The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the perspectives of academic advisors who are servicing the needs of students within the California community colleges participating in the Guided Pathways initiative. In addition, the study sought to provide a detailed understanding of the perceptions of (a) the academic advisor's role in…

The issue of unfinished learning and achievement gaps in schools has been a persistent concern in recent years, particularly among underrepresented and disadvantaged student populations. AVID Elementary is a promising solution for ensuring students have the necessary knowledge and skills to be college and career ready, as it is based on proven…

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the perspectives on engagement of students who had passed Model School Math (Integrated Math 1 or Algebra 1) and graduated within the years 2015 to 2019 from a Model Continuation High School in California. This study sought to discover the strategies, policies, and procedures which best…

Education in California has undergone a transformative revolution driven by a collective vision to reimagine teaching and learning. A crucial catalyst in this evolved landscape is the role of school counselors, whose task of preparing students for college and career readiness holds immense potential. Despite their role's critical importance,…

This study sought to identify best practices incorporated by secondary school counselors in California high schools that promote, support, and increase college-going identity and foster a supportive college-going environment for Latino male students. The researcher used a phenomenological qualitative study to capture the best practices and…

Purpose: The purpose of this quantitative, correlational study was to determine the degree of relationship between school protective factors, student internal assets, and College and Career Readiness Indicator outcomes. The population for this study included comprehensive, public high schools across California, including only schools that…

With the growth of dual enrollment in high schools, there is an opportunity to augment and enhance college acceleration opportunities for historically underrepresented students seeking post-secondary matriculation. In 2016, California enacted progressive legislation through Assembly Bill 288, which specifically identified the need to increase…

Purpose: The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of elementary principals who successfully implement and sustain the AVID system school wide at their Title 1 elementary schools in Southern California as a means to close the achievement gaps and prepare all students to be college and career ready.…

Postsecondary education and career training is increasingly important, with growing polarization of the labor market and forecasts for increasingly skilled workers to meet the needs of the US economy, particularly in California. Additionally, gaps between various student groups in educational access and attainment continue to persist despite…

This qualitative multicase study was conducted in California's Central Valley. The purpose of this study was to understand how outside funding sources can be utilized to increase the math achievement for Central Valley students, especially Long-Term English Learners (LTELs). This study focused on the LTEL subgroup of English Learners (ELs) because…

The low number of California Native American students, both rural and urban, graduating A through G ready prompted this study. Using a qualitative and Indigenous research approach, the research questions that guided this study were: (1) What are the perspectives and beliefs about postsecondary education among a group of Native American students at…

The purpose of this study was to examine the role of district administrators in allocating resources and developing effective Career Technical Education programs (CTE). This study also sought to analyze the resources allocated by districts to support the implementation of CTE programs to improve college- and career-readiness. More specifically,…

The following research sought to investigate the impact of a comprehensive school counseling program based on the American School Counselor Association's Recognized (ASCA) Model Program known as RAMP, on student achievement and college readiness. The study was conducted on a comprehensive high school campus in California, which included 2,700…

The purpose of this study is to explore the perceptions of the effectiveness of a first-year experience program at one institution from the perspectives of the students, faculty, and staff through interviews and observations. This study was conducted at a community college located in Palm Desert, California on their first-year experience program,…

The debate on charter schools is attributed to doubts that such schools are improving the performance of their students. While proponents of charter schools praise their flexibility and creativity, opponents of charter schools posited that charter schools increased segregation, and skimmed the cream of the crop from traditional schools (Miron,…