It was not known the extent, if any, the four facets of shared instructional leadership (shared vision, focus on instruction, monitoring of progress, and broad collaboration) predicted School Climate (SC). This study used a quantitative, predictive correlational design using multiple regression to statistically analyze the data. The population was…

Purpose: This paper features a narrative case study of a leadership team engaged in an effort to transform both culture and instructional practice at an urban charter school. The paper describes the team's effort to align their decision-making with two frameworks selected to anchor the school's institutional change process: restorative justice and…

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted longstanding issues in student achievement in the United States, with only 37% of students from grades 4-12 showing proficiency in math and reading, as measured by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). The East Coast Charter Authorizer (ECCA), which oversees one of the largest and most diverse…

This narrative study examines a failed attempt to unionise an urban charter school. To investigate why this effort failed, I construct two competing 'stories of the school' -- the discursive narratives each side told about how the school operates, who it serves, and how it fits into a larger battle for educational, racial, and economic justice. I…

This paper explores how the charter school sector evaluates the success of specialized education programs in order that the Nature School can learn from these best practices and develop its own framework. The researcher conducted in-depth interviews with five evaluation experts and eight diverse charter school authorizers overseeing a significant…

The purpose of this exploratory multiple-case study was (1) to develop an understanding of how charter management organizations (CMOs) operating schools in New York City (NYC) during the 2021-2022 academic year developed, promoted, and sustained arts programming, and (2) to explore the role of the network-level arts director. Given the desire to…

This case study illustrates how leadership for learning and cultural competence could be used as theories of action during times of disruption to lead and transform urban teachers' sense of self, sense of others, and motivation for change. The case study focuses on educators from a large urban charter school whose response to the pandemic and the…

Teacher attrition is a significant issue in charter schools, particularly among Early Career Elementary Charter School Teachers. The high attrition rate intensifies issues, including increased burdens on remaining staff and a potential decline in the quality of instruction. This qualitative phenomenological study explored the influence of…

The problem this study addressed was a lack of differentiation in supervision and professional development for administrators, teachers, and coaches in one K-12 cyber charter school system. The purpose of this qualitative case study was for administrators, teachers, and coaches to describe their perceptions of and recommendations for…

In the face of growing critiques, charter management organizations (CMOs) increasingly contend with criticism as they maintain their presence in districts, particularly with school board members who often serve as gatekeepers for charter authorization. Yet, little is known about how CMOs navigate these politically muddy waters in local settings.…

Classical and Christian education has proliferated across education sectors over the last decade. As a result, school leaders must implement these timeless philosophies of education and navigate such high demand. This dissertation seeks to equip relevant parties with research about what drives their skyrocketing enrollment and how to support…