Finding successful ways to motivate middle school students who suffer from amotivation is one of the biggest challenges educators face today. When students lack the internal drive to do their best in school, the responsibility falls on those who care enough to find ways to light the necessary fire for academic success. This study aimed to explore…

Grades are ubiquitous in schools and have significant consequences in students' lives. Over a century of research has reported variability in teachers' grade compositions and grading practices. Although measurement experts have advocated for grades to represent student achievement alone, teachers continue to include nonachievement factors, such as…

The purpose of this dissertation in practice was to explore the experiences of Gulf Coast State College faculty in the wake of Hurricane Michael, in an effort to better understand how both the storm and the institution's response shaped instruction and student success. The intent of this study was to determine if the policies and practices…

Family engagement is rapidly shifting from a low-priority recommendation to an integral part of education reform. Research demonstrates evidence that family engagement positively impacts student outcomes, including grades, course rigor, test scores, social skills, and behavior. There is also a consistent relationship between family engagement and…

The quality of support provided to students in higher education can have a powerful impact on the student's experience, their perceptions of challenges, and their overall academic success, particularly retaining in and completing their degree. Though many universities create robust services to support undergraduate students, existing literature…

This dissertation in practice utilized a qualitative case study approach to understand the experiences of adult learners who are completing their secondary education program at a selected school site in the region of Los Angeles County, California. The aim of this study was to gain insight on the varied needs and challenges of adult students who…

The disproportionate disciplinary actions imposed on African American male students in the public school system deny them educational instruction time and increased the risk for juvenile delinquency. The purpose of this qualitative interpretive descriptive study was to examine the implementation of discipline practice employed with African…

With the population of English learners (EL) entering Texas public schools increasing, it is essential to understand how the current school system supports these students. This study investigated the language used in school handbooks as a predictor of English Language Learners' (ELL) academic outcomes in Texas independent school districts. Student…

Late registration has a long history as a practice and subject of research in American higher education. Approximately 10% of course registrations at colleges and universities are late. Prior research has produced mixed results on the impact of the practice on student success. This study sought to identify a predictive model that would guide…

The landscape of American higher education is becoming more competitive each year. Discussions about equity and increasing access to underrepresented student groups grows each year, particularly regarding the role of standardized testing. Some research has shown the SAT and ACT exams, the two primary college entrance exams used in the United…

Due to the complexity and unpredictability of a concussive injury, it is difficult to formulate and provide appropriate individualized care for concussed student-athletes. Therefore, faculty in higher education play an important collaborative role in supporting student-athletes' academic recovery following a concussion. This area of concussion…

Financial aid policies are widely used to foster access to higher education for low-income and underrepresented students. Prior research has documented the positive impacts of these programs on the outcomes of the students it intents to help (e.g., Mello, 2021; Londono-Velez et al., 2020; Bleemer, 2021a; Black, Denning, & Rothstein, 2020).…

This study investigates the effects of financial aid disbursement policies dependent upon course attendance on course completion rates. The research is designed to answer three research questions related to the effect of (1) type of financial aid awarded to students, (2) disbursement policy and (3) the interaction effect between type of financial…

Recent governmental education reform measures have emphasized school improvement by requiring schools and districts to improve school performance, including student achievement, through many avenues including professional development. Professional development is no longer concentrated solely on teachers; it now includes administrators the…

Educational reform is at the forefront of legislatures and school districts across the United States (Hattie, 2011). To find and employ high school improvement initiatives that lead to improved educational experiences for students, educational leaders must examine in great detail what systems have been successful and then modify the initiatives to…