The Alabama Reading Initiative is the brain child of state policy makers and academic leaders designed to increase student achievement on standardized reading assessments, and to change instructional practices in schools so that achievement is consistent and sustained. This quantitative population study was conducted in two rural school systems to…

The primary purpose of this study was to determine if there was a difference between self-contained and departmentalized classroom organization on the Kentucky Core Content Test (KCCT) in reading and mathematics for students in fourth and fifth grade. A secondary purpose of this study was to consider how these organizational structures affect the…

The purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of successful small-school superintendents in regard to maintaining or improving district efficiency and financial status. This investigation sought to reveal superintendent practices that serve to maximize district revenues and improve operating efficiency. Face-to-face interviews were…

The purpose of this study was to examine the behavioral and demographic characteristics of deaf males enrolled at state school for the Deaf. An analysis of student, family, and educational variables was conducted in order to provide a composite description of both the type and frequency of the offenses and of the offender. Participants were 90…

This study was designed to investigate school superintendent and school board member perceptions of the relative importance of the Texas State Board of Educator Certification competencies required to be a successful leader of a Texas public school system. School districts within seven of the Regional Education Service Centers in Texas were…

Research indicates that teachers play a very important role in the academic achievement of students (Sanders & Rivers, 2002). One study states, "The quality of teaching has been shown to relate directly to students' ability to succeed in school, the workplace, and in life" (Koppich, 2008). Even though a low number of studies have found a small…

This qualitative phenomenological research study used narrative inquiry to investigate the effective practices and beliefs of 10 Texas principals in high achieving majority Hispanic mid-level schools. Participant interviews were analyzed using the Creswell (2007) six step method for analyzing phenomenological studies. Findings from this study…

Students benefit from collaborative learning activities, but they do not automatically reach desired learning outcomes when working together (Fischer, Kollar, Mandl, & Haake, 2007; King, 2007). Learners need instructional support to increase the quality of collaborative processes and individual learning outcomes. The core challenge is to find the…

The focus of this study was to determine if there was a significant relationship amongst tenth and eleventh graders' (secondary students) Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) scores due to teacher personality styles. One model that was reviewed in this study was the five factor model. The study used the Big Five Inventory (BFI), to…

The purpose of this exploratory study was to identify factors impacting second language oral proficiency of native English speaking secondary students in public schools in Texas that had chosen to complete at least two years of traditional classroom Spanish instruction. Further, the study sought to determine the effectiveness of the traditional…

A series of educational reforms implemented in recent years had a considerable impact on secondary schools. From principals to teachers; from the school sector to the educational system, all parties had to effect fundamental changes. Facing this new educational era, many scholars suggested schools should have organizational learning so as to have…

Information literacy is generally defined as a set of abilities enabling individuals to recognize when information is needed and have the capacity to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information. As a consequence of the ongoing proliferation of information resources on the Web, information literacy is required and gains a high…

The purpose of Deborah R. Mayerson was to assess the relative impact of climate, trust, and bureaucratic structure upon teachers' perceptions of organizational effectiveness. An existing data set compiled by Nancy Casella (2006) for her dissertation was analyzed. The data consisted of questionnaire responses of a random sample of 220 public school…

Over the past 10 years, higher education has experienced dramatic changes due to online instruction, especially at community colleges. It is important to recognize the role of the college in the implementation of online techniques and strategies that can serve to engage students effectively in the online learning environment. However, very little…

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of using video modeling delivered through a Portable media player (video iPod) as a means of teaching three job-related tasks to four young adults with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in a community-based employment setting. The videos used in the study were enhanced by adding written…