This qualitative case study explored how educators in a high-poverty, urban public high school used student achievement data to inform instruction. The sample consisted of one principal, five counselors, and ten teachers across multiple departments in a Los Angeles County high school recognized for its data-driven practices and collaborative…

Narrative accounts of classroom instruction suggest that external interruptions, such as intercom announcements and visits from staff, are a regular occurrence in U.S. public schools. We study the frequency, nature, duration, and consequences of external interruptions in the Providence Public School District (PPSD) using original data from a…

This dissertation presents a comprehensive program evaluation of the dual enrollment program in a large urban school district in California. Dual enrollment has grown in popularity and is being utilized by many school districts across the country to provide access to college coursework and increase matriculation rates. This study aims to assess…

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted traditional K-12 education worldwide, forcing a rapid shift to emergency remote teaching and learning. This dissertation utilizes a three-article approach and investigates the multifaceted impact of the pandemic on urban charter high school students and their principals in under-resourced communities. The first…

This study compares private tuition (PT) patterns and perceptions regarding teaching and learning in public schools versus PT classes in urban and rural Cambodia. Using quantitative data from 108 tutors and 165 12th graders, followed by 21 interviews that included principals, we find that urban students are the main drivers of PT; they trust the…

This qualitative study sought to advance understanding of the specific behaviors, actions, and skills utilized by a principal to create a college-going culture that ensured underrepresented students college access and success. The study was bounded by an exemplary urban high school serving underrepresented students in the northeast region of the…

School counselors play an integral role in supporting students academically, socially, and emotionally. However, due to various demands, school counselors often face time constraints that limit them from providing social and emotional support to students at the secondary level. In this case study, an analysis of qualitative interviews with 13 high…

The case explores the challenges of school leaders to facilitate social justice-based reforms for low-income students of color who attend underperforming schools. In particular, it examines the 1st-year experiences of Principal Yolanda Lopez at Kennedy High School, an underperforming and underresourced urban public high school. Lopez is tasked…

This paper examines the role of school leadership in centering the rights, wellbeing, and identities of Latinx, immigrant students and their families. It is guided by the following questions: How do school leaders envision and articulate their roles and responsibilities in sites serving immigrant youth? How does this orientation influence the…

In light of increasing emphasis on the importance of post-secondary education to personal economic security, there is growing interest to promote college readiness initiatives in high schools, particularly for low-income and minority students for whom the harmful effects of institutional inequities on college readiness is well-documented.…

This article examines the context for content teachers' professional learning concerning English learners (ELs), paying particular attention to the role of leadership in supporting and constraining this capacity development. The contextual features of the school are analyzed, specifically the leadership of the principal and an EL facilitator, as…

Purpose: Applying an analytic model to better understand collective leadership development, this study examines three high schools: one urban, one suburban, and one rural. Each school's unique structure and context tests the model's explanatory power. Research Methods: Using a multiple-case study design, data consisting of interviews with teachers…

This study took place in an urban high school that implemented the data-driven school improvement plan after it received a grade of "F" in 2010. This school experienced significant growth during the next three years and received a letter grade of "C" in 2011, "B" in 2012, and "A" in 2013. I examined the role…

This case study report provides practical examples on how the Academy of Indigenous Studies has built lasting relationships with local First Nations communities -- demonstrating how existing provincial course offerings can be leveraged to create a for-credit learning track that allows Indigenous and non-Indigenous students to learn about…

The Expanded Success Initiative (ESI) evaluation was designed with two overlapping and interacting components: (1) a study of the initiative's implementation in the participating high schools; and (2) a study of its impact on student experiences and other outcomes. As the document of record evaluating an important, large-scale initiative, this…