The purpose of this descriptive multiembedded case study was to investigate the perspective of effective elementary school principals in Harvest Bloom School District who narrowed the race-based academic achievement gap in reading by increasing their knowledge, skills, and leadership practices. Data gathered included an archival search, focus…

Increased use of achievement scores to measure the impact of school principals on student outcomes has led to increased attention on how best to generate estimates of principal effects. This study joins others in the field in attempting to estimate how K-12 principals affect test score outcomes of students in their schools. Toward this end, this…

There is little empirical research regarding the impact the four-day per week school schedule has on primary grade student achievement. Early literacy and numeracy skills are essential functions that provide the basis for success in the American public education system and a global economy. Any school schedule that adversely affects mastery of…

This study is a mixed method examination of two elementary level Colorado Reading First Schools in Colorado Springs, Colorado. This study replicated a study conducted in two California Reading First elementary schools, in one Southern California School District. The purpose of the study was to examine whether there were differences in the…

This study examined influencing factors on the reading achievement of three first grade students from the Colorado Virtual Academy who were taught to read in a homeschool setting. The overarching research question asked, "How well do students perform when taught to read by parents given the tools that nationally accepted research has deemed…

With decreasing enrollment, decreasing funding for public school education, changes in family and societal needs, and the mandates of the No Child Left Behind Act, policymakers and school leaders are wrestling with reforms to the school calendar and instructional time spent in the classroom, with the goal of increasing student achievement.…