Purpose: This study was conducted to understand students' achievements in learning and to improve the overall curriculum of the first-year experience course. Design/methodology/approach: In this study, a series of questionnaire-based surveys were conducted on students enrolled in the Introductory Seminar for Policy Science, a mandatory first-year…

Student drop-out is one of the most critical issues that higher educational institutions face nowadays. The problem is significant for first-year students. These freshmen are especially at risk of failing due to the transition from different educational settings at high school. Thanks to the massive boom of Information and Communication…

This study explores the sophomore year, a critical juncture during the undergraduate experience with notable attrition rates. By dissecting environmental, academic, and situational determinants, this study provides insightful perspective by delving into the student narrative, enriching the existing literature. Employing semi-structured interviews,…

The U.S. Department of Education (Department) Office of Inspector General (OIG) Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years (FY) 2023 through 2028 represents the planned direction of the organization for FYs 2023-2028. It continues the 40-plus year commitment to the mission to promote the efficiency, effectiveness, and integrity of the Department's programs…

Student absenteeism is a persistent concern in K-12 education. Not only are the negative academic and social consequences of excessive absenteeism well documented, but states, districts, and schools are increasingly being held accountable for student attendance. As research indicates that disruptions in students' learning contexts may exacerbate…

Research indicates that vocabulary development--linked to conceptual growth and comprehension--predicts student academic achievement throughout the elementary, middle, and high school grades. Intelligence increases as vocabulary continues to develop. The iSpy program provides high-quality, content-rich classroom books, learning manipulatives, and…

This study examines a three-year teacher wellness initiative in five Colorado, USA, school districts. It focuses on teacher professional development (PD) about self-care and burnout, the value participants attached to the training, and change in teachers' lifestyles, self-care practices, and burnout. Results reveal the value teachers attached to…

University students crave immersive, collaborative, interdisciplinary, applied learning contextualized to real world sustainability challenges. Liberal arts and sciences institutions are particularly well positioned to respond. Here we report on our high impact, cross-disciplinary, biomimicry-themed firstyear experience (FYE) curricula. Biomimicry…

In this article, the author shares suggestions for making the first-year school psychologist's journey easier based on what she has learned, and to provide hope for those feeling overwhelmed by deadlines and demands, by an urgency to meet children's needs, and by the need to resolve the difference between best practices in school psychology and…

Contribution: This study assesses more than 800 students' awareness of engineering model types before and after taking two first-year engineering courses across two semesters and evaluates the effect of each course. Background: All engineers must be able to apply and create models to be effective problem solvers, critical thinkers, and innovative…

The term "throughput" refers to the percentage of a student cohort who complete a course sequence within a set period after having begun that sequence at the same point in time. Under AB 705 the set period for observing throughput rates is described in law as "one year". While that time frame seems intuitive enough, the…

This article provides an overview of the literature on transformative learning over the previous 45 years, describes its current condition as a relatively mature collection of theories, and calls for greater clarity, new iterations of theory, and productive and substantive steps forward. It then provides an overview of the contributions in this…

The Federal Student Aid (FSA)'s Five-Year Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2023-27 presents tangible goals and objectives to help ensure that Americans can have broad access to higher education, without regard to any perceived limitations of socioeconomic status. The plan incorporates the Next Gen FSA initiative, which is designed to deliver…

Developing students' reading and numeracy skills remain key goals of contemporary schooling. In Australia, the National Assessment Program -- Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) tests have assessed these skills since 2008. Previous research found a significant gender gap in favour of females for the NAPLAN writing test, yet no study has examined…

The "Budget of the United States Government, Fiscal Year 2024" contains the Budget Message of the President, information on the President's priorities, and summary tables. The 2024 Budget is a blue-collar blueprint to rebuild America in a fiscally responsible way that leaves no one behind. The Budget continues lowering costs for…