This paper describes findings related to the effectiveness of secondary school middle leaders as a contributor to within-school variation in academic results for students at department level in urban high schools. The 'high-stakes' academic assessment results for students in 10 urban high schools in New Zealand in English, mathematics and science…

The problem explored in this study was that the state education agency recommended school board members of low-performing school districts participate in a governance training called student outcomes governance to address student achievement, yet no data suggested the training changed school board members' understanding of how to create policies…

The goal in this qualitative phenomenological study was to discover the experiences of middle school teachers as they pertain to culturally responsive pedagogy, student engagement, and student growth. Participants who taught culturally diverse students in Grades 6-8 were recruited from public charter middle schools in an urban district in the…

The purpose of this study was to determine the impact that participation in co-curricular activities has on the academic performance and retention of students at an urban community college. This study utilized archived data to make quantitative analyses of the impact of participation in co-curricular activities on GPA scores and one-semester…

Adolescents' academic achievement goals are associated with their perceptions of teacher and peer goals. Earlier research focused on perceived teacher goals, mostly disregarding perceived peer goals' effects. However, since peer-group influence becomes prominent during adolescence, research on students' perceptions of both peer and teacher goals…

Virtual instruction and blended learning are two of the fastest growing learning modalities in K-12 education. Blended learning is a formal education program in which students learn at least in part through online learning with some element of student control over time, place, path or pace and at least in part at a supervised brick and mortar…

The inequalities between Black and White Americans have left Black people with less education amongst other disparities. In 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. The Board of Education ended racial segregation in public schools. Today, sixty-nine years later, Black children often still attend highly segregated and underfunded schools.…

Academic success among adult learners is a significant concern across all of New York's boroughs, with the Bronx being particularly affected. This study aimed to examine the barriers to academic success among adult learners in the Bronx. The research utilized secondary data obtained from a previous assessment conducted at an adult learning program…

Despite ongoing reform efforts, academic achievement in the U.S. educational system is declining both on internal measures as well as on international comparative assessments. While students from affluent backgrounds continue to do well academically, there is a growing achievement gap as underprivileged urban students fall further behind. This…

Engaging and supporting families in the learning environment is a critical ingredient to creating a positive educational experience and ensuring the academic success of all students. This study was guided by two research questions: In what ways does one family liaison work to foster the engagement of South Asian EL families in their children's…

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, educational systems worldwide have faced unprecedented challenges, particularly concerning the support of students based on traditional face-to-face instruction. This study focused on the concerns surrounding 2nd grade students at LEA and DRA, two urban elementary schools, who have faced multiple layers of…

Many school districts, particularly in inner-city communities, face numerous barriers to students' academic success. Unfortunately, the school paradigm is not constructed to address the glaring social/emotional conditions affecting millions of children (Anderson-Butcher et al., 2017). As a result, educators and social reformers have urged school…

As parents, communities, educators, and policymakers continue to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on student learning in America, many have turned to recently released results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). NAEP measures what students know and what they can do in several tested subjects, including reading,…

Baltimore City Public Schools includes approximately 30 high schools, and the characteristics of each school's graduates vary systematically according to schools' admissions policies, curricular areas of focus, and resource availability, which depend on school size, management type, and leaders' priorities. This report summarizes trends in…

Our study examined novice urban teachers' abilities to impact student learning and development. We interviewed 19 graduates, collecting narratives of critical teaching incidents. Analysis revealed the importance of (a) connecting with learners and of (b) receiving support. Teacher education programs were helpful in preparing graduates to set high…