This study explores the perceptions of teachers regarding the effectiveness of Response to Intervention (RTI[superscript 2]) and Teacher Support Team (TST; also known as Student Support team) frameworks in West Tennessee. The research investigates various facets such as teachers' familiarity with TST and RTI[superscript 2], adequacy of training,…

The transformation of higher education through legislation geared to improve outcomes focused on student persistence and college completion rather than student enrollment has forced colleges and universities to re-evaluate the success of all its students, particularly underserved students who have historically faced challenges in completing…

This study sought to determine whether a significant difference exists in the efficacy of teachers who received a traditional licensure versus those who received alternative licensure in their first three years of teaching. Additionally, the research aimed to determine if there was a significant difference in student growth based upon teacher…

Research was limited when it came to the perceptions of rural district and school leaders regarding the recruitment and retention of teachers of color. Beginning in 2021 2022, Tennessee's Educator Diversity Policy, 5.700 outlined requirements for local education agencies to submit goals, plans, and strategies to promote the recruitment and…

This study employed a mixed-methods explanatory sequential design to provide a richer understanding of the relationship between peer mentoring and the academic success of students in STEM gatekeeper courses. The purpose of this study was to identify the factors contributing to the students' retention and persistence in a STEM program at an HBCU by…

Minority and other at-risk students are disproportionately affected by punitive disciplinary practices in schools. These disciplinary actions' long-term and short-term effects include losing instructional time, low academic achievement, dropping out of school, and a chance of becoming part of the school-to-prison pipeline. Implementing restorative…

This causal-comparative research project is a study examining a Tennessee community college's institutional services and programs designed to support African American students compared to those students' persistence to graduation. The results of this causal-comparative study employing mixed-methods of data collection revealed no significant…

Even though students in the United States have varying access to an equitable education, education is commonly regarded as the greatest equalizer. The achievement gap impacts students such as African Americans, Hispanics, and other minorities. Addressing the achievement gap in mathematics and other content areas has grown more crucial as the…

Underserved students, such as African Americans, first-generation, or those with low-income backgrounds, often face more obstacles when it comes to postsecondary education. In response, many colleges now offer supplemental support programs to increase their chances of success. This study examined two groups of underrepresented students at a…

The purpose of this study was to examine attitudes and general knowledge of Affirmative Action in higher education admissions at one HBCU in Tennessee. The researcher used a modified version of the Echols¡¦s Affirmative Action Inventory (EAAI) to assess attitudes and general knowledge of all administrators, faculty, staff, and…

It is argued that free-tuition higher education increases opportunity for underrepresented students with positive equity implications. Moreover, access to higher education for free expands existing visions of equal opportunity, as it changes aspirations and behavior. In 2015, Tennessee became the first state in the nation to implement a universal…

Alternative programs in the nation are faced with the responsibility of meeting the needs of the students removed from their home school for various infractions. Current legislation (IDEA, 2004) holds educators legally responsible for providing all students, including those with disruptive behaviors, a free and appropriate education in the least…

This study examined the relationship between the percentage of highly qualified teachers and standardized measures of student proficiency in the core academic subjects of mathematics, reading, science, social studies, and writing. Signed into law in January of 2002 by President George W. Bush, the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act requires teachers…

The purpose of this study was to determine if there were a significant difference in math and reading academic achievement scores between eighth-grade students attending year-round calendar schools and eighth-grade students attending traditional calendar schools based on the TCAP. In addition, this study investigated math and reading achievement…

This study investigated the effect of the implementation of a School Wide Positive Behavior Support (SWPBS) Program on teacher morale. This quantitative study used the Perdue Teacher Opinionaire (PTO) to survey the faculties for two rural, Title I middle schools in Tennessee. Middle School 1 implemented the SWPBS program. Middle School 2 was the…