The use of teams and team-centric pedagogies such as Team Based Learning (TBL) in classrooms has been shown to increase engagement and lead to better overall learning outcomes. Because of these positive outcomes, the use of teams is recommended in many educational fields, including engineering. For many instructors, especially those using teams,…

In response to the federal Race to the Top grant initiative that aimed to increase teacher accountability, the state of Tennessee created the Tennessee Student Growth Portfolio Model (TSGPM) to evaluate its non-tested teachers. This optional alternate evaluation model for non-tested teachers was developed and piloted by fine arts educators in the…

This dissertation reviews current policies regarding Teacher Preparation Program (TPP) evaluation and addresses "accountability era" influences which often minimize factors related to equity and promote a limited view of teacher and school "effectiveness." Integrated concept mapping is proposed as an alternative method of…

This study examined the experiences of accreditation professionals, specifically SACSCOC staff members, visiting committee members, and accreditation liaisons, who participated in virtual site visits during the COVID-19 pandemic. Accountability pressures in higher education have placed scrutiny on the accreditation process, and little is known…

The purpose of this comparative quantitative study was to test adherence to the accountability theory by comparing perceptions of South Carolina public school principals without procedural due process rights as administrators with public school principals in New Jersey that have procedural due process rights through tenure regarding the tools used…

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine how faculty chairs at a large, Midwestern community college understand and engage with the assessment of student learning outcomes within academic programs. This study was informed by two conceptual paradigms of assessment: accountability and improvement. Sensemaking was used as a…

The demand for public accountability in U.S. higher education has risen since the beginning of the 20th century. To meet these expectations, colleges and universities undergo institutional accreditation reviews to ensure they meet accountability and quality assurance requirements. This increased focus on institutional accreditation has prompted a…

The turn toward public accountability for educator preparation programs (EPPs) has been met with both optimism that public scrutiny will improve the quality of teacher education and concern over a perceived disconnect between public accountability tools and effective teacher preparation. This study examines the impact of the accountability metrics…

The turn toward public accountability for educator preparation programs (EPPs) has been met with both optimism that public scrutiny will improve the quality of teacher education and concern over a perceived disconnect between public accountability tools and effective teacher preparation. This study examines the impact of the accountability metrics…

The turn toward public accountability for educator preparation programs (EPPs) has been met with both optimism that public scrutiny will improve the quality of teacher education and concern over a perceived disconnect between public accountability tools and effective teacher preparation. This study examines the impact of the accountability metrics…

For the past 20 years Massachusetts has used a high-stakes, test-based accountability system for the state's public schools. The Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) are standardized tests administered in Grades 3-10 which account for the majority of district and school accountability measures, and the Grade 10 tests serve as an…

As the largest sector of higher education in the US, community colleges serve a critical role in helping many students pursue and achieve their educational goals. Most community college districts are led by a team that includes a governing board of trustees and a lead administrator (often called a superintendent, president, or chancellor) who…

This qualitative study explored the perceptions of five high school science teachers to understand how the alignment of curriculum, instruction, and assessment within the instructional program was perceived as purposeful to student learning in the age of accountability and the standards movement. A conceptual framework including alignment and…

While enrolling in a college for a degree is still considered to be more of the expectation than the rule in households across the United States it is facing public criticism regarding its overall cost versus long-term benefits. This has prompted researchers to reevaluate practices in higher education to determine ways in which post-secondary…

Through a landscape analysis and content analysis, this study investigated informal Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education funding and evaluation policies. The primary objectives of this study were to identify informal STEM education funding organizations, and to examine funding priorities and evaluation policies…