The purpose of this causal-comparative, ex post facto quantitative study was to determine "What are the differences in third-grade reading at the college and career readiness level in charter schools compared to traditional public schools?" The study took place in North Carolina charter and traditional public schools. The sample…

The issue of unfinished learning and achievement gaps in schools has been a persistent concern in recent years, particularly among underrepresented and disadvantaged student populations. AVID Elementary is a promising solution for ensuring students have the necessary knowledge and skills to be college and career ready, as it is based on proven…

This study investigates the effectiveness of alternative routes to teacher certification in urban school districts within Texas. The need for teachers across the United States has increased because current teachers are leaving the profession at high rates. This research analyzes the programs regarding teacher preparation routes, teacher…

Once deaf and hearing-impaired students with cochlear implants were exposed to sound, their parents began exploring oral education in the regular classroom setting. Limited research has explored the preparedness of teachers to teach DHH students. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore eight kindergartens through grade 6 (K-6)…

The purpose of this causal-comparative non-experimental quantitative study was to examine first-year elementary teachers' ratings of their sense of preparedness, compare their ratings based on their ethnicity, and compare teachers' ratings of their preparedness to principals' ratings of first-year teachers' preparedness based on six Texas teaching…

This autoethnography analyzes how my life experiences both as a student and as an educator in this community influenced my principalship and my efforts to open a new elementary school focused on college and career readiness. The aim of this dissertation was to utilize an autoethnographic method to examine the process of opening a new elementary…

College and career readiness has emerged as a focus for school districts as they consider how to best prepare students for the choices they make after they graduate from high school. Schools are challenged with the task of implementing supports for all students, providing a balance between academics and a focus on providing students with the…

This generic qualitative inquiry explored general education middle school teachers' perceptions and experiences delivering social and emotional (SEL) and/or college and career readiness advisory lessons in addition to their daily content curriculum in their post-COVID-19 in-person learning classrooms. Research has indicated the importance of SEL…

The first five years of teaching are believed to be crucial in a school district's teacher retention efforts. The challenge novice teachers face to meet learners' academic, social, and emotional needs within a school community can prove to be especially daunting. Additionally, the context in which teachers learn to teach such as easier-to-staff…

It is estimated that up to 13% of children have been exposed to three or more adverse childhood experiences. The problem addressed by this study was the lack of adequate and appropriate teacher preparation in the support needed to combat the negative effects of adverse childhood experiences which can inadvertently intensify the academic,…

National statistics indicate Latinos are a growing demographic across the U.S. Additionally, census data shows Latinos have low college enrollment and completion rates. Bilingual education is a venue through which many Latinos are schooled. Most studies on the impact of bilingual education have focused on elementary grade levels. Those that expand…

The performance measures from the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study revealed no measurable growth in the U.S. average reading scores of 4th graders for the period between 2011 and 2016. Therefore, the diverse learning needs of students need to be customized if the education system is to accomplish its goal to graduate well-informed…

The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of the 4-H Life Skills program on participants' noncognitive college and career readiness levels, utilizing the ACT Engage 6-9 instrument (formerly known as the Student Readiness Inventory--Middle School) to evaluate quantitatively the noncognitive (psychosocial) college and career readiness…

Digital learning is a rising method of enhancing education for learners in the K-12 sector of learning. The growing approach to instruction has created a pathway for various backgrounds of learners to conveniently explore content from home. The purpose of this qualitative research study was to examine parent perspectives of K-12 digital learning…

Reading is an essential part of our society. With the growing accountability within school districts and the quality of education changing, it is important to ensure that we are ensuring our students are meeting the mandated state Common Core Standards and teachers are ensuring that they are responsive to students' needs. This is a mixed methods…