<p> This study investigated the relationship between attention to student thinking during lesson planning and the level of cognitive demand at which tasks are implemented for six pre-service teachers enrolled in a teacher education program that focuses on attention to student thinking during planning and instruction. Lesson plans were examined for attention to student thinking using two coding schemes, and samples of student work were examined to assess the level of cognitive demand at which tasks (associated with the enacted lesson plans) were implemented during instruction. Other planning related data sources were qualitatively drawn upon to support the extent to which pre-service teachers focused on student thinking with regard to planning. </p><p> One of the lesson planning coding schemes provides numerical scores indicating different degrees of attention to six elements of student thinking. The level of cognitive demand of task implementation for each lesson was able to be coded as high or low. In particular, the quantitative analysis suggested a trend that as overall attention to student thinking during lesson planning increases the odds of high level task implementation become greater compared to the odds of low level task implementation. Given a small sample size the quantitative results need to be considered within their limitations.</p><p> Qualitative analysis examining attention to student thinking during planning and task implementation supports the quantitative trend. In particular, the qualitative analysis suggests three findings. The first finding is that the two pre-service teachers who demonstrated the most attention to student thinking with regard to planning were the only pre-service teachers who implemented all of their tasks at a high level of cognitive demand. The second finding is that when receiving specific planning based support for a lesson as part of a university assignment, all the pre-service teachers were able to implement the task at high level of cognitive demand. The third finding is that a large majority of lessons using tasks accompanied by detailed planning support sources were implemented at high levels of cognitive demand.</p>

<p> The current study explored the dimensions and roles of trust in effective instructional leadership through a triangulation of data gathered from 78 survey responders and 35 interview participants along with a review of pertinent literature. The interviews and written free-responses related effective instructional leadership to three clear dimensions of trust identified within an effective teacher&rsquo;s classroom: personal, intellectual, and behavioral. The grounded theory that arose from the current study, regarding the role of trust in effective instructional leadership, was that trust is a catalytic medium, i.e. an activator and enabler, through which: relationships are created respectfully, planning is conducted purposefully, interventions are developed intentionally, and by which student cooperation and engagement are increased significantly, thereby giving evidence of effective instructional leadership. Furthermore, how effective teachers utilized the dimensions and representations of trust appeared to be generally related to: (1) accepting the greater responsibility in demonstrating trust, (2) giving trust to students in order to receive it back from them, and (3) intentionally building trust with students in order to earn their trust. Though trust is a somewhat nebulous term that is difficult to define and measure, the current study revealed its representations, i.e. roles, can in fact be identified with the potential for teaching its replication to educators in an effort to improve effective instructional leadership related to student cooperation and engagement.</p>

<p> In 2007 Pioneer High School, a public school in Whittier, California changed the sequence of its science courses from the Traditional Biology-Chemistry-Physics (B-C-P) to Biology-Physics-Chemistry (B-P-C), or "Physics Second." The California Standards Tests (CSTs) scores in Physics and Chemistry from 2004-2012 were used to determine if there were any effects of the Physics Second sequencing on student achievement in those courses. The data was also used to determine whether the Physics Second sequence had an effect on performance in Physics and Chemistry based on gender.</p><p> Independent <i>t</i> tests and chi-square analysis of the data determined an improvement in student performance in Chemistry but not Physics. The 2x2 Factorial ANOVA analysis revealed that in Physics male students performed better on the CSTs than their female peers. In Chemistry, it was noted that male and female students performed equally well. Neither finding was a result ofthe change to the "Physics Second" sequencing.</p>

<p> As online education becomes more available for high school students, the enrollment continues to grow. Unfortunately, the attrition rate is also increasing and educators are challenged to find a better vetting process to determine if students will be successful in his or her first online high school course. Growth mindset and grit have been predictors of success in high attrition situations and in some cases demographics such as age and gender have also been predictors of success. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among grit, mindset, age, and gender to determine if these variables were indicators of success in a student&rsquo;s first online high school course. A survey was distributed to high school students taking their first online course. Demographic questions were asked, followed by the short version of the grit scale (Grit-S) and a mindset assessment. These items were used to measure the relationships of age, gender, grit, and mindset when compared to the student&rsquo;s end of course grade. This study was a quantitative approach to gather data and add to the literature for online education. The results of this study did not find a significant difference in student grade when organized by grit, mindset, or gender categories. However, a significant relationship between age and course grade was found to be significant at the p &lt; .05 level. Supplemental analysis showed a significantly larger drop rate in an asynchronous model than a synchronous model. The results of this study will potentially impact one school in changing their course design from asynchronous to synchronous.</p>

<p> This qualitative research study explored perceptions of academic resilience among teachers and twelfth grade adolescent girls. Specifically, how students and teachers believe teachers promote academic resilience in students, the characteristics of academically resilient students according to students and teachers, and the characteristics of academically non-resilient students according to teachers. The relationship between the general comments made during student focus group sessions and the students&rsquo; responses on the Locus of Control (LOC) survey were analyzed. </p><p> Qualitative data were collected including teacher interviews, student focus groups, Implicit Theories of Intelligence Scales for teachers and students as well as the Nowicki-Strickland Locus of Control Survey for students. </p><p> Findings indicated that teachers and students both reported teachers who were flexible and provided extra help sessions for students promoted academic resilience. It also was reported by teachers and students that developing personal relationships with students helped to promote academic resilience. Teachers and students reported similar characteristics of academically resilient students. Characteristic behaviors of academic resilient students were identified as having ambition or being motivated to be successful. Having a positive attitude and having the ability to be reflective also were identified as characteristic of academic resilience. Finally, teachers and students agreed that having a strong internal locus of control is characteristic of academic resilience. </p>

<p> This study examined the influences the Early Childhood Education Pathway (ECEP) had on secondary students' career choice and postsecondary decisions. ECEP's with onsite laboratory settings or off campus practicum were utilized in the study. The hands-on experiences in a secondary setting provided students with authentic work experiences. Students' knowledge of the Early Childhood Education and Care profession was measured using the National Occupational Competency Testing Institute (NOCTI) Early Childhood Education and Care Basic assessment. A dependent t test calculated the difference between the pretest and posttests. Eighty-six students participated in this assessment. There were 100 participants who completed the GA College 411 Interest Profiler. A Wilcoxon Signed Rank test calculated the differences in ranks of how students' career interest profile ranks changed from the eighth grade to the students' experience in the ECEP. Lastly, interviews were conducted to determine if perceptions of the education profession changed and if the student planned to continue a career in education or working with children. The results indicate that the ECEP does significantly influence students' knowledge about the profession. The findings of this study suggest that the ECEP does help students to make career decisions and postsecondary choices. Keywords: secondary education pathway, onsite laboratory school, early childhood education pathway, secondary education training, child development, career preparation</p>

<p> The researcher conducted a study focused on the suspension/expulsion and graduation rates of Missouri public high school special education students. The goal was to determine if these areas of focus influenced one another. Analysis occurred through the use of secondary data from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education within the following school years: 2012-2013, 2013-2014, and 2014-2015. Additionally, public school personnel received online surveys via SurveyMonkey.</p><p> The four hypotheses targeted the following: a difference between public high school special education students and graduation rates, the number of students with disabilities suspended/expelled, the graduation rates of non-suspended/expelled special education students, and the suspension/expulsion rates of special education students compared to general education students. Analysis revealed during all three school years studied, differences existed. This was especially important for hypothesis three which was about the graduation rates of non-suspended/expelled special education students to suspended/expelled special education students. Results proved to be significantly different. </p><p> School personnel responded to four research survey questions. The first and second survey questions focused on the perceptions of staff and the suspension/expulsion rates of public high school students with and without disabilities. Survey question three asked staff who worked with students with disabilities what their viewpoints were about their graduation rates. The fourth survey question requested that public school employees write about interventions for high school special education students that would be more successful than suspension/expulsion. The last survey question asked public school personnel what the necessary supports were in order to be successful when working with special education students. The results revealed a range of staff perceptions. Staff responses included minimal concerns on the research topics to desiring the research topics become a major area of focus. </p><p> As an outcome of all results, the researcher suggested conducting additional data analyses, both quantitative and qualitative, distributing surveys during a different or extended time period, and adding interviews to the process. The researcher believed additional information would provide greater insights on suspension/expulsion and graduation rates and help public school employees determine ways to decrease one, while increasing the other.</p>

<p> This qualitative, phenomenological study will cross-sectionally examine the perceptions of general education teachers through in-person interviews to analyze their personal beliefs for special education students&rsquo; attendance at post-secondary education institutions. Data was collected from general education teachers working at different urban high schools in a Southern California charter management organization. Each of the interviewed teachers are currently responsible, or have been responsible, for the instruction of special education students in their classroom. A total of 6 general education teachers participated in semi-structured interviews that consisted of 10 open-ended questions. Three conclusions were extracted from the findings related to the data collected through the interview process. Firstly, the general education teacher must believe in the potential of the special education student and their ability to attend a post-secondary education institution. Secondly, the school and the charter management organization must provide adequate training and collaboration opportunities to general education teachers in order to provide them with the pedagogical skills necessary to appropriately support special educations students. Thirdly, the special education student must have the self-belief and the self-confidence required to attend a post-secondary education institution after high school graduation. The 3 implications supported by the key findings and conclusions from the study are to explore methods by which general education teachers might better communicate their belief in the potential of all special education students, devise systems in which more meaningful collaboration, communication, and training of general education teachers to instruct special education students can occur, and investigate strategies that general education teachers might implement to improve the self-belief and self-confidence of special education students.</p>

<p> Student achievement has acted as the metric for school accountability and transparency. Administrators are becoming more innovative as they examine methods that will increase student achievement. However, research has shown little achievement gains in student achievement with regard to technology applications in schools. The theoretical framework of the digital divide guided this study. The original divide separated those who had technology and those who did not. The purpose of this study was to examine the differences in achievement scores between students who participated in a one-to-one technology program and students who participated in a traditional high school. The data generated for this study was from the New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP). This study examined 428 scores in mathematics and 429 scores each in reading and writing. To determine whether the one-to-one students outperformed the traditional students in mathematics, reading, and writing, the researcher conducted a t test. The t test indicated that no statistically significant difference existed between the achievement scores of the one-to-one students and those of the traditional student.</p>

<p> This grounded theory study explored the experiences of lay faculty, administration and Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet (CSJ) to capture how the spirit of the CSJ continues in the organizational culture of their sponsored secondary schools. Since 1950, CSJ in the Los Angeles Province, have experienced a very similar decline as other orders of religious across the United States. In order to preserve the culture and history of the CSJ in their sponsored secondary schools, the researcher conducted twenty semi-structured interviews to capture the lived experiences of those currently serving, and those who have served, on the four secondary school campuses.</p><p> Utilizing the literature on preserving organizational culture from Edgar Schien, and Lee Bolman and Terrance Deal, the research seemed to conclude that this charism has been preserved even through transitions to lay leadership. A series of seven distinct themes emerged indicating that a CSJ school: consistently incorporates the gospel values into all aspects of the school community; seeks out opportunities to model service to the dear neighbor in how faculty, staff and students serve one another, and in turn impact the broader community; serves a diverse population of students and intentionally creates a culture of unity and support, and a sense of belonging, to cultivate a community of acceptance, love and sisterhood; fosters an environment of excellence through the intentional actions of teachers and leaders to be capacity builders, assisting all young women to become all of &ldquo;which woman is capable&rdquo;; recognizes the essential role that leadership plays in fostering a gospel-driven, nurturing environment, evidenced in the faculty, staff and sisters as models; is marked by a spirit of joy and fun that is tangibly felt among the students, the faculty and staff, and throughout the entire school community, and recognizes the challenges with living out the gospel values and being called to building a spirit of unity and love.</p><p> The results of the study suggest that the organizational school culture has been able to preserve the charism of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, echoing their foundational spirituality dating back to 1650 Le Puy, France. </p>