Thesis advisor: Martin Scanlan / District improvement research highlights the importance of central office leaders and building principals in reform efforts. A growing body of literature emphasizes the importance of the relationship between central office leaders and principals in the context of turnaround school reform. Drawing on research from Honig (2012), the assistance relationship consistently surfaced as a key element of success when selecting and implementing learning time as a turnaround measure. This study aims to explore the assistance relationship between central office leaders and principals in the selection and implementation of learning time. This qualitative study draws upon observations and document review to answer the research questions, and is one strand of a larger research project studying how central office leaders support principals through an assistance relationship in a district in receivership. This individual strand concludes that the selection and implementation of learning time opportunities, without consideration to the principals and without the assistance of central office leaders, can’t happen. This strand advances our understanding of how an effective assistance relationship can work in a district in receivership. I concluded that central office leaders and principals interviewed selected and implemented like learning time opportunities. Future researchers may continue to enrich this growing body of literature by examining these findings and testing all or some of the five key practices in a like district. The results, implications for districts in receivership, and future research are discussed. This strand’s findings can serve as a companion for central office leaders who are working with principals to select and implement learning time opportunities in order to improving achievement levels in underperforming schools and districts across our country. / Thesis (EdD) — Boston College, 2018. / Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education. / Discipline: Educational Leadership and Higher Education.

At an urban school district, administrators were concerned about the English language arts (ELA) achievement gap between economically disadvantaged (ED) students and non-economically disadvantaged (NED). To address this gap in performance, district administrators instituted an extended day program (EDP) for ED students that included additional learning time and individualized strategies in ELA. The purpose of the study was to determine the extent of the impact that the EDP had on ED students in ELA achievement. The quasi-experimental quantitative design was guided by Carroll's model of school learning and explored the difference in ELA Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) scale scores between ED students who participated in the EDP and ED students who did not during the 2016/2017 school year. The study examined 28 matched-pairs of students, based on grade level and reading ability who were classified as ED during school year 2016/2017, following an intervention. Ex post facto analysis included a paired-samples t test to determine whether a statistically significant difference existed in ELA PARCC scores for ED students who received the intervention and those who did not, controlling for grade level and reading level. Data analysis indicated no statistical difference between groups. The project deliverable recommended implementation of a Response to Intervention program to replace the EDP because such a program would affect more students. Local school administrators may use the findings of the study to effectuate positive social change by making program decisions that could support the improvement of ELA achievement of ED students. In the larger context, this study could become part of the body of literature on the relationship between extended learning time and academic achievement among ED students.

Thesis (Ed.D.)--Boston University / This study aimed at refining one of the most influential and well-known theories of distance education - the theory of transactional distance (TD). TD theory was developed by Michael G. Moore based on correspondence forms of distance education. The study researched a distance learning environment that had not been investigated in relation to TD - synchronous Web-extended classrooms. In this unique format, live on- campus classes are delivered simultaneously to both in-class students on campus and remote students on the Web who attend synchronously via virtual classroom Web collaboration software. The research involved N=235 students enrolled in 14 graduate business courses. ANOVA tests, correlation and regression analyses were deployed on the 46-item "Scale of TD for synchronous Web-extended learning environments" questionnaire. The study compared perceived TD for three attendance groups: always in-class, always online, and mixed. It found no difference in TD among them. The learning environment enabled by using Saba-Centra Web collaboration software combined with other technologies provided a comparable learning experience for all three learner groups. The findings confirmed that four dimensions of dialogue, student-student, student-instructor, student-content, and student-interface interactions are significant in students' perceived TD and their engagement with learning. Moreover, their significance levels varied for different attendance groups. This research confirms the need to refine TD theory to view dialogue as a multidimensional construct. Furthermore, student-instructor and student-student interactions were significant factors that affected TD in all three learner groups. This study analyzed student satisfaction. The study not only found no difference in satisfaction by attendance type, but also it found that TD is strongly related to student satisfaction: the lower the TD, the more satisfied the students are with the learning environment, including interactions with the instructor, fellow students, course content, and the interface. For all attendance groups, interaction with other students was the common factor that affected satisfaction. The study demonstrated that the level of TD also affects students' perceived learning: the lower the TD, the higher the students' perceived learning. Thus, the study suggests that instructors plan activities that include interpersonal interactions between themselves and students, and also among students in all attendance groups.

O projeto tem como objetivo analisar a formulação e implementação do Programa Educomunicação pelas Ondas do Rádio EDUCOM.RÀDIO, em escolas públicas de ensino fundamental do Município de São Paulo (2001-2004) à luz do encontro entre as noções de política pública e extensão universitária, encontro este vivenciado nos projetos dirigidos pelo Núcleo de Comunicação e Educação da Universidade de São Paulo. / This work aims to analise the planning and implementation of EDUCOM.RADIO (Educomunication by the Radio waves), a program that happens in basic education public schools in the city of São Paulo (2001 - 2004). This theme is highlighted by the rush between public policy and extended learning, wich is experienced within the projects of NCE-ECA/USP (Communication and Education Group/ Communication and Arts School of São Paulo University).

O projeto tem como objetivo analisar a formulação e implementação do Programa Educomunicação pelas Ondas do Rádio EDUCOM.RÀDIO, em escolas públicas de ensino fundamental do Município de São Paulo (2001-2004) à luz do encontro entre as noções de política pública e extensão universitária, encontro este vivenciado nos projetos dirigidos pelo Núcleo de Comunicação e Educação da Universidade de São Paulo. / This work aims to analise the planning and implementation of EDUCOM.RADIO (Educomunication by the Radio waves), a program that happens in basic education public schools in the city of São Paulo (2001 - 2004). This theme is highlighted by the rush between public policy and extended learning, wich is experienced within the projects of NCE-ECA/USP (Communication and Education Group/ Communication and Arts School of São Paulo University).