The purpose of this study was to identify differences in metacognitive and self-regulated learning strategies used by students in a self-paced, computer-based developmental mathematics program (DMP) and how these strategies accounted for differences in persistence and performance observed among the students. Five research questions guided the…

This study investigated how the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (PSEL) have affected the efficacy of principal preparation programs as measured by the School Leaders Licensure Assessment (SLLA), Principal Internship Mentor Assessment, and cumulative grade point average (CGPA). A review of the literature showed that principal…

Early mathematical learning for students that exhibit typical gifted characteristics, including precocity and sophisticated math ability, should have opportunities to expand their thinking capacities through enrichment and/or advanced coursework that allows them to reach their full potential. Effective programming interventions allows for…

My dissertation examined the effect of adaptive prompts in virtual reality (VR) based social skills training on social skills of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In my dissertation, adaptive prompts refer to an instructional technique to enhance social skill performance of children with ASD considering their emotional states. Despite…

This research evaluates childhood mental health disorders and their prevalence. Public-school systems are tasked with providing equitable education and services to students in special education who are in need under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Public school districts may look outside of the traditional academic setting, to a…

Although there are federal regulations requiring gifted education, the implementation and fidelity with which these programs are implemented are varied and often incomplete. This study explored the impact grading systems have on the implementation of gifted programming standards by comparing teacher perception data between schools with traditional…

Individuals who are dually diagnosed with Down Syndrome (DS) and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) frequently engage in vocal stereotypy that can interfere with learning, impede socially appropriate behavior, and disrupt others. Response interruption and redirection (RIRD) is an intervention that blocks and redirects stereotypy to reduce behavior.…

The What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) identifies existing research on educational interventions, assesses the quality of the research, and summarizes and disseminates the evidence from studies that meet WWC standards. The WWC aims to provide enough information so educators can use the research to make informed decisions in their settings. This…

Food routines play a special role in Latino families. Using a cluster randomized trial with 248 children (M age = 67 months) from 13 schools, this study investigated the impact of a four-week family program designed to capitalize on food routines in improving Latino kindergarteners' outcomes in the U.S. There were moderate-to-large impacts on…

Low-income, minority, and/or first-generation students are more likely to undermatch. The consequences of this decision can negatively impact degree attainment, as well as individual and societal gains. The purpose of this study was to examine the experiences and perceptions of high school counselors in order to gain a deeper understanding of how…

The rising teacher attrition rates coupled with the challenges associated with the millennial teacher dynamics have heightened the need to address the teacher shortage crisis. Millennial age teachers encompass the largest growing generation cohort serving in the teacher workforce. While many district and school leaders have orientation and…

Despite teachers' perceptions playing a key role in professional learning efficacy, little is known about teachers' perceptions of professional learning effectiveness or the factors that influence these perceptions. This study was designed to explore teacher perceptions of professional learning effectiveness. Data were collected from 107…

According to the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA, 2018), at least 4,420,000 children between the ages of 6-12 and 2,454,000 children between the ages of 13-17 participate in outdoor soccer in the United States. Arguably, their coaches have a significant impact on these children's development. The purpose of this study was to…

The following is a dissertation looking to address the impact of STEM-focused education on fifth-grade standardized test scores in mathematics and science. STEM education has become such an integral part of American education in recent years, and its importance continues to extend beyond the research available. The purpose of this quantitative…

This is a qualitative study that explores the perceptions of elementary principals with regards to homework practices in their schools. The purpose of the study was to investigate which strategies are believed by principals to be more valuable when assigning homework in grades three through five as well as their knowledge, and beliefs pertaining…