The purpose of this nonexperimental quantitative research study was to explore and identify factors affecting the performance of elementary and secondary Title I schools in South Carolina. The study analyzed statistical significant differences in the overall performance of Title I schools over three years and analyzed other factors such as the…

This grounded theory study explores literacy achievement among male and female elementary school students. It focused on the perceived gap between genders and teachers' perspectives on narrowing this divide. Despite progress in education, educators still face ongoing challenges in literacy achievement disparities, where gender often plays a…

The problem addressed by this study was the academic achievement gap of low-income students. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore the lived experiences of educators of low-income students participating in the Florida School Choice program and the perceived challenges they face in bridging the academic achievement…

This study addresses the critical issue of low-income student success at Tri-County Community College (TCCC), with a specific focus on reducing the financial barriers posed by commercial textbooks. Recognizing the disproportionate impact of these costs on low-income students, the study implements an improvement initiative leveraging Open…

The history of education regarding Black students pinpoints some reasons behind lagging scores. Children of color consistently underperform in American public schools, which casts a disparaging light on their success (Viadero, 2014). According to the literature, Black students have historically experienced unequal resources and services compared…

This qualitative study examines the lived experiences of both first-generation (FG) students and employees of an Upward Bound (UB) program. The purpose of this study is to explore how an UB program at a private university in the Midwest can aid in bridging the educational gap for FG students while faced with obstacles such as reaching, engaging,…

Historically, de jure systemic racism in the United States and the California housing market resulted in a lack of Black family access to housing in affluent neighborhoods, generating a Black-White wealth and income gap still observed today. Even after eliminating much of this outright discrimination, these economic gaps caused de facto…

In the ever-evolving landscape of China's education system, the gap between the rural and urban was always an important issue, not only the multifaceted interplay of parental involvement, student self-engagement, and academic performance. This study utilized a comprehensive national survey dataset through a thorough understanding of cultural…

Even though individuals now have increased access to higher education, first-generation college students (FGCS) remain disadvantaged. Without prior college exposure, experience, or a college-going family tradition, FGCS face challenges navigating higher education institutions which can lead to decreased college retention and completion rates.…

It is acknowledged that English language learners (ELL) perform lower than their non-ELL peers and that their lack of language acquisition impacts their graduation rates. However, the approaches taken to reduce the achievement gap between ELL and non-ELL students varies widely. To maximize ELL graduation rates, content area and ELL teachers need…

The issue of college readiness persists in higher education, with many students entering college unprepared for the demands of college-level coursework. This challenge is particularly pronounced in math-intensive fields, where students frequently encounter struggles in corequisite math courses. The problem statement asserts that underprepared…

Education has always been and will continue to be the key that unlocks doors of opportunity and success for all. Our national test scores, over the last several decades, reveal that a majority of America's students are failing to meet academic benchmarks and standards, thus limiting the possibilities for opportunity. Mathematics, in particular,…

During the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous challenges specific to educational context resulted in disrupted teaching and learning for students across the U.S. Consequently, accelerating recovery of disrupted learning has become the primary concern of every school district in the nation. Prior to the pandemic, the use of data to guide instruction was…

The aim of this dissertation was to analyze efforts at the time of this study to vertically align curricula between secondary and post-secondary institutions and then analyze how much needs to be done to close the gap in curricular and performance expectations as students transition to higher education. To narrow the focus, this dissertation…

An examination was conducted to explore the relationship between socially mediated artifacts (SMA), perception of high school experience, and academic performance to examine the impact of social mediation on an individual's academic performance. This investigation was based on a Vygotskian psychology perspective of social mediation. According to…