The rise in autism and shifts in federal laws have driven a move towards inclusive education, aiming to offer equal opportunities and support for autistic students facing challenges in communication, social skills, and repetitive behaviors. Yet, placing students in the least restrictive environment can strain general education teachers without…

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 and the Every Child Succeeds Act of 2015 have significantly emphasized student academic outcomes in recent years. As a result, school districts are seeking strategies to increase student achievement and incorporate required standards and goals. Reducing scheduled physical activity time that students in…

Research examining reading abilities among Black children diverges significantly from prior literature, which either lacked focus or lacked substantial representation of Black children. Black students, particularly boys, tend to exhibit lower academic achievement compared to their peers. The problem addressed in this study is that Black boys, in…

Research over the past two decades has documented the rise of a phenomenon known as academic entitlement (AE). Students throughout the United States and the world have exhibited entitled beliefs, such as expectations of good grades for little effort (Kopp & Finney, 2013) and entitled behaviors, including cheating, displays of anger, and…

The following is a dissertation looking to address the impact of STEM-focused education on fifth-grade standardized test scores in mathematics and science. STEM education has become such an integral part of American education in recent years, and its importance continues to extend beyond the research available. The purpose of this quantitative…

As student achievement remains a critical discussion among federal policymakers, states, and local school districts, one response involves providing additional classroom support staff. To address deficits in mathematics education, the National Mathematics Advisory Panel (2008) urged the use of mathematics specialists (MS) to support teachers and…

This phenomenological qualitative study aimed to examine the lived experiences of virtual teachers responsible for developmental reading skills in a suburban school district in southeastern Virginia. This school division had over 25 schools responsible for the instruction of primary students in grades Kindergarten through second grade. Grades from…

The purpose of this quantitative comparative research was to determine if there was a statistically significant main effect of teaching method (project-based vs traditional) on second-grade students' learning in mathematics and if gender differences exist between the scores of male and female students in general and the scores of male and female…

The purpose of this quantitative, causal-comparative, non-experimental study was to determine if there is a difference in reading self-efficacy and perceived learning among fourth- and fifth-grade inner city students who participated in experiential learning and those that did not participate in experiential learning. Experiential learning is…

The Virtual Learning Model (VLM) can be the best learning modality to foster personalized learning for K-12 students. This research study aims to bring to light the expectations of an appropriate district designed VLM for a rural school district in Virginia as it pertained to creation, implementation, as measured by the Virginia Department of…

Historically, students of color have experienced an increased risk for exclusionary discipline outcomes (Children's Defense Fund, 1975). Discipline disproportionality continues to be a major problem in our schools today (McIntosh et al., 2018). The focus of most of the research has been on African American males; however, African American females…

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe the lived experiences of general education elementary teachers attempting to meet the mental health needs of students in their care. Ten teachers from an Eastern Virginia school district were selected to participate in this study. Individuals with experience working with distressed…

Project-based learning is gaining popularity as a student-centered approach to education. It provides a multitude of benefits, especially compared to the practices surrounding standardized testing. The purpose of this action research study was to examine and improve teaching practices related to project-based learning at the elementary school…

Recess is a vital piece of the elementary school day. The impact of this time extends beyond students' physical, emotional, and social health. Recess has also been shown to have a positive impact on the classroom performance of students. The purpose of this causal comparative study was to test the theory of the impact of recess in elementary…

The purpose of this quantitative casual-comparative research was to provide educators data pertaining to reading and the influence of classroom instructional setting on reading test scores. This study investigated if learning in a departmentalized instructional setting had a subsequent positive effect on fifth grade students' reading achievement…