This study is framed by Self-Determination Theory (SDT) to examine the interaction between student perceptions of school personnel efforts and actions and the development of student intrinsic motivation and self-determination. This mixed-methods study examines variations among high school students' (n=44) level of self-determination (SD) and the…

The purpose of this study was to gain an in-depth understanding of the lived experiences of transgender youth with disabilities in high school. Utilizing in-depth phenomenological interviews and photography, this study sought to gain insights into how the lived experiences and intersections of transgender and disability identity impact high school…

Dual credit programs afford high school students the opportunity to earn college credit prior to graduation while exposing them to the rigor and culture of college, which may help make college more accessible to first-generation college students and underserved populations. The purpose of this study was to understand students' dual credit…

As careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) increase in both variety and quantity, the need for a STEM-literate public also increases. However, students with disabilities are underrepresented in the pipeline of high school and college courses that prepare individuals for careers in these fields. This underrepresentation…

There have been increasing concerns about the significant decline in teenagers' intentions to pursue STEM subjects or careers. This study examined how students' perceptions of parental expectations, STEM cultural capital, mathematics/science self-efficacy, gender, and parents' jobs were associated with STEM career aspirations and tested whether…

Latina/o/x students aspire to earn a college degree but given that they likely attend urban high schools with inadequate educational opportunities and high-discipline environments, more research is needed to examine the influence of institutional racism on aspirations. This case study was guided by the frameworks of New Juan Crow in Education and…

The overrepresentation of Black students in special education, particularly in the most restrictive educational placements, is well documented in the literature. In addition, Black students are disproportionately placed into far more segregated educational spaces than their same-aged White peers with similar dis/ability labels. With limited…

This phenomenological study examines the ways Black students attending predominantly White high schools were connected to their school environment. Set in a suburban county located outside of a large urban city, this study included 15 participants who self-identified as Black American and had graduated between 2017 and 2020 from schools where…

Exclusionary discipline practices such as suspension and the disproportionality that exists among ethnicities have been a topic of interest for researchers for over 30 years. The purpose of this qualitative narrative study was to explore the perceptions of five African American males between the ages of 21-28 years old who have exited school…

Gifted students in regular classrooms have fewer opportunities to develop activities that are based on their characteristics as learners and address their needs; however, many of them spend most of their school time in these classrooms. The results presented here were part of a 2-year qualitative project that analyzed 12 Chilean gifted students'…

This narrative study investigated through storytelling the experiences of five students who attended a Montessori middle school and then transitioned to a public high school. The testimonies of the participants highlighted that, to help students make a successful transition to high school, it is useful to consider three elements: (a) developing…

The purpose of this paper is to critically explore factors affecting Native Hawaiian college-going to reconceptualize and improve early college programs serving Native Hawaiians. Survey and focus group data from an internal evaluation of early college summer programs at the University of Hawai'i--West O'ahu (UHWO) provide insight into Native…

Recently, many high schools and universities have promoted community service learning program by making it part of the admission process; therefore, students participate in community service learning program to get admission in an institution of their choice. Moreover, after completing the community service program, they see themselves as more…

This study was designed to explore the undergraduate and post-undergraduate experiences of African American STEM alumni from the University of South Carolina from a strengths-perspective. The method utilized for this qualitative study was phenomenological analysis. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 African American alumni who…

In recent years, there has been a growing understanding that consistent developmental relationships support student learning and well-being. Research shows that youth who have positive connections with adults at their schools demonstrate higher levels of motivation, self-esteem, and prosocial behavior than their peers in less relationship-centered…