The purpose of this case study is to understand higher education administrators' perceptions of New York State's tuition-free initiative, the Excelsior Scholarship. A comprehensive literature review offers insights into a select history of higher education policy, as well as the current condition of public higher education. Guided by a…

This dissertation includes two studies, aiming to explore the status of physical education and stakeholders' perceptions of physical education in Colorado. In study one, using the PE for All Colorado model policy as a guiding framework, the purpose of this study was to explore the status of physical education in Colorado. Research questions…

The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to examine the role of a debt mitigation program as an incentive for adult student reengagement and to ascertain students' perceptions of the institution after reenrolling in college via the program. The debt mitigation program was the first in the nation to forgive past-due student institutional debt,…

The impact of advisory programs on student achievement, attendance, and behavior was explored in this study. The study was conducted to contribute to existing research and to gain insight as to whether or not advisory programs promote positive academic outcomes in schools. Four schools with advisory programs and four schools with academic…

The Leader in Me is a school transformation process that focuses on teaching and embedding Stephen Covey's (2004) seven habits into the school day. The seven habits are a framework and process for transforming school culture but are not taught as a scripted curriculum (Covey et al., 2014). This mixed-methods study was designed to analyze the…

Many incoming college freshmen who do not meet minimum standardized exam cut-score requirements are often determined to be not ready for college level coursework and registered for pre-requisite, multi-semester, remedial course sequences. The goal of pre-requisite courses is to prepare students for college-level courses prior to enrollment in…

Career and Technical Education (CTE) has evolved since its implementation in American classrooms. By design, students are able to develop practical skills that are expected to enhance their future employment opportunities when enrolled in CTE courses. As advanced as the programs have become, doubt still exists in program design and usefulness,…

Given the large proportion of students who are culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) in special education, there is a great need to understand and learn from the literature and the experiences of Latino immigrant parents of children with disabilities. It is important to conduct qualitative studies, systematic reviews, and quality reviews to…

The present study used Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT; Lent et al., 1994; Lent et al., 2000) to examine the influence of college STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) program participation on engineering persistence among first-generation college students (FGCS) in engineering. Data for the present study came from a larger…

Extended learning opportunities (ELOs) have gained traction in Maine and nationally as a means for students to develop "college, career, and life" skills through out-of-classroom experiences. As ELOs are not structured or regulated by the state, they vary significantly in range, scope, and access. This report offers insight into…

Despite field experiences being especially valuable for physical education teacher education programs, the concerns and issues that are often faced by teacher candidates can make for less-than-ideal experiences. Variability in the quality and satisfaction of field placements have led programs to seek ways to maximize their quality mentors while…

Historically, psychological tests were assumed to be objective, culture-free, and generalizable to any racial/ethnic minorities or socio-cultural group, even though most tests were standardized, validated, and found reliable with samples consisting only of White, middle-class, English- speaking individuals (The Council of National Psychology…

This dissertation argues that indigenous language revitalization and reclamation projects are best understood as multigenerational and multi-participant conversations, which I will frame as language conversations. Language revitalization and reclamation relies on relationships, access, and accountability within indigenous frameworks. This model of…

A meta-analysis was conducted to examine the relative rates of youth mental health service utilization across settings among the general population and among those with elevated mental health symptoms or clinical diagnoses. Rates of school-based mental health were compared to outpatient, primary care, child welfare, juvenile justice, and…

The purpose of this phenomenological study is to better understand the experiences of engagement of African American caregivers of children with emotional impairments who attend a non-traditional alternative education setting within an urban New England area. The findings of this study answered the research question, "How do African American…