Education reform has been at the forefront of educational research for decades, depicted by government initiatives and policy, research, and pedagogical changes and recommendations. When considering elements of educational change, policy, best practices, and individual merit and retention have also been heavily in the spotlight, such as "A…

Over the years, Web 2.0 tools have played a more dominant role in education as they provide the skills necessary for 21st century learning (McLoughlin & Alam, 2014; Sadaf, Newby, & Ertmer, 2012). While this shift with educational technology has been prevalent in most schools, small rural communities such as American Samoa have yet to have…

This comprehensive study explores the experiences of underrepresented students who have participated in informal science education programs at the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH). Using qualitative methods, including interviews and participant observations, the research uncovers transformative insights shaping the educational landscape.…

This study aims to understand how women's voices can be empowered in a high school English Language Arts (ELA) class. Through the use of female authors and female protagonists in the classroom texts, this study seeks to understand if implementing female-driven texts enhances female students' literary experiences, empowers the personal identities…

This phenomenological study aims to understand and establish the influence of student voice, particularly from marginalized students, in the school improvement process to yield positive student experiences for urban, comprehensive ninth- through twelfth-grade high schools in the United States Midwest. The focus of this study will be to compare the…

Sense of school belonging refers to the connection that a student has when they feel they are a part of their school community. Literature on deaf adolescents' experiences in school tend to utilize qualitative research methods by interviewing deaf adults about their schooling (Oliva, 2019; Stern, 2008; & Witteborg et al., 2009). Those who…

Teachers in New York State and across the United States experienced a unique start to the 2021-2022 school year as students returned to full-time, in-person learning following imposed lockdowns due to COVID-19. To address the social and emotional needs of the returning students, an emphasis on interpersonal relationships became increasingly…

This study addressed the issue of Grade 12 students reading below proficiency and their lived experiences within a personalized learning instructional approach. To address this problem, the purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore Grade 12 students who read at basic or below basic levels on the Scholastic Reading Inventory (2013)…

Many Hispanic male students, who are often the first in their family to attend college, face distinctive challenges while attempting to obtain a higher education degree. The purpose of this study was to explore how a sample of 12th grade Hispanic male students in the rural Southwestern United States experience an Early College High School (ECHS)…

This dissertation is a qualitative investigation of influences of school tracking on the Black identity development of high school students. This dissertation begins with a Critical Race Theory analysis of school tracking processes. After exploring how tracking was designed, and how it continues to obstruct the potential for optimal Black student…

The purpose of this study was to examine the mathematics meanings that are held by higher- and lower-performing African-American male high school students. Meaning in this context was defined as a set of dispositions that included, but were not limited to, values, beliefs, attitudes, feelings, and interests. Using worldview theory as the…

Using emergent motivation theory, this study analyzes the relationships between high school students' perceptions of their reading skills, task challenge, and personal control over assigned reading activities and their reading engagement (i.e., interest, enjoyment, and concentration) during science instruction. The study also examines how…

This study investigates an elective English class, in which students in grades 10-12 collectively read and collaboratively wrote fantasy fiction in four groups. The purpose of the class was to have students consider the choices fantasy and science fictions writers, directors, and video game designers make when creating a fictional world. The…