The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not a significant relationship exists between the implementation of the Morristown-Hamblen High School East (MHHSE) Freshman Academy, student academic achievement, and the high school graduation rate at MHHSE. The testing variables included GPA, attendance, number of core course failures, number of discipline referrals, English I End-of-Course test scores, and graduation rate. Grouping variables included 8th grade (pretreatment) and 9th grade (posttreatment) groups, preacademy and postacademy groups, socioeconomic status, and gender. Ten faculty members of the MHHSE Freshman Academy were interviewed to ascertain their perceptions about the smaller learning community concept. The population of the study was limited to students enrolled in the MHHSE Freshman Academy (2004-2008) and students enrolled at MHHSE 2 years prior to the implementation of the academy (2002-2004). Paired-samples t-tests were used to make comparisons between the same students on 8th grade (pretreatment) and 9th grade (posttreatment) measures. Independentsamples t-tests were used to make additional comparisons between different groups of students categorized according to socioeconomic status and gender, as well as preacademy and postacademy groups. Based on the findings of this study, it was concluded that the 9th grade transition year is a very difficult year for most students. Male students and those classified as economically disadvantaged develop additional risk factors during their freshmen year that might identify them as potential dropouts. The MHHSE Freshman Academy has had a positive effect on student academic performance and conduct as measured by the data analyses and teacher opinions.

This dissertation examined if community college governing board structure and trustee selection influence institutional and student outcomes. This study employed a causal-comparative design and one-way between subjects ANOVA to examine the effects of board structure and trustee selection on the average cost of attendance, graduation rate, and salary after attending. The participants were 894 public community colleges in the United States. The independent variables included board structure (local boards versus statewide boards) and board composition (elected boards versus appointed boards). The independent variable data were collected from a report, Public Community College Governing Boards: Structure and Composition, compiled by the Association of Community College Trustees. The 3 dependent variables (i.e., average cost of attendance, graduation rate, and salary after attending) was collected from pre-existing publicly available data from the United States Department of Education College Scorecard. The research indicated that a locally governed board does result in a lower cost of attendance. The results also signaled that community college boards with elected boards of trustees have a lower cost of attendance and a higher salary after attending.

This thesis studies the determinants of grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and identifies the key factors that can account for their variation across communities. The analysis examines the target audience for NEA grants, how the NEA chooses to distribute its funds, and whether the grants aimed at low-income communities are effective in targeting communities that do not otherwise have access to the arts. This study concludes that grants from the National Endowment for the Arts tend to be allocated to communities with higher college graduation rates, but not necessarily higher income levels.

The rise in the number of students who drop out of high school has gained national attention. High school dropout rates in the state of Louisiana are a primary concern to school administrators in the state. The Graduation Coach Program is an intervention implemented in several high schools across Louisiana to assist students with completing their high school education. Many of the programs' attributes are based on Maslow's hierarchy of needs, students' needs, and the presence of positive adult relationships that might improve student achievement. The purpose of this study was to compare archival attendance and graduation rates among independent groups from years before and after the implementation of the Graduation Coach Program in 4 Louisiana public high schools. Attendance rates included data from 5 years before and 7 years after the program (n = 48), and due to limitations in the archival records, graduation rates included data from 2 years before and 7 years after the program (n = 36). Two independent-samples t tests were conducted, and no significant differences were found between the groups for both measures. Due to power limitations in the group sizes, further research is recommended to include additional campuses that implement the program. Positive social change implications include providing these initial research findings to the study districts' administration to assist with decision making and planning for the Graduation Coach Program used at their campuses. Through continued efforts and research, high school administrators may ultimately improve high school attendance and graduation rates to address the high school dropout problem in Louisiana.

The purpose of this study was to identify the experiences, attitudes, and successes of a group of high achieving African American female students that impact their on-time high school graduation. On-time graduates are described as students who complete high school in four years. High achieving African-American female students completing high school on time identified factors related to family, school, and community as essential in their success. Several underlying factors are within the three themes that studies show can be used as a way to pilot programs, deter drop-outs from leaving school early, and cohesively work in communities across the United States. A qualitative approach was used to analyze a selected group of high achieving African American females' perceptions to their success in high school. The research questions were: 1. What school factors do a group of high achieving African-American female students perceive as attributing to their on-time graduation from high school with honors and advanced diplomas? 2. What family influences do these high achieving females perceive as attributes to graduating on-time with honors and advanced diplomas? 3. What community influences do these high achieving African American females' perceive as contributors to on-time graduation with honors and advanced diplomas? Twenty-four high achieving African American females' from one high school were eligible to participate in the study. Eight students participated in the study, which included open-ended interview questions and a sentence completion questionnaire. All interview questions were centered on the support provided by the school, community, or family. The results of the study showed parents; specifically the mothers of the participants had the greatest impact on the high achieving African American females' performance in high school. The teachers of the high achieving African American female students were supportive and caring. The community recognition that the high achieving African American females received was a motivating factor to varying degrees. The high achieving African American female participants, in the study, all possessed intrinsic motivation and work ethic to be academically successful. / Ed. D.

Esta tese tratou da formação inicial de professores em cursos de licenciatura com baixas taxas de diplomação, buscando investigar as tendências das trajetórias estudantis nessas licenciaturas, a partir da perspectiva da resistência. Foram estudados os cursos de licenciaturas de Física e de Filosofia da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul e investigadas as trajetórias de 845 estudantes, através do método do diagnóstico do fluxo de estudantes, no período de 2000 a 2015, compondo 15 coortes de análise em cada curso. A Licenciatura de Filosofia apresentou percentual médio de evasão de 60,64% por abandono, de 18,29% por mobilidade e de 20,5% de diplomação. Os alunos permaneceram no curso três anos e oito meses em média e integralizam 37,22% do currículo. A Licenciatura de Física apresentou percentual médio de evasão por abandono de 72,57%, de mobilidade de 11,70% e de diplomação de 15,72%. Os estudantes permaneceram no curso quatro anos em média e integralizam 31% do currículo. Vários estudos já identificaram que os principais motivos do abandono nesses cursos estão ligados a impossibilidade de conciliar estudos e trabalho; insatisfações relacionadas à ausência de trajetórias formativas flexíveis e altos percentuais de repetência em disciplinas distantes da prática pedagógica, além do desprestigio da profissão docente. Tais variáveis também se mostraram válidas para a realidade dos cursos investigados, uma vez que os mesmos possuem percentual significativo de estudantes trabalhadores, de um lado, e opções curriculares que explicitam estratégias de poder utilizadas em prol de percursos formativos conservadores, longos e rígidos, bem como elementos históricos nacionais envolvendo esses cursos, de outro. Assim, considerando os campos acadêmicos de disputas de poder, parece que os estudantes estão resistindo a essas mesmas forças que insistem no conservadorismo e que impedem a construção de uma identidade docente. No entanto, essa resistência não se dá como um enfrentamento frontal, mas como forma de re-existência e como possibilidade alternativa de escolha. Assim, a tese que defendo é a de que as trajetórias analisadas são de resistência e não de fracasso. / This dissertation is focused on initial training of teachers attending bachelor’s degrees with low rates of graduation, investigating tendencies of the student pathways in these bachelor’s degrees from the perspective of resistance. The courses that have been studied were Physics and Philosophy of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. It has been investigated pathways of 845 students through the diagnostic of students flow method from 2000 to 2015 with 15 coortes of analysis in each course. The Licentiate in Philosophy presented an average percentage of evasion of 60,64% due to abandonment, 18,29% due to mobility and 20,5% due to graduation. The students remained in the course on the average time of three years and eight months and integrated 37,22% of the academic curriculum. The Licentiate in Physics presented an average percentage of evasion of 72,57% due to abandonment, of 11,70% due to mobility and 15,72% due to graduation. The students remained in the course for an average of four years and integrated 31% of the academic curriculum. Several studies had already identified that the main reasons of evasion due abandonment in these courses are related to the impossibility of reconciling study and work purposes; dissatisfactions related to the absence of flexible training paths and high percentage of grade repetition in subjects that are far from a pedagogical practice, apart from the discredit of teaching profession. On one side these variables turned up applicable to the reality of the investigated courses as they have a meaningful percentage of working students and curriculum options that define empowerment strategies driven by a conservative prolonged and strict formation journey, as well as national historical elements involving these courses, on the other side. Therefore, considering the academic fields of power related disputes, it seems that the students are resisting to those same forces which insist in conservatism and hinder the construction of a teaching identity. Nevertheless, this resistance does not happen as a direct confrontation but as a re-existence and an alternative choice. Therefore, the thesis that I defend is that the analyzed pathways are of resistance and not of failure.

Since 1993 when the first lottery ticket was sold in Georgia, over 1.4 million students have received over $5.4 billion in grants and scholarships (more than any other merit-based program in the country) to attend colleges in Georgia through the Helping Outstanding Pupils Educationally (HOPE) Scholarship program. Students who graduate from high school with a B average in a college preparatory curriculum can receive tuition, HOPE approved fees, and a book allowance of up to $300 per year at public colleges in Georgia. The purpose of this study was to determine if there was an identifiable profile of the academically successful associate degree seeking HOPE Scholarship recipient at a 2-year college within the university system of Georgia. For the purposes of this study, academic success was defined as persistence towards graduation and retention of the HOPE Scholarship. Variables analyzed include high school grade point average, high school attended, composite SAT score, major, ethnicity, gender, other grant aid received, student loans received, and credit hours earned at credit hour checkpoints. Using the variables listed above, 2 research questions were posed. Is there a predictive model of a HOPE Scholarship recipient who is likely to retain the HOPE Scholarship, and is there a predictive model of a HOPE Scholarship recipient who is likely to earn a degree? These questions were analyzed using the population of first-time, associate degree seeking students at a 2-year college in 1998. The results of the analysis showed that while composite SAT scores, high school grade point averages, and GPAs at 60 attempted hours partially explained the success of HOPE Scholars, a clear model was not established that would identify students upon entry to college, or even partially through their academic careers, who were going to retain the HOPE Scholarship and earn a degree. The findings of this limited study support the theories that there are other factors such as student engagement that are less easily quantified that play a significant role in student persistence.

The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the relationship between participation in CTE programs and students’ graduation rates and rates of CTE students’ entrance into postsecondary education or employment after graduation. Possible differences between students’ enrollment in urban and rural school districts and their graduation, participation, and secondary placement rates were also considered. Publicly available data on high school students in the state of Tennessee were analyzed to compare the graduation rates of CTE participants with the graduation rates of non-CTE participants in the state as a whole and in nine selected urban school districts and nine selected rural school districts for the school years 2009-2010, 2010- 2011, and 2011-2012. Research cited in this study indicated that CTE participation could increase students' graduation rates. Some research also indicated that rural students were more likely to complete CTE concentrations than urban students and that other differences might exist in the CTE experiences of urban and rural students. Six research questions were created and their null hypotheses tested with a series of z-tests. Analysis of publicly available data for the selected school systems and for the state as a whole found slightly higher rates of graduation among CTE concentrators than among non-concentrators and higher rates of CTE participation among rural than urban high school students, but these differences were not statistically significant. Differences between urban and rural schools systems' graduation rates and their rates of postsecondary placement of CTE concentrators in education, the military, or employment were also found to be statistically insignificant.

Esta tese tratou da formação inicial de professores em cursos de licenciatura com baixas taxas de diplomação, buscando investigar as tendências das trajetórias estudantis nessas licenciaturas, a partir da perspectiva da resistência. Foram estudados os cursos de licenciaturas de Física e de Filosofia da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul e investigadas as trajetórias de 845 estudantes, através do método do diagnóstico do fluxo de estudantes, no período de 2000 a 2015, compondo 15 coortes de análise em cada curso. A Licenciatura de Filosofia apresentou percentual médio de evasão de 60,64% por abandono, de 18,29% por mobilidade e de 20,5% de diplomação. Os alunos permaneceram no curso três anos e oito meses em média e integralizam 37,22% do currículo. A Licenciatura de Física apresentou percentual médio de evasão por abandono de 72,57%, de mobilidade de 11,70% e de diplomação de 15,72%. Os estudantes permaneceram no curso quatro anos em média e integralizam 31% do currículo. Vários estudos já identificaram que os principais motivos do abandono nesses cursos estão ligados a impossibilidade de conciliar estudos e trabalho; insatisfações relacionadas à ausência de trajetórias formativas flexíveis e altos percentuais de repetência em disciplinas distantes da prática pedagógica, além do desprestigio da profissão docente. Tais variáveis também se mostraram válidas para a realidade dos cursos investigados, uma vez que os mesmos possuem percentual significativo de estudantes trabalhadores, de um lado, e opções curriculares que explicitam estratégias de poder utilizadas em prol de percursos formativos conservadores, longos e rígidos, bem como elementos históricos nacionais envolvendo esses cursos, de outro. Assim, considerando os campos acadêmicos de disputas de poder, parece que os estudantes estão resistindo a essas mesmas forças que insistem no conservadorismo e que impedem a construção de uma identidade docente. No entanto, essa resistência não se dá como um enfrentamento frontal, mas como forma de re-existência e como possibilidade alternativa de escolha. Assim, a tese que defendo é a de que as trajetórias analisadas são de resistência e não de fracasso. / This dissertation is focused on initial training of teachers attending bachelor’s degrees with low rates of graduation, investigating tendencies of the student pathways in these bachelor’s degrees from the perspective of resistance. The courses that have been studied were Physics and Philosophy of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. It has been investigated pathways of 845 students through the diagnostic of students flow method from 2000 to 2015 with 15 coortes of analysis in each course. The Licentiate in Philosophy presented an average percentage of evasion of 60,64% due to abandonment, 18,29% due to mobility and 20,5% due to graduation. The students remained in the course on the average time of three years and eight months and integrated 37,22% of the academic curriculum. The Licentiate in Physics presented an average percentage of evasion of 72,57% due to abandonment, of 11,70% due to mobility and 15,72% due to graduation. The students remained in the course for an average of four years and integrated 31% of the academic curriculum. Several studies had already identified that the main reasons of evasion due abandonment in these courses are related to the impossibility of reconciling study and work purposes; dissatisfactions related to the absence of flexible training paths and high percentage of grade repetition in subjects that are far from a pedagogical practice, apart from the discredit of teaching profession. On one side these variables turned up applicable to the reality of the investigated courses as they have a meaningful percentage of working students and curriculum options that define empowerment strategies driven by a conservative prolonged and strict formation journey, as well as national historical elements involving these courses, on the other side. Therefore, considering the academic fields of power related disputes, it seems that the students are resisting to those same forces which insist in conservatism and hinder the construction of a teaching identity. Nevertheless, this resistance does not happen as a direct confrontation but as a re-existence and an alternative choice. Therefore, the thesis that I defend is that the analyzed pathways are of resistance and not of failure.

Esta tese tratou da formação inicial de professores em cursos de licenciatura com baixas taxas de diplomação, buscando investigar as tendências das trajetórias estudantis nessas licenciaturas, a partir da perspectiva da resistência. Foram estudados os cursos de licenciaturas de Física e de Filosofia da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul e investigadas as trajetórias de 845 estudantes, através do método do diagnóstico do fluxo de estudantes, no período de 2000 a 2015, compondo 15 coortes de análise em cada curso. A Licenciatura de Filosofia apresentou percentual médio de evasão de 60,64% por abandono, de 18,29% por mobilidade e de 20,5% de diplomação. Os alunos permaneceram no curso três anos e oito meses em média e integralizam 37,22% do currículo. A Licenciatura de Física apresentou percentual médio de evasão por abandono de 72,57%, de mobilidade de 11,70% e de diplomação de 15,72%. Os estudantes permaneceram no curso quatro anos em média e integralizam 31% do currículo. Vários estudos já identificaram que os principais motivos do abandono nesses cursos estão ligados a impossibilidade de conciliar estudos e trabalho; insatisfações relacionadas à ausência de trajetórias formativas flexíveis e altos percentuais de repetência em disciplinas distantes da prática pedagógica, além do desprestigio da profissão docente. Tais variáveis também se mostraram válidas para a realidade dos cursos investigados, uma vez que os mesmos possuem percentual significativo de estudantes trabalhadores, de um lado, e opções curriculares que explicitam estratégias de poder utilizadas em prol de percursos formativos conservadores, longos e rígidos, bem como elementos históricos nacionais envolvendo esses cursos, de outro. Assim, considerando os campos acadêmicos de disputas de poder, parece que os estudantes estão resistindo a essas mesmas forças que insistem no conservadorismo e que impedem a construção de uma identidade docente. No entanto, essa resistência não se dá como um enfrentamento frontal, mas como forma de re-existência e como possibilidade alternativa de escolha. Assim, a tese que defendo é a de que as trajetórias analisadas são de resistência e não de fracasso. / This dissertation is focused on initial training of teachers attending bachelor’s degrees with low rates of graduation, investigating tendencies of the student pathways in these bachelor’s degrees from the perspective of resistance. The courses that have been studied were Physics and Philosophy of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. It has been investigated pathways of 845 students through the diagnostic of students flow method from 2000 to 2015 with 15 coortes of analysis in each course. The Licentiate in Philosophy presented an average percentage of evasion of 60,64% due to abandonment, 18,29% due to mobility and 20,5% due to graduation. The students remained in the course on the average time of three years and eight months and integrated 37,22% of the academic curriculum. The Licentiate in Physics presented an average percentage of evasion of 72,57% due to abandonment, of 11,70% due to mobility and 15,72% due to graduation. The students remained in the course for an average of four years and integrated 31% of the academic curriculum. Several studies had already identified that the main reasons of evasion due abandonment in these courses are related to the impossibility of reconciling study and work purposes; dissatisfactions related to the absence of flexible training paths and high percentage of grade repetition in subjects that are far from a pedagogical practice, apart from the discredit of teaching profession. On one side these variables turned up applicable to the reality of the investigated courses as they have a meaningful percentage of working students and curriculum options that define empowerment strategies driven by a conservative prolonged and strict formation journey, as well as national historical elements involving these courses, on the other side. Therefore, considering the academic fields of power related disputes, it seems that the students are resisting to those same forces which insist in conservatism and hinder the construction of a teaching identity. Nevertheless, this resistance does not happen as a direct confrontation but as a re-existence and an alternative choice. Therefore, the thesis that I defend is that the analyzed pathways are of resistance and not of failure.