Healthy eating in childhood and adolescence is important for proper growth and development and to help prevent chronic diseases. Many factors contribute to healthy eating patterns, and one of the most influential factors is the home and school environment. Both settings have role models who may affect a child’s eating behaviors. This study consisted of 54 home school and 21 public school participants who lived in northeast Mississippi and were between 6-12 years old. Public school children consumed significantly more total calories, net carbohydrates, vitamin C, and calcium compared to the home school children. Also, the public school children consumed more calories in the form of carbohydrates after 3pm compared to home school children. Nevertheless, there was no difference in BMI percentiles in public school and home school children 8-12 years of age. For 6 and 7-year-old children, the home school children had significantly lower BMI percentiles compared to the public school children.

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Local Education Foundations (LEFs), non-profit organizations that are closely associated with and in support of their local schools, have become a key resource in meeting the needs of today's students in public education. The purpose of this case study is to examine two LEFs in suburban Philadelphia, identify keys to their success or failure, and discuss their impact on and struggles in helping students in their communities. The theoretical frameworks of Overlapping Spheres of Influence and the Ethic of Community are applied to gain further insight into LEFs and will support the literature and research findings. The research questions that were answered are what is the perceived impact of Local Education Foundations on students and what are key indicators of a successful Local Education Foundation. Literature regarding the origins, goals, structures, and methods of fundraising, how their funds are distributed, outcomes, benefits, and limitations is examined. Pertinent documents about selected LEFs were gathered, observations of LEF board meetings were made, and interviews were conducted with many stakeholders, including LEF members, school district personnel, families, and donors. Based on the collected data, both LEFs embodied the three traits of a successful LEF as identified in the literature. Both have also made an impact on their community through scholarships and programs. / Educational Administration

This study explored the impostor phenomenon (IP) experiences of secondary public school music students by addressing three primary research questions. The first question investigated the frequency and severity of impostor feelings using both the Clance Impostor Phenomenon Scale (CIPS) and the newly developed Music Student Impostor Phenomenon Scale (MSIPS). Results revealed high levels of impostor feelings among participants (N = 824) with the original CIPS generating higher scores (M = 74.02, SD = 15.19) compared to the MSIPS (M = 69.66, SD = 10.85). Subsequent analysis categorized participants into Few, Moderate, Frequent, and Intense response levels, indicating a substantial number experiencing frequent or intense impostor feelings. The second research question explored correlations between demographic variables and reported IP scores. Gender, age, NAfME region, race/ethnicity, school music experience, parent ensemble participation, and ensemble type were analyzed for potential associations with impostor feelings. While some weak correlations emerged, the overall trend indicated universality in impostor experiences across demographic categories. Notably, the MSIPS generated lower overall scores, prompting considerations on the scale’s domain-specificity. The third research question evaluated the MSIPS’s validity and reliability. The study affirmed the scale’s reliability with Cronbach’s alpha of .876, while the content validity index (CVI) suggested its adequacy for measuring impostor feelings in a public school music context. However, challenges arose during factor analysis revealing an excessive number of factors, complicating interpretation. This study argues for reconsidering the necessity of domain-specific scales, advocating for a broader focus on universal self-perceptions contributing to the impostor phenomenon. In conclusion, this study contributes insights into the impostor phenomenon among public school music students and emphasizes the widespread occurrence of IP, advocating for a broader approach to understanding and addressing impostor feelings. The findings invite further exploration into psychotherapeutic interventions and broader considerations of the self-perceptions contributing to the impostor phenomenon. / Music Education

The following research completes several statistical analyses of per pupil expenditure data in the Commonwealth of Virginia to assess the degree of fiscal equity in the statewide finance model for public elementary and secondary education. Five years, between 2004 and 2020, were selected for analysis to examine whether trends noted in a 2005 study of fiscal equity in Virginia have remained constant or whether the degree of equity has increased or decreased. A historical overview of the funding of public schools in Virginia and revisions to the Virginia Constitution and its Education Articles provide information about the development of public education in Virginia. This commentary is followed by an explanation of the current funding model, Standards of Quality formula, and legislative criticism of the design elements thereof. School finance reform litigation from across the nation is then reviewed to demonstrate how the constitutionality of state public school finance models has been challenged in both federal and state courts over time. The school finance litigation discussion begins with the broad topic of equal protection guarantees in the federal Constitution and how those guarantees shaped early equity lawsuits. A survey of school finance reform cases is presented to show a progression from equity suits to adequacy suits. The litigation commentary concludes with a discussion of the most recent school finance case in Virginia, Scott v. Commonwealth (1994). After establishing the precedents for the analysis of state funding models, a series of dispersion statistics are calculated based on per pupil expenditures for each of the 132 school divisions in Virginia. These statistics include Range, Restricted Range, Coefficient of Variation, Gini Coefficient, and McLoone Index. The findings of the 2004-2020 analyses are compared to the findings of the 2005 study of fiscal equity in Virginia. The noted results of the analyses have implications for policy makers in the Commonwealth. / Doctor of Education / The following research completes statistical analyses of educational spending data to assess equity in the statewide finance model for public elementary and secondary school in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Five years—2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020—were selected for analysis to examine whether trends noted in a 2005 study of fiscal equity in Virginia have continued or whether the degree of equity has increased or decreased. A historical overview of the funding of public schools in Virginia and revisions to the Virginia Constitution and its Education Articles provide information about the development of public education in Virginia. This commentary is followed by an explanation of the current funding model (the Standards of Quality formula), legislative criticism of the formula, and an overview of school finance reform litigation from across the nation. The school finance litigation discussion begins with equal protection guarantees and develops to show a progression from cases that challenge equity in funding to cases that challenge the adequacy of funding. The litigation commentary concludes with a discussion of the most recent school finance case in Virginia, Scott v. Commonwealth (1994). After establishing the precedents for the analysis of state funding models, a series of statistics are calculated based on per pupil expenditures for each of the 132 school divisions in Virginia. The findings of the 2004-2020 analyses are compared to the findings of the 2005 study of fiscal equity in Virginia. The noted results of the analyses have implications for policy makers in the Commonwealth.