of shifting. Second, determine the feasibility and acceptability of CPAB by students and teachers. Third, determine the preliminary dose-response of acute physical activity on shifting in…

A qualitative multiple-case design was used to answer two research questions regarding the perceptions of early childhood educators concerning the implementation of mindfulness practices and/or social emotional curricula and the impacts on positive social-emotional behaviors amongst early childhood students. The conceptual framework of this study…

Interactive notebook, also known as INB, is a tool that helps students with organization skills, communication skills, and gives them responsibility for their learning. INBs have been proven to increase test scores (Wilkins, 2003), and specifically increase writing proficiency, academic impact, and reading proficiency (Wilson, 2015). Although…

This study aimed to identify students self-reported growth after participating in a Social Skills Group program and explore what factors of the program students perceived as having the greatest and least impact on their social skills knowledge. As prevalence rates for ASD continue to rise, the Autism Tsunami of college students will soon be…

The purpose of this study was to examine and understand the perceptions and experiences of English Language Learners (ELLs) who were or are currently enrolled in online credit recovery programs at one rural traditional high school. The U.S. Department of Education reports that over half a million students drop out of high school each year. The…

In recent years, there have been efforts by educators and policymakers to address disparities in the use of suspensions and expulsions. These students are at risk for further academic difficulties, successive suspensions, school drop-out, unemployment, and arrests. To address these concerns, the use of evidenced-based behavior supports are being…

The purpose of this study was to determine whether Animal Assisted Education (AAE) benefited English Learners (ELs) in the elementary classroom using qualitative methods of observation, interviews of students, parents, and teachers, and student work samples. Ten identified ELs, who were also identified as below grade level in reading, participated…

Statement of Purpose: Pediatric firearm access is a significant risk factor for unintentional injury and suicide. This study investigated parents' perspectives on an adapted firearm safety program, "S.A.F.E. Firearm," to ensure acceptability and optimize effectiveness prior to the launch of an upcoming hybrid effectiveness-implementation…

Early childhood home visiting (ECHV) has the potential to support families' economic well-being. In ECHV, trained home visitors work in the home with expectant parents or families with young children. Generally, their services focus on supporting and improving maternal, child, and family health and development outcomes. Some ECHV models also…

Several instructional approaches have been advanced for learning programming. However, effective ways of engaging beginners in programming in K-12 are still unclear, especially among low socioeconomic status learners in technology-deprived learning environments. Understanding the learning path of novice programmers will bridge this gap and explain…