This descriptive 10-year case study examined the school-community partnerships in a South Carolina, USA, elementary school from August 2011 to June 2021. The study used a qualitative interview approach with a quantitative description of the school and community-school activities. Data was gathered from the Observer's Field Notes and school…

As demand for more highly educated workers rises, a growing number of community colleges have expanded their services beyond two-year degree programs and begun conferring baccalaureate degrees. These programs, referred to as Community College Baccalaureate (CCB) programs, have become increasingly prevalent: Prior to 2000, only four states offered…

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore how secondary teachers describe the role that the elements of the community of inquiry framework (social, cognitive, and teaching presence) play in a virtual learning environment in a rural school district in South Carolina. The community of inquiry framework was used to guide the…

This dissertation exams the use of a weighted 5.0-scale high school grade point average (HS GPA), the South Carolina Uniform Grading Policy Grade Point Average (SC UGP GPA), as the basis for a Multiple Measures placement system in English unique to Florence-Darlington Technical College (FDTC). FDTC's service area lies in the so-called…

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to describe how first-year college students describe the academic benefits and effectiveness of participating in a developmental education program in preparing them for academic success. The theoretical frameworks supporting this study were Bandura's theory of self-efficacy and Tinto's theory…

Community colleges have long focused on preparing graduates for well-paid careers in middle-skill jobs, playing an important democratizing role in American society. Community colleges enroll 47% of the total students enrolled in undergraduate studies in the United States (Bers & Schuetz, 2014, p. 1). This systematic review examines the…

When observing and consistently hearing about the obstacles our current public educational system faces, many are left wondering what can be done to produce genuine, significant, and continuous improvement. Upon deeper analysis of educational systems, one can see that many areas need system improvement. SOAR School (pseudonym) is a Pre-K-5 school…

The existing retention literature focuses on White students and non-White students in predominantly White institutional (PWI) environments. Furthermore, prevailing literature tends to concentrate on varying factors that influence these students to be retained at their respective institutions. Retention factors in differing contexts, such as…

This mixed methods study explored the use of time-compressed instruction in English, math, and accounting courses at Florence-Darlington Technical College, a mid-sized institution located in the Pee Dee region of South Carolina. The researcher compared compressed and non-compressed sections of identical courses offered at the college to determine…

This mixed methods study explored the self-regulatory processes and how these practices influence academic achievement and career motivation among military student veterans at an urban community college in South Carolina. A quantitative analysis was conducted to explore the self-regulatory learning processes, self-efficacy, academic achievement,…

This research describes the application of improvement science focusing on implementing restorative practices (RP) to decrease suspension and expulsion rates of Black students. Black students are suspended and expelled disproportionately compared to their White peers in South Carolina. Due to the high suspension and expulsion rates, school…

Due to consistent growth in eLearning in the United States, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, a great amount of emphasis has been placed on what is required to ensure that students find success in online education. With an estimated $13 billion invested in online education as of 2019, institutions of higher education must work to ensure…

The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to investigate the representation of African American female community college executive leaders in Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Factors that played a role in the growth and development of these leaders on their professional journey were identified. The study also explored initiatives…

The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the extent of success and the challenges faced by community college presidents in creating an entrepreneurial culture. Fourteen American community colleges, identified by Roueche and Jones (2005), were surveyed for this study. These fourteen community colleges are located in Texas, Florida,…

Teacher certification is an important topic in the history of teaching in American education. Policymakers have recognized that for students to meet high standards, their teachers must also be of high quality (Goldhaber, Perry & Anthony, 2004; McCaffrey, Lockwood, Koretz, & Hamilton, 2003). The National Board for Professional Teaching…