This dissertation examined Culturally Responsive School Leadership (CRSL) within California's educational system using a quantitative approach with qualitative insights (Merriam & Tisdell, 2016). The study, guided by two research questions, investigated the impacts of school leaders' demographics (race, gender, and experience) on their…

The purpose of this quantitative causal-comparative study was to determine the frequency of marijuana use by California university students based on gender and ethnicity. This study was important because marijuana is the most used illicit substance in the United States, and there is limited research regarding the demographic characteristics of…

Though online course offerings have expanded to meet the needs of student access in the context of funding constraints, research has shown worse student outcomes in online classes, with significant inequities by race and ethnicity. Consequently, the proliferation of online course offerings could have vast implications for equity in the California…

There is an underrepresentation of Filipino American and Asian American school administrators. The problem is that low Filipino American administrator-Filipino American student ethnicity match ratios and low Asian American administrator-Filipino American student race match ratios have negatively affected the graduation rates and chronic…

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…

Creating engaging student-faculty interactions has been a challenge for instructors teaching at community colleges in the United States. The purpose of this research study was to explore the relationship between student-faculty interactions and students' course engagement and completion. To explore this relationship, the research study collected…

This study examined the effect of mandated school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic on student learning loss and the effects of a rapid shift in instructional modality. The research study focused on comparing the academic year results of 2021-2022 to the year of 2018-2019 in English language arts and mathematics assessments, specifically using…

Purpose. The purpose of this quantitative correlational research study was to examine whether a relationship exists between academic advisors' leadership style as servant leaders and student satisfaction with academic advising at a 4-year private nonprofit university in Southern California. Additionally, gender, race, and first-generation college…

The academic literature suggests that the experiences of women and faculty of color are differentiated and have more complexity than other groups; however, the specific elements of the academic environment that create or perpetuate these experiences with regard to barriers are not widely explored. This study surveyed 60 tenured and tenure-track…

California Community Colleges (CCC) is the largest and most diverse system of higher education in the United States. It serves 2.1 million students, 54% of whom are from historically racially marginalized communities in the United States (California Community College Chancellor's Offices, 2020). As with all higher education settings in this…

The study's purpose was to determine the effectiveness of charter school programs in increasing academic achievement in students with disabilities who received special education services within one charter management organization. The study reviewed student achievement on a state standardized assessment in ELA and Mathematics. Relationships…

This quantitative study examined the proportions of students enrolling in and completing transfer-level math pre- and post-Assembly Bill 705 (AB 705), as well as different predictors affecting the completion of transfer-level math within the first year. The study drew attention to the relationship between students' race/ethnicity and the…

The Student Success and Support Program (SSSP) in the California Community College (CCC) system changed the matriculation process in 2012. New students entering the system were required to receive support services in the form of initial assessment, initial orientation, counseling and advising, educational planning, academic probation, and…

California community colleges account for the overwhelming majority of Latinx student enrollment in public higher education institutions. However, student equity or parity in educational outcomes in California community colleges continue to be a problem, especially for Latino men. While the research concerning these men has increased in recent…

With the need to increase STEM graduates, it is necessary that all institutions of higher education determine ways to increase the retention of these students to increase underrepresented STEM student retention rates. Cypress Community College in Southern California implemented a program called STEM[superscript 2] (Strengthen Transfer Education…