This quantitative, causal comparative study analyzed the effect of participation in a blended learning program has on the STAAR Mathematics and Reading Language Arts assessments for fifth grade students in a large, urban school district in North Texas. The study evaluated the performance of fifth graders on the STAAR assessment in mathematics…

Teacher accountability and test scores currently drive many practices within the field of education. At the same time, student populations have become increasingly diverse, causing classroom teachers to feel pressured to teach to the test. Differentiated instruction has emerged as a best practice to help maximize learning for all students.…

More attention should be placed on student engagement and the teaching of lessons that promote equitable opportunities to learn science in a way that students can relate to and enjoy. The purpose of this action research study was to investigate and improve student engagement in urban elementary science classrooms. Also, to discover how best to…

As student achievement remains a critical discussion among federal policymakers, states, and local school districts, one response involves providing additional classroom support staff. To address deficits in mathematics education, the National Mathematics Advisory Panel (2008) urged the use of mathematics specialists (MS) to support teachers and…

The problem addressed through this study was the inconsistent implementation of RTI2 in the mathematics classes for special education (SPED) upper elementary (i.e., Grades 3-5) students at a Southwestern, urban Tennessee school district (SUTSD). Students in SPED have low mathematics proficiency. Researchers have demonstrated that RTI2 is a process…

The Alternative Suspension Therapy (AST) program is a trauma-informed, in-school discipline model that was designed to serve as an alternative to traditional suspension. The goal of the AST program was to minimize or eliminate the number of referrals a student might receive that could possibly lead to suspension. The participants in the AST…

The purpose of the qualitative exploratory case study was to explore third through fifth-grade teachers' perceptions of how being provided with curriculum-based professional development could influence instructional techniques and skills in the classroom. Two research questions guided the study. The questions focused on third to fifth-grade…

The Critical Literacy (CritLit) project promotes using critical texts to engage readers in examining their lived experiences and understanding of social justice issues. This study used a qualitative participatory approach with a narrative design to research the students' engagement in a book club using critical texts. Participants were fourth- and…

Social studies instruction is vital to connecting students to the world and learning 21st-century skills needed for college and careers. Teachers' knowledge and skills are essential for effective technology integration in instruction. The purpose of this qualitative exploratory case study was to explore the perspectives of teachers in an urban…

African American males inequitably experience two to three times more out-of-school suspensions among other exclusionary discipline practices in comparison with other racial groups, which causes them to become academically disengaged, increases their association with deviant peers, makes them resent of school personnel, and leads them to…

Black males continue to be the lowest-performing subgroup on state standardized tests in the United States of America. A very large majority of teachers are White females. This study examined the impact of White female teachers' beliefs and actions on the achievement of Black male students. Data was collected via interviews with White female…

Black and Latinx students, along with those in special education programs, are suspended and expelled at rates higher than their peers. Exclusionary discipline can lead to poor academic performance, high dropout rates, and incarceration. Restorative practices (RP) promote a positive school culture, reduce punitive discipline, and build strong…

In an urban city located in a Western state, the problem was that educators are challenged to implement reading interventions to support the reading needs of English Language learners (ELs) in third through fifth grade. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to investigate the perspectives of educators regarding the challenges they…

There has been extensive research done on varying leadership styles as well as how school leaders employ these styles in order to improve students' academic achievement. However, little literature exists that discusses how leadership style affects a principal or assistant principal's approach to managing student discipline. The purpose of this…

School systems have the responsibility to promote student success and character education is one program used to help improve school climate. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the implementation of a school developed character education program and student perceptions of school climate in a city elementary…