<p> In 2013, Governor Jerry Brown and the State Board of Education signed into law the Local Control Funding Formula in a bold attempt to provide equitable educational opportunities for all. This study sought to analyze the effects of districts' LCAPs to determine what staffing changes have been made at the district level, which programs and services have helped to close the achievement gap, and which methods of stakeholder engagement have supported continuous student improvement. </p><p> The author of this study invited 197 randomly selected district superintendents throughout California to participate in an electronic survey. Thirty-four participants provided answers to questions about staffing and district office responsibilities pertaining to the development of the district's LCAP. Additionally, questions were posed around stakeholder engagement opportunities and program models that have been implemented. Five personal interviews were conducted with superintendents from various regions in California for a more indepth look at LCAP implementation. The LCAPs of the five districts were also reviewed. Overall findings indicate that not all districts have hired personnel to support LCAP development. Moreover, all of the survey respondents and superintendents interviewed use a combination of surveys and meetings to gather stakeholder input. Larger districts provided more opportunities for stakeholder engagement than their smaller counterparts. There has been some success in improved stakeholder engagement through electronic surveys that are delivered directly to personal cell phones. Finally, it is too early to tell which programs or services are proven to be the most effective in meeting the academic needs of California's targeted students.</p><p>

<p> School turnaround refers to the rapid, significant improvement in the academic achievement of persistently low-achieving schools (Peck &amp; Reitzung, 2013). Over the past decade, school turnaround has become the United States&rsquo; response to chronically low-performing and failing schools. The turnaround model has emerged as an effective strategy with potential to lead to expedient results. The research on turnaround is limited, however; in fact, most research is concentrated on numerous case studies and is often focused on descriptions of the models used in school turnaround. The overarching question is <i>what district level leadership, school level leadership, and classroom teacher practices emerge as part of the school turnaround reform process? </i></p><p> Major findings of the study indicate that 1) across all turnaround survey measures, the Data Teams Process, turnaround team support, and use of data as the most helpful elements of turnaround reform; 2) while turnaround team support was considered helpful at all levels within the district, it was also considered an obstacle by turnaround school leaders and turnaround teachers; 3) while the Data Teams Process was considered helpful at all levels within the district, it was also considered an obstacle by turnaround school leaders and turnaround teachers; 4) based on turnaround school leader perceptions, there are differences between turnaround schools and emerging turnaround schools in the area of community relations; (5) based on the turnaround teacher perceptions, there are differences between turnaround schools and emerging turnaround schools in the areas of mindset, climate and culture, effective teachers, and instructional support; and (6) perceptions of collective efficacy differ based on school performance scores which, correspond to turnaround status.</p><p>

<p> With the increasing focus on student achievement, teachers are being scrutinized in their practices. States are mandating that accountability measures be put in place to ensure teachers are providing high quality education to students. With these added pressures along with various other factors, teachers can become overwhelmed and not able to maintain their focus on student achievement. Thus, teachers may begin to burnout and seek other professions. Leaders must take action to rekindle a passion in teachers so they will stay the course in the profession. What makes teachers stay in the profession? Where do high levels of faculty trust contribute to teachers intending to stay in the profession? Does high teacher morale influence teachers to stay in the profession? Where leaders engage in capacity building within their school organization, is there a higher rate of teachers who intend to stay in the profession? </p><p>

<p> Social media has permeated nearly every facet of our modern society. The influence on our culture has been beneficial but challenging. The impact of social media upon the school environment has been tremendous, yet few school districts have created policies describing its acceptable use by employees. Teachers are left feeling uncertain as to where the boundaries exist for their personal and professional use of social media and what can happen when they cross that undefined line. This dissertation examines the court cases that have influenced employment decisions for school employees and defined employees&rsquo; First Amendment right to free speech as it relates to the use of social media. The cases related to students&rsquo; free speech limitations that have influenced teachers&rsquo; cases will be reviewed, as well as current policies as they exist at the national, state, and local levels. The primary purpose of this research is to look for trends among the cases, create guidelines for administrators to use to determine if their employees have engaged in protected speech, and provide a framework for districts to use when creating their own social media policies.</p><p>

<p> Active shooter events in K-12 schools have increased since 1990, and developing response policies to such events is a responsibility of school personnel. A paucity of data regarding options-based response practices existed with no focus on policy processes. The purpose of this qualitative multi-case study was to describe the decision-making processes used in school districts when approving the inclusion of options-based responses to active shooter events in Emergency Operations Plans (EOPs). The research questions addressed processes that shaped the development of options-based responses to active shooter policies in 3 K-12 school districts within the Midwest. The conceptual framework was informed by the theory of policy paradox and the concepts of situational awareness and resilience. Structured interviews were conducted with 12 school personnel and safety professionals involved in 3 high schools; EOPs and state and federal regulations and guidelines were reviewed. An analysis of the interview responses and document reviews using four levels of descriptive coding required a cross-case analytic technique to discover patterns, connections, and themes. Law enforcement and school personnel worked together to create policy and to implement trainings related to options-based response. Results included enhancing situational awareness and empowering teachers and students to become responsible for their safety. These findings can be used to inform and guide school leaders in their efforts to make policy and implementation decisions regarding active shooter policies in EOPs. The potential for social change exists in more school personnel understanding and implementing options-based response policies and making the lives of K-12 students safer.</p><p>

<p> This study examines the causes, effects, and prevention strategies that influence a student&rsquo;s decision to drop out of high school. Three research questions are explored: </p><p> 1. What causes 21st century high school students to drop out of high school? </p><p> 2. Why are current dropout prevention measures not meeting the needs of today&rsquo;s students? </p><p> 3. What patterns emerge in participant responses to the question, &ldquo;Why did you leave high school prior to graduation?&rdquo; </p><p> The researcher collected data from 92 students attending orientation for the adult high school program at a small, rural community college who left school prior to graduation. Ten students were selected and agreed to a one on one interview with the researcher in order to provide a rich context to support their decision to drop out of high school. Data collected included academic background, school experiences, family characteristics, parental investment, disciplinary actions, and attendance patterns throughout the student&rsquo;s school career. The study identified precipitating causes for students to withdraw from school including perceptions of education by the student and family, teen pregnancy, socio-economic characteristics of the family and community, disciplinary actions taken against the student, and the student&rsquo;s need to find full time employment. A 5 x5 Chi Square analysis was done to find the degree of relationship between the basic characteristics of poverty to the causes for dropping out. The results of the analysis were not significant, indicating that living in poverty does not cause students to drop out of high school. The data from the surveys, interviews, and chi square analysis showed that dropping out of high school is not a spontaneous decision, but a result of years of academic struggle, personal and family issues, and the need to provide for basic needs. It is a long process, mired in struggle. The study also revealed a lack of school-related incentives and effective dropout prevention programs to address the issue.</p><p>

<p> There are very few studies on the views of school administrators and state legislators regarding federal government mandates for schools. Bolman and Deal (2015) believed people align themselves to survive and thrive in the political framework where resources are scarce, and the aspects of power and conflict inform decisions (Douglas &amp; Mehra, 2015; Pourrajab &amp; Ghani, 2016). This study focused on the thought processes of both school administrators who implement federal mandates and state legislators who navigate funding for federal mandates. Leaders of the political parties of Missouri and school administrators were interviewed to gain insight into the motivation and political views which drive decision making at the state and local levels. The findings of this investigation indicated opinions varied widely on the nature of federal government involvement in education, and political party affiliation had some influence on the belief systems of the participants interviewed. This affiliation runs deep in today&rsquo;s politics and may be difficult to overcome. Data from the study clearly indicated public school administrators favored funding for preschool education yet did not support charter school expansion. Findings from the study offer more than a few implications for both administrative and legislative practice. Administrative interview data could be used to inform legislative decisions for public schools. Bipartisan conversations among stakeholders may offer common ground on these topics for the benefit of Missouri students.</p><p>

The purpose of this research study was to examine underlying issues related to poor performance by Haitian students in Boston Public Schools on standardized testing mandated under the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS). Performance on these tests determines students’ eligibility to graduate high school and receive their diploma. A descriptive ethnographic approach was used in the study, focusing on students in one high school in the Greater Boston area. This approach is considered appropriate for qualitative research in the context of “cross-cultural comparison,” and it was useful in this case because of the depth of investigation and analysis it allows, especially when studying the culture of a particular ethnic group. In this study, it helped to reveal the attitudes of Haitian youth toward high-stakes testing in the United States. The study was designed to explore Haitian students’ attitudes toward the MCAS testing process and its potential effects on their future academic and career success. In order to investigate and analyze these perspectives, a sample group of 13 students was interviewed over a period of 10 weeks. All of the students were Haitian, and many of them had only been in the US for approximately one year. Most of the students were in the 10th grade, which is the scholastic level at which all students are required to take the MCAS tests under Massachusetts law. Based on the oral interviews collected, it was clear that the majority of the students in the study group believed they had difficulty passing the MCAS tests due to their limited English proficiency and their lack of cultural understanding in the new environment. They clearly expressed their fears that the testing process would negatively affect their academic standing in school, and indeed their career prospects in the long term. Key findings from the study suggest that Haitian youth studying in the US are motivated to realize their academic potential, but that factors such as limited English proficiency, lack of literacy and numeracy in their native language, and cultural discontinuity may prevent them from passing mandated standardized tests and achieving their academic goals.

This dissertation critically analyzes Jamaica’s educational policy responses to the alleged needs and promises of the current globalization era. The research focuses on policies being developed and implemented in the areas of educational governance, management, and financing. I argue that the emerging policy approaches, though intended to achieve liberatory goals, are generally having the unintended consequence of perpetuating disempowerment of low income Jamaicans. I use qualitative content analysis of policy documents as the primary analytic method. I employ postcolonial theory to historicize and contextualize Jamaica’s turbulent educational policy experience. I also draw on Foucauldian discourse theory in order to frame policy as discourse, which I define as an institutionalized way of thinking that governs and is reflected in both state policy rhetoric and practice. Here, I explicitly identify Jamaica’s emergent policy discourses as decentralized governance and education as investment and explore the internationalized norms and national economic constraints within which they develop. I analyze the ways in which neoliberal ideology partly drives these discourses and note their inconsistencies with much of the post-war/post-independence social welfare approaches that Jamaica used to address social asymmetries of colonialism. The contradictions are brought out by examining the changing relationship between the citizen and the state that the new policy approaches engender. In this regard, I interrogate the institutionalized practices and the newly proposed roles of educational stakeholders—the nation-state, the citizens, and institution—that the emerging discourses prescribe. The results show that the discourse of decentralized governance primarily fractures accountability, and education as investment increasingly predicates educational opportunity on capacity to pay. However, the intensity of these effects varies based on educational level, becoming more pronounced at the later stages. Key words: Jamaica, educational policy, policy discourse, post-colonialism, educational governance, educational management, educational financing, developing country.

<p> This qualitative case study explored how the classroom management practices of sampled teachers in a private school in central Oregon influenced classroom disruptions. Through the study, the researcher was able to provide insight on the differences in specific classroom management processes between teachers who had a high number of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support (PBIS) classroom discipline referrals versus those who had a low number. The phenomenon studied was how the classroom management practices and culture that the teachers developed in their classroom influenced the effectiveness of management of their students. Triangulation of data involved using teacher interviews, classroom observations, and classroom artifacts. Four research questions framed this study. Two models providing the theoretical foundation included Sugai and Horner positive behavioral support (PBS) and Edgar Schein&rsquo;s model of culture. Two of the themes emerged as significant in advancing knowledge of teachers&rsquo; classroom management. First, in the area of teachers&rsquo; perception of classroom management, the teachers with high level of classroom referrals and those with low level of classroom referrals perceived that they had effective classroom management practices. Second, teachers with a low number of referrals appeared to take a more holistic approach to classroom management, while teachers with a high number of referrals used a more traditional approach to classroom management. Additional qualitative and quantitative research should further explore the effectiveness of a holistic classroom management model versus a more traditional classroom management model.</p>