The authors surveyed faculty (n = 239) at three diverse institutions to probe perceived motivations for and barriers to involvement in undergraduate research, scholarship, and creative activity (URSCA) across scholarly disciplines. URSCA mentors were significantly more likely than nonparticipants to express proficiency in involving students in…

The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the experiences of teachers relative to: (a) the processes and strategies used to implement the various components of a teacher effectiveness model used by teachers participating in four focus group sessions. The research explored the teachers' experiences with which components were most and…

The purpose of this mixed-method case study was to determine the effectiveness of the progressive discipline matrix in high schools in one Tennessee school district. The further intent was to investigate how discipline practices influenced the perceptions of teachers and administrators. Findings from quantitative data stated that progressive…

As a mandate of No Child Left Behind, school administrators are responsible for increasing student academics and state assessment scores. Therefore, administrators must identify problematic areas within the school and creatively implement a resolution plan. Statistics from the Tennessee Department of Education's (TDOE) District Report Card show…

This study examined the difference between parents, teachers, and administrators' perspectives of intellectually disabled students' academic and social performance. The study's importance comes from the performance of students with exceptional needs who were unable to effectively communicate their social and emotional needs. The population…

The use of student achievement data to evaluate an individual teacher's effectiveness has become a new focus in educational policy. This article focuses on the underresearched teacher perception of this new policy measure. Drawing on ethnographic research procedures, this article explores how first-grade teachers in one state navigated a new…

If schools are to succeed, children must be provided with more support than a school can accomplish alone (Barbour et al., 2001). The need to involve community in the educational process to offer services that make students successful and to have these services within the school building are all critical aspects of the community school model…

A number of English language proficiency exams target grades K-12 English language learners (ELLs) because of the rising need to identify their needs and provide appropriate support in language learning. A good example is the WIDA ACCESS for ELLs (hereafter ACCESS), designed to measure the English language proficiency of students identified as…

While districts and schools continue to place more emphasis on personalized instruction and tiers of literacy interventions, more students are continuing to reach middle school without the ability to read on grade level. Much of the emphasis on the attainment of literacy skills occurs in the elementary grades. As a result, middle grades' literacy…

While districts and schools continue to place more emphasis on personalized instruction and tiers of literacy interventions, more students are continuing to reach middle school without the ability to read on grade level. Much of the emphasis on the attainment of literacy skills occurs in the elementary grades. As a result, middle grades' literacy…

The purpose of this study was to research the perceptions of teachers concerning the implementation of a PLC in a middle Tennessee elementary school district. The study contributes to the existing research on Professional Learning Communities; however, it adds to the limited amount of research on teachers' perceptions of the implementation…

While districts and schools continue to place more emphasis on personalized instruction and tiers of literacy interventions, more students are continuing to reach middle school without the ability to read on grade level. Much of the emphasis on the attainment of literacy skills occurs in the elementary grades. As a result, middle grades' literacy…

The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine the instructional practices implemented by Tennessee elementary teachers in response to Common Core Standardized Testing. This research study utilized a basic qualitative method that included a purposive and convenient sampling. This qualitative study focused on face-to-face interviews, phone…

Mentoring is a common form of support for beginning teachers. State and district mentoring policies vary along a number of dimensions, yet policymakers have little evidence to draw on in designing effective mentoring programs. We use quantitative and qualitative data from a study of beginning middle school mathematics teachers in 10 districts to…

The outcomes of students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are driving the field to address how secondary education might be optimally designed and delivered. We conducted 28 focus groups across four states to explore the contexts, considerations, and complexities associated with delivering and combining evidence-based interventions to meet the…