Retention is a continuing concern for institutions of higher education, especially rural community colleges. Students are often not prepared for the rigor of college-level coursework, encounter academic and/or life obstacles, or do not possess the soft skills needed to succeed in college life. Research has shown that college-preparation courses…

This qualitative research study was conducted to gain insight into the perceptions of a small rural school district's dyslexia program. Dyslexia is a neurological reading disability affecting millions of students in public education. Students with dyslexia have a deficit in the phonological component of language causing their struggle with reading…

Recent data have shown that up to 65% of students in Grades 4 and 8 are reading below grade level. The problem addressed in this study was that students with a high dialect density have a more difficult time with mastery of foundational skills in reading, leading to unfortunate reading mastery outcomes as they progress through school. The purpose…

There is an increasing number of students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) entering an inclusive setting. This creates an equal increasing demand of current inclusion instructional practices. It was not known how general educators perceive inclusion instructional practices when serving the developmental needs of students with ASD. The purpose…

This dissertation aims to illuminate and uncover the experiences of Black students' learning mathematics in rural Appalachia and specifically West Virginia. The focal theory for this study is Critical Race Theory (CRT) which centers the experience of Black students and their voices. The intersection of race, mathematics education, and the context…

This research is a qualitative case study exploring the factors that influence the attrition of mentors in rural areas. Mentoring initiatives and programs have proliferated throughout schools in an effort to provide students with positive role models, increase graduation rates and improve overall performance Mentoring programs are an increasingly…