During the 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 school years at a public high school in El Paso, Texas the author developed and led an after-school arts-based literacy class. This arts-based literacy class was part of the design of a larger ethnographic study spanning the same timeframe that examined how Texas' high-stakes accountability policies shaped…

This qualitative study examines how an "international" high school in New York City responds to the needs of refugee students. It asks: "What are the specific academic needs of secondary-level refugee students? How does one school meet their needs, and what challenges are encountered?" To complement one-on-one semi-structured…

Using a South Los Angeles charter school of approximately 650 students operated by a non-profit charter management organization (CMO) as the primary field site, this two-year, ethnographic research project examines the implementation of a one-to-one tablet computer program in a public high school. This dissertation examines the variety of ways…

High schools throughout the United States experience problems with violence, drugs, and crime. School administrators have responded with policies and strategies designed to prevent school violence such as zero tolerance approaches, partnerships with law enforcement agencies, security camera installations, and hiring additional security personnel…

A good high school cultural arts program puts students' creative talents on display, allows them to demonstrate innovative thinking, and gives them direct and indirect exposure to careers in the cultural arts. A truly outstanding program goes even further to emulate real-world authentic artistic experiences and to create multidisciplinary artistic…

This article describes how counseling psychology graduate students collaborated with high school students in a participatory action research project called, Thru the Lenz. This project was created in order to gain insight into the lives, experiences, and communities of the students. It utilized photography, creative processes, and a humanistic…

Armed with digital cameras, voice recorders, and movie cameras, students from Thomas Dale High School in Chester, Virginia, have been exploring neighborhoods, interviewing residents, and collecting memories of their hometown. In this article, the author describes "Digital History of Chester", a project for creating a commemorative DVD.…

Despite the wealth of studies on smaller learning communities (SLCs), student voices are missing from the debate on high school reform. This article examines how students experience SLCs. A participatory research method, data-in-a-day was used to provide a systematic and inclusive method for gathering data on student perceptions. Data-in-a-day is…

A survey instrument to determine school policy and practice regarding cell phone use by teachers and students was developed using a literature review, a panel of experts, and then a pilot study with typical respondents. The survey was mailed out randomly to 200 high school principals representing all 50 states. The return rate was 56 percent with…

Describes the "Postcards from America" project carried out by a class of high school students, all recent immigrants to the United States with little or no prior English. Discusses two events (an exhibit of students' photographs and writing, and a multimedia performance of nine performance pieces portraying personal stories of the immigrant…

A Brooklyn high school photography program encourages students to work for the pleasure of doing something well, not just for grades. Concepts are explained four different ways so students at different ability levels catch on. Working cooperatively encourages kids to recognize their abilities and take on more responsibility. A unique grading…

The effectiveness of a pedagogic strategy which involved the development of descriptive tactics and individual exploration into the meanings and significance of photographic images was investigated. An additional purpose of the study was to reveal methods which enhanced student responses toward photographs, and their production, function, and…

High school media program services, resources required for program establishment, and program impact on student skills and attitudes were examined in 15 Calgary senior high schools with emphasis on the effect of the audiovisual (AV) component. A student questionnaire was used with two 12th grade classes in each school to determine attitudes or…