This study was conducted with 11th- and 12th-grade high school students in western Florida. These students were not meeting the required achievement level in English language arts needed for graduation. This qualitative study investigated the barriers that hinder high school students' achievement in English language arts as a graduation…

There are widespread concerns about disparities in educational attainment in the United States. Unfortunately African American, Hispanic, Native American, and low-income Broward County Public Schools high school students participate in College Bound Type Programs at lower rates than students of other races and ethnicities. Many of these students…

While there is evidence to support the notion that extracurricular activities have a positive impact on student success and development, the reasons "why" students participate in these activities, why they continue to participate in these activities, and "why" these activities lead to better educational outcomes are unclear.…

Students and workers require self-regulated learning (SRL) skills to meet the demands of the 21st century. These learners need to be actively engaged in learning by creating successful strategies for themselves directed toward specific goals. Many students, however, are not currently actively engaged in their learning and are thus ill-prepared for…

Postsecondary enrollment rates in the United States have grown tremendously; however, completion rates have not significantly changed over the last 20 years. Studies have found that International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) participants have higher postsecondary completion rates than their counterparts. The purpose of this qualitative…

The gap in achievement and discipline between White and Black students is a significant problem in education across the nation. The objective of this study was to determine if the achievement gap increases once schools decrease suspension rates and offer alternatives to out-of-school suspension. The purpose of this study was to determine the…

The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) was enacted as an education intervention to close the achievement gap by increasing student attendance, graduation, and standard testing rates. NCLB held teachers and administrators accountable for successfully meeting adequate yearly progress gains. However, the emerging NCLB research uncovered a culture of…

English learners (ELs) in Florida face numerous challenges including low test scores, and high dropout rates, and are typically several years behind their peers when compared to other states. The purpose of this quantitative quasi-experimental ex-post-facto study was to compare the differences between ACCESS 2.0 scores of high school ELs in…

To resolve the graduation gap among Black and Hispanic students in Central Florida, the development of equity-centered practices to improve high school graduation rates is essential. The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of incorporating methods such as the self achievement theory, self-determination methodology, and equity…

For over a century, teacher-centered learning occurred as the most prominent method of teaching students (Medve, 2023). The student-centered classroom provides students the opportunity to focus their learning on curriculum which is interesting to them. "Problem-Based learning (PBL) is a type of student-centered learning heavily influenced by…

Online technology in academia offers an opportunity to improve high school students' academic achievement and graduation status. The purpose of this quantitative comparative study was to determine if or to what extent a statistically significant difference exists in the graduation status of full-time online versus traditional high school students…

Mathematics is integral to today's world, but many students fear solving arithmetic problems. In the U.S., more than 82% of students in grades 7th through 10th fear math. In 2021, 80% of Florida high school students failed Algebra I end-of-course exam. Math anxiety has negatively impacted students' social cognitive, and academic skills. This basic…

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL), the process of developing and utilizing interpersonal skills for everyday life, has become a primary vehicle for structuring students' social and emotional health in the United States and across the world. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the importance of understanding SEL practices, is increasingly at the…

This applied dissertation study was designed to assess a high-performing high school's dropout prevention program that increased graduation rates and decreased dropout rates among high school students. The high-performing high school was chosen because the target site achieved a 90% or higher graduation rate over 5 school years. Four of 19 high…

Dual enrollment has continued to increase in popularity as an effective means of introducing students to college and encouraging postsecondary enrollment. Students are introduced to the academic rigors and expectations of a college environment, while developing college readiness to transition to postsecondary institutions beyond high school…