Federal legislation has demanded increased accountability requirements for teacher excellence. Teachers and school leaders in the local schools are impacted tremendously by this decision. The necessity to provide students with high performing teachers is a priority of all stakeholders. The need to comply with federal grant requirements has added…

For decades, community colleges have relied on standardized placement tests to determine student readiness for college-level coursework. COVID-19 exposed the flaws of relying on a single measure to assess student readiness as many test sites shut down during the pandemic. Previous research has also pointed out the high rate of misplacement when…

This study examined the perceptions of teacher candidates and site facilitators regarding the strengths and weaknesses of the ArPEP (formerly known as APPEL) teacher preparation program. The study also analyzed the rate for candidates who completed and passed the edTPA and also the rate for those taking and passing the Principles of Learning and…

A study was conducted to investigate the perceived relevance of using a teacher evaluation rubric with performance indicators specific to special education services in place of the standard rubric for teachers used in the State of Arkansas Teacher Excellence Support System (TESS). Through a multi-method approach, the perceptions of special…

The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in Arkansas teachers' and building-level administrators' perceptions regarding the purpose of the Arkansas TESS teacher evaluation system, whether TESS authentically assesses teacher effectiveness, how teacher evaluation data are used, and how the TESS process supports learner-centered…

Arkansas adopted the ACT ASPIRE as their summative assessment in 2015. ACT ASPIRE claimed their assessment results could accurately predict the composite scores on the ACT. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between students' scores on the ACT ASPIRE and the ACT for students in the Star City School District, as well as…

This study examines the factors, challenges, and solutions to the challenges to assessing online discussions. Online learning continues to become more and more prevalent. Entire degrees are now being offered online. One perceived drawback to online learning is lack of interaction. Online discussions are utilized to provide interaction between…

The purpose of this study is to answer the question: How do pilot users of the Danielson Evaluation System perceive this model in two mid-south high schools? The study describes the perceptions of teachers and administrators who implemented the Danielson Teacher Evaluation Model. The primary focus was on teachers and administrators experience with…

The present study investigated within a substance abuse treatment center the influence of family therapy on flexibility and cohesion among family members. Past studies have suggested adolescents who abuse substances exist in families who have a lack of balance of flexibility and cohesion. Unfortunately, few studies have examined the influence of…

The Crawford County Adult Education Program Evaluation was implemented to gather data that would assist in increasing the number of enrolled students at CCAEC. The data were compiled from state, federal, local extant data, a Community Opinion Survey and focus group interviews. Of the 1,015 Crawford County Residents who were emailed the COS, 213…

A number of costs are associated with the implementation of trade agreements not the least of which is the cost to the American workforce. The information age ushered in an era of globalization unlike anything the world economy had experienced before. As countries raced forward to dominate emerging markets and grow market share, millions of…

Inclusion programs have expanded in schools across the country as educational leaders strive to meet the needs of a more diverse group of students. In response to Special Education legislation, schools and districts implemented programs and strategies for students with disabilities in the general education setting as increasing numbers of students…

In recent years there has been a considerable increase in the number of students with disabilities enrolling for postsecondary education. However, graduation rates for students with disabilities have not been commensurate with their enrollment rate at postsecondary institutions. Some factors for low graduation rate among students with disabilities…

KIPP Delta College Preparatory School (KIPP: DCPS), an open-enrollment charter school, opened in 2002 in Helena, Arkansas. Since its opening, KIPP: DCPS students have consistently outperformed their peers in the Helena/West Helena School district, and moreover, recent test scores suggest that white students and minority students are achieving at…

Current legislation, such as No Child Left Behind (2001) or the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (2004), has increased accountability for schools for the education of all students. These laws require schools to provide interventions for struggling learners, as part of the Response to Intervention process (IDEA, 2004). Accelerated Math…