Previous research has consistently shown that positive school climate perceptions have been associated with positive behavioral, academic, and social outcomes. However, much less attention has been given to factors that may influence school climate perceptions, particularly among high school students. The present study examined perceptions of…

This critical literature review investigates how "diversity" and "equity" are employed in top-cited higher education scholarship published between 2000 and 2015. No analysis to date has offered such a comparative exploration relative to well-recognized racial disparities in higher education. Findings reveal a divergence with…

We conducted a study about three common recruitment and retention obstacles facing scholars interested in racial disparities research: potential mistrust from the black community, a stigmatized research topic, and high participation burden. Nonetheless, we successfully recruited and retained 28 young black men in a three-month study of violence.…

This Data Point uses data from the High School Longitudinal Study of 2009 (HSLS:09), a nationally representative, longitudinal study of more than 23,000 ninth-graders in 2009, to examine the association between the timing of Algebra I coursetaking and enrollment in postsecondary education. HSLS:09 cohort members were asked when they last took…

The problem addressed in this quantitative ex-post facto study was that African American, Latino, and Native American students have lower reading fluency than Caucasian counterparts. The purpose of this study was to determine to what extent incorporating more literature written by African American, Latino, and Native American authors had on the…

This study investigated the impact middle school tracking has on outcomes in high school and the factors associated with those outcomes. Utilizing data from a large, diverse school district, this quantitative study investigated the relationships between middle school and high school English course enrollment among 4,503 middle school students. The…

The COVID-19 pandemic led to worldwide school closures and a sudden shift to online instruction, which adversely effected academic performance for many students. This study investigated whether demographic characteristics were associated with decreased academic outcomes among newly struggling high school students during COVID-19 online learning.…

Longstanding inequities exist in community colleges across the United States. To address these inequities, California Community Colleges educators have engaged in a variety of practices including the writing of equity plans and participation in equity data inquiry. However, there is an urgent need for greater focus on racial equity and for more…

This paper examines the economics of education in the United States, highlighting twelve key facts that illustrate the pivotal role of education in empowering individuals and driving economic progress. It underscores the persistent racial and economic disparities in educational achievement and attainment, particularly exacerbated by the COVID-19…

This dissertation investigates the complex connections among loan debt burden, student experiences, and post-bachelor's outcomes, situated within the framework of systemic disparities in educational funding and opportunities. It identifies declines in state funding across educational levels as a systemic and politicized issue, disproportionately…

The enduring misperception that rural places are homogeneously White may contribute to the underrepresentation of Black students in rural gifted education programs. In this study, we sought to understand this relationship by examining the underrepresentation of Black students in rural gifted education programs through a theoretical framework of…

Precalculus and calculus are considered gatekeeper courses because of their academic challenge and status as requirements for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and non-STEM majors alike. Despite college mathematics often being seen as a neutral space, the field has identified ways that expectations, interactions, and…

Objective: Few studies have explored the impact of insecure attachment on college student mental health. The present study examined how anxious and avoidant attachment to a mother, father, and best friend were related to depression and resilience in emerging adults exposed to trauma. Participants: Participants included 372 trauma-exposed emerging…

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of IXL Math online software for homework in raising the achievement of middle-school students on the New York State Math exam, with special focus on effects by student ethnicity. The study includes an analysis of the relationship between exam scale scores and time spent using the IXL…

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) youth report hostile school climates and sexuality-based harassment, but scholarship has not clearly documented how these climates might be associated with college aspirations among this population. Given college has become a common aspiration for many high school youths, we sought…