Play-based learning has been proven to be an effective method of learning in early childhood education, particularly kindergarten; Nevertheless, increasing emphasis on academics and assessments has had a detrimental effect on students' social-emotional learning (SEL) and learning development (LD).The problem addressed in this study was that play…

The purpose of this study was to examine beginning and mentor teacher perceptions of teacher induction academies and the effects it has on teacher retention. This mixed-methods study surveyed approximately 60 teachers in a small rural school district in South Mississippi regarding their participation in teacher induction academies and its impact…

Teacher retention in the rural setting is a topic of concern. Teachers are choosing to leave the profession for a variety of reasons. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to identify factors teachers in a rural school district in Mississippi perceived as promoting teacher retention. Additionally, this study examined teachers' perceptions…

Co-teaching is the instructional practice in which general education teachers and special education teachers work together to provide instruction to students with and without disabilities in the general education classroom. The purpose of this study was to identify the barriers that co-teachers in Grades K-12 face in implementing effective…

The problem addressed by this study was that general educators and administrators in rural school settings are unprepared to ensure the provision of successful inclusion programs to differently-abled students, which negatively impacts rural educators' attitudes and perceptions of including differently-abled students in the general education…

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many schools had to make the difficult shift from face-to-face instruction to distance learning, which was especially difficult for schools in rural areas with limited resources and services. The purpose of the exploratory case study was to investigate the perceptions and experiences of general and special educators…

Grading practices have been around for years. Yet, grading is still a never-ending debate. One cause of this debate is the use of traditional grading. Although there is a need for change in traditional grading practices, one understands the deeply rooted traditions behind traditional grading. Grading is subjective based on each individual…

Language educators were unprepared for emergency remote language teaching (ERLT) due to lack of training in online pedagogy and negative perceptions of online instruction, and the rural community of language educators have been challenged in unique ways. Using the intersections of content (language teaching), space (rurality), and context…

This study explores the transformative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education, focusing on the increased reliance on online learning tools as the "new normal." The study delves into the challenges and opportunities faced by Mississippi schools in integrating technology during the pandemic, examining the perspectives of teachers…

One-to-one device initiatives provide access to digital learning for students; however, little is known about how this process occurs in rural schools. Implementing a one-to-one device initiative may have positive effects on student access to digital technologies as well as student and teacher efficacy when sufficient training happens beforehand.…

In 2020, COVID-19 disrupted schooling disproportionately affecting economically disadvantaged learners, students of color, and those living in rural spaces. Nearly three years following its initial onset, the world has entered a "post-pandemic" era. Consequently, all teachers need continued professional support and training related to…

Literacy has become a major component of teaching and learning. Students must be taught early literacy skills in preschool and kindergarten to develop a foundation for literacy in later grades. Many states have adopted a literacy promotion assessment. This assessment requires third-grade students to take and pass a literacy-based promotion…

This technical appendix provides additional information about the sample, data, and estimation strategy used for a series of American Educator Panels (AEP) Data Notes published by the RAND Corporation in 2019. The Data Note series is intended to provide brief but incisive analyses of teacher and school leader survey results that may be of…

This study was designed to examine teacher perceptions of teacher retention in a rural school district. A survey instrument designed to assess teacher perceptions of teacher retention was administered to teachers of grades K-12 in a rural school district in Mississippi. Working Environment Factors assessed through the instrument were: The…

The U.S. government has stated in federal guidelines that parents must be involved in their children's education in order for student achievement to increase. For more than 5 years, a small rural middle school in Mississippi was designated a low-performing school due to its failure to achieve the required standards for quality distribution index…