This dissertation examines relations between education-related self-beliefs and socioeconomic (SES)-based disparities in education. SES academic achievement gaps are a serious problem in the United States; however, they are not fully accounted for by objective family resources alone. I build from the premise that there is a subjective,…

Because Black males have consistently enrolled in college at lower rates than other racial groups, it is critical to continue researching reasons for this racial gap in higher education. In this phenomenological study, participants shared their lived experience, which revealed the following themes: guidance counseling - supportive yet lacking,…

This qualitative descriptive study explored the college preparatory experiences of African American male students who participated in a Northwest Louisiana TRiO Upward Bound program before college enrollment. Specifically, the students in this study perceived that TRiO Upward Bound programming influenced their college readiness and enrollment. The…

This study addressed the higher reported failure rates and motivation of college students with ADHD. The problem addressed in this study was that ADHD students withdrew from or failed courses more frequently than non-ADHD students. The purpose of this descriptive qualitative design study was to examine why college students with ADHD were more…

The Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP) is the nation's largest network of public charter schools. KIPP began as a network of charter middle schools designed to serve underserved communities, with the goal of closing achievement gaps and preparing students to succeed in college. KIPP has since expanded its model to include elementary and high…

The Postsecondary Pathways for Former Foster Care Youth (PP-FFCY) study is a research project that focuses on the transitions of foster care alums to and through postsecondary institutions. Through the Ofice of Community College Research and Leadership (OCCRL), the PP-FFCY project team is conducting a comprehensive needs assessment report that:…

This was a mixed method, Action Research study addressing the foundational research question: What can Education Forward Academy (EFA) (pseudonym) do to improve equity in the College Credit Plus (CCP) Program (also known as Dual Enrollment or Dual Credit)? To answer this question, both quantitative and qualitative sub-questions were explored. The…

Asian Americans are generally perceived to be disproportionately enrolled in four-year postsecondary education institutions despite evidence of Asian Americans being concentrated at both two-year and four-year postsecondary education institutions. This perception of Asian Americans has contributed to limited attention to Asian Americans'…

The federal government has made increasing post-secondary attainment a priority, and though much research has been done on the topic, many of these studies have focused on urban schools and students. This qualitative case study, utilizing social capital and organizational brokerage frameworks, will explore how one rural school district in…

Between the fall of 2009 and 2019, total postsecondary instituion enrollment in the United States decreased by 5%, and for those students who do enroll in college, many who lack clear career objectives drop out, making the U.S. the nation with the highest college dropout rate in the industrialized world. Students' academic aspiratoins and career…

This study used the National Longitudinal Transition Study--2 (NLTS2) data set to determine the effects of expectations and transition planning goals on the postsecondary education enrollment of deaf youth. Propensity scoring modeling results indicated that high expectations held by deaf youth and their parents significantly predicted…

We investigated the relationship between Asian parent empowerment and their children's college enrollment in a sample of 357 Asian parents from various ethnic subgroups using the High School Longitudinal Study 2009. A multinomial logistic regression indicated differences in Asian students' college enrollment by ethnic subgroup and income and in…

"Educating the Top 100 Percent" assesses the decline of higher education funding and offers ambitious policy recommendations to restore the possibility of accessible, affordable education for all. Stephen G. Katsinas, Nathaniel J. Bray, and Martha J. Kanter probe the complex interplay of federal, state, and local policies and illustrate…

Indiana's economy needs a skilled talent pipeline, which requires students to pursue and complete degrees or credentials that are affordable, high-quality and relevant to students' future careers and the state's economy. It starts with ensuring students have what they need to get their foot in the door. But right now, fewer students are choosing a…

This article uses a sample of 13,643 students attending a 4-year state university in Florida to estimate a selection-bias corrected quantile regression of loan debt at graduation. The study investigates whether the debt levels of students who received the Florida Bright Futures (FBF) scholarship are significantly different from the debt levels of…