The purpose of this applied research study, using program evaluation, was to improve professional development for teachers to build their capacity in student engagement. This applied research study used three elements: professional development, professional learning communities, and observation-feedback, to improve teacher quality and to increase…

This study examined the use of six math evidence-based practices (EBPs) for students in middle school with disabilities and sought to understand whether teachers' use of these practices was related to their confidence in implementation of EBPs or math teaching self-efficacy. I also examined differences between general and special education…

The prevalence rate of learners with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has risen concurrently with their inclusion into public schools in Saudi Arabia. Being in schools, they face academic challenges, particularly in reading. This increased rate evokes the importance of implementing valuable strategies to keep up the academic skills of those…

Students with disabilities are overrepresented in correctional settings in the United States and there is a dearth of information in the professional literature about the adequacy of instruction for these youth. Moreover, during the recent COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2022), access to education was abridged for many youth including those in juvenile…

Traditional lecture continues to dominate undergraduate instruction in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) despite the decades-long call to alter teaching to include more student-centered, evidence-based instructional practices (EBIPs). While researchers have done some exploration of barriers to change, a need exists for…

While the conceptual link between teachers' knowledge of reading-related concepts and student reading outcomes is widely acknowledged in the field, few studies have empirically examined this correlation, especially regarding student reading comprehension. Thus, the present dissertation study aimed to investigate teachers' knowledge of reading…

Special education teachers' varying levels of awareness of evidence-based practices (EBPs) leads to personalizing practices that can be either positive or negative for student learning outcomes. There is a gap in practice in the research literature regarding special education teachers' perceptions of why and how they personalize EBPs to teach…

Few researchers have investigated what occurs inside charter schools with respect to teaching and learning. To address this gap in the literature, the researcher conducted a descriptive, single-case study to examine how teachers at charter schools use research-based instructional methods to increase student achievement. The site for this study is…

The use of evidence-based practices in the field of special education is still inconsistent practice with special education teachers during daily instruction. Special education teachers often have little knowledge of high-quality indicators of research that identify specific evidence-based practices proven for designated populations of students…

The literature review in this dissertation examined what writing intervention strategies have been implemented with high school students in special education, with what measures, and with what found outcomes. The study following the literature review surveyed and interviewed high school special education teachers to determine what practices the…

The research design for this study was grounded in descriptive research to explore participants' experiences and perceptions of using evidence-based reading strategies to motivate, engage, and advance student learning in the primary grades. Primary teachers' strategies show encouraging impacts on students' learning, specifically in reading,…

This project critically evaluates the existing research conducted on the effectiveness of evidence-based interventions designed to promote the social and emotional development in preschool children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The purpose of this study is to identify evidence-based interventions for children ages three to six…

Evidence-based instructional strategies in mathematics provide critical support related to academic achievement for students with disabilities. Data from national achievement assessments suggest that students with disabilities' academic growth in mathematics stagnates at the secondary level. Given that the majority of previously researched…

The nationwide shortage of special educators is well documented. Preparedness is a key component of building self-efficacy and longevity in the PK-12 teaching field (Clark & Newberry, 2019; Darling-Hammond et al., 2002; Ingersol et al., 2012; Ondrasek et al., 2020). This qualitative study examined the preparedness of novice special education…

This constructivist qualitative case study examined factors that assisted and impeded the expansion of City University of New York's (CUNY) Accelerated Study in Associate Programs (ASAP) from 4,300 to 25,000 students between 2014-2018. The study consisted of open-ended interviews with 11 CUNY system and college leaders who directly led the work…