In 2003, California's Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment (BTSA) program had 145 programs throughout the state, organized into five clusters. The purpose of this study was to investigate how selected BTSA programs addressed BTSA Standard #3 (collaboration) for teacher induction. Five research questions were addressed. Twenty-six representative programs comprised the study sample. A questionnaire was developed by the researcher based on review of prior research in collaboration. Nineteen factors related to successful collaboration were identified. They were sorted in to six components of similar factors. A minimum of three questions were designed and field-tested for each component for a questionnaire. The questionnaire was returned by thirty respondents: twenty-one district-based BTSA directors and fifteen representatives of higher education institutions. Findings were conclusive. All programs were described by both sub-samples as successful. All six components and nineteen factors identified through the research literature were present in all programs. No additional components were identified in any program. While a prior successful working history with the collaborating partners and ongoing regular communication emerged as the most frequently named reason for success, all six components were identified as important for success. The most frequently identified problem was with the turnover of representatives of the higher education institutions and with the related difficulty of maintaining effective communications through the life of the program. Reward structures within higher education that do not support collaborative work with schools was named as the primary perceived reason for the pervasive pattern. The inability of higher education institutions to respond quickly to conditions of rapid change was also named as a related issue. Federal and state programs that fund targeted projects but allow flexibility in implementation were found to be successful. Future research should be done on the interrelationships of the components of collaboration, on modification of the reward systems of institutions of higher education; and on the development of federal and state policies that continue to support funding of local, flexible solutions to issues of school change.

This study investigated the perceptions of quality held by undergraduate students enrolled in an online degree program, and examined the connections between these perceptions and retention in an online learning environment. Three main research questions guided this study: (1) What are the characteristics of quality that are desirable for academic success in online distance education? (2) How well does the university manage selection and retention of students and control dropout rates in online learning environment? and; (3) How well does the university foster learning based on information about (a) student engagement, (b) the time and effort students devote to educationally sound activities (within and outside the classroom), (c) policies and practices the institution uses to induce students to take part in those activities, and (d) policies and practices at their institution, even if unintended, that hinder students' full participation? What are the connections between student perception of quality and retention in an online learning environment? A group of students at a medium-sized state university in central California composed of sophomores, juniors and seniors enrolled in a psychology course participated in interviews. The study employed a qualitative method to collect opinions and data from students who chose to learn in an online environment, examined students' experiences, determined those efforts that promote or hinder learning and higher student retention as perceived by the students, and presented from three main domains; (a) administration, (b) faculty, and (c) students. The findings of the study indicate that some of the characteristics of quality perceived by students as desirable include individual discipline and instructors that are more understanding and encourage students to learn. Administrative and technical support was also rated high on the list. Overall, students desired programs that were convenient and provided sufficient flexibility to accommodate other of life's challenges. The study confirmed expert opinions that when a student has positive personal experiences, possesses positive individual motivation, in an environment with positive attrition factors, it is predictable that the student could attain completion of course or program. The connections between the student's perception of quality and retention then are those personal experiences, individual motivation and positive attrition factors within the distance education learning culture. The quality of these connection variables determines a student's commitment to complete online education and commitment to the university.

The fragmentation of teachers' work, through isolation and the absence of structures for collegial interaction, make teaching a very solitary and private kind of work that has far reaching implications. Although teacher isolation is recognized as an ongoing problem and a detriment to the teaching profession, empirical evidence of what principals are doing to reduce teacher isolation and to promote collegiality is limited. The purpose of this research study was to identify how elementary school principals are reducing teacher isolation, promoting collegiality, and facilitating beginning teacher induction. The researcher examined the perceptions of 331 public elementary principals throughout California regarding these issues. Data were gathered through a 72 item questionnaire designed for this research study based on the literature, and descriptive statistics were used to organize and analyze the data. In general, most principals indicated that they were implementing many practices discussed in the literature that contribute to reduced teacher isolation and greater collegiality. For example, most principals indicated that they have a collaborative leadership style, implemented collaborative professional development, engaged teachers in shared decision making, and considered collaborative time for teachers to be very important. Most principals also claimed that their teachers preferred to work with colleagues to develop lesson plans and teaching strategies, were involved in change initiatives, and collaboratively worked to meet school goals. Practices that should be more fully implemented include aspects of teacher and mentor release time, teacher observations and feedback, teacher leadership, professional dialogue, and principals' involvement in the induction process. For example, principals and teachers must have ample opportunity to observe teachers and provide constructive feedback, principals should share with teachers the responsibility of planning and leading faculty and collaborative meetings, and principals should not rely solely on an induction program like BTSA for supporting beginning teachers but rather exercise their leadership role by being actively involved in the induction process. Recommendations for further study included conducting a teacher survey and personal interviews with principals and teachers, because principals may have responded to the survey in an idealistic fashion that was contrary to their actual practices or philosophy.

This study gathered information on African American male high school students' perceptions of African American male vice principals as positive role models. Respondents were randomly selected African American male students in grades 10, 11, and 12 drawn from comprehensive high schools in the Oakland Unified School District, Oakland, California. To gather and analyze data for the study, two instruments were developed. One instrument was a questionnaire designed for African American male high school students. A second instrument was a questionnaire designed for African American male high school vice principals. In addition to the survey instruments, personal interviews were conducted with a small random sample of African American male students in an effort to gather more in-depth information than could be revealed in the survey instrument. Findings revealed that African American male students generally do not perceive African American male vice principals in their schools as role models. The primary reason given was African American males are most often cast in disciplinary roles and only “do the white man's work.” Despite this finding, African American male students feel a need for, and want, African American males vice principals in their schools. The study further revealed that these students have a strong desire to see African American male vice principals in roles other than disciplinary.

The Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 2002, which operates under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, requires school districts to implement substance abuse and violence prevention programs to prevent or reduce substance use/abuse and violence and to decrease risk factors and increase protective factors that contribute to healthy child development without providing adequate funding to implement the mandate. The inadequacy of funding does not support the most effective strand of programs: community and family-based or environmental programs. An on-line survey of 43 elementary school principals was conducted to establish their knowledge and perceptions of the implementation of science-based substance abuse and violence prevention programs. The responses produced mixed results. The participants reported generally positive experiences with the implementation process of research-base prevention programs, but they admitted a lack of skill regarding implementation of community and family-focused research-based prevention programs due to their inexperience with the environmental programs. The participating principals also stated that they experienced frustration with the lack of time and the lack of funds to properly implement the research-based prevention programs. The administrators indicated they were knowledgeable about these research-based substance abuse and violence prevention programs; however, some of their responses revealed their lack of knowledge in distinguishing the difference between actual research-based programs that are on the State Board of Education's approved list and other prevention programs that are marketed. The elementary school principals in this study generally reported positive perceptions of the implementation of research-based substance abuse and violence prevention programs, including the following advantages that were supported by the literature: science-based substance abuse and violence prevention programs prevent or reduce substance use/abuse and violence and student discipline problems, and these programs increase protective factors and decrease risk factors in the lives of students and/or their families. Stated disadvantages about the amount of time required to implement the research-based prevention programs, the lack of training, and the inadequacy of funding yielded some negative perceptions. Recommendations for educational administrators include providing extensive training for site principals and teachers in prevention science and in identifying at-risk students and their needs for prevention services. In addition, administrators were encouraged to collaborate more with their communities in an effort to provide the more meaningful and effective environmental strand: community and family-oriented research-based substance abuse and violence prevention programs.

In order to gain insight into developing teacher leadership capacity this study was designed to surface how tasks and interactions unfold from the perspective of the practitioners. The central focus of this study was to investigate the ways an elementary teacher-leader takes a stance toward instructional leadership while negotiating professional norms and organizational structures within the context of a public school setting. This investigation sought to identify instructionally related teacher leadership actions and opportunities; and to examine teacher-leaders' interaction patterns with an interest in identifying how teacher-leaders interact and enact their leadership tasks. Reports of 79 teacher-leaders' perceptions of interactions were collected using a 71 item questionnaire designed for this study based on the literature. Factor analysis and Cronbach's alpha were conducted and confirmed the measuring instrument's reliability and validity. Sample data were analyzed for descriptive statistics and the relationships between the latent constructs: organizational structure, social context, and professional values. Results of the bivariate correlations revealed that both social context and organizational structure accounted for a small percentage of the variance in teacher-leader to teacher interaction. Interaction shared an 8% variance with social context and shared an 8% variance with access for interaction. Professional values did not have a statistically significant correlation with interactions . Moreover, social context had a 30% shared variance with access for interaction and a shared variance of 37% with professional values . In summary, professional values had the greatest variance with social context (37%) and social context had the greatest variance with access for interaction (30%) which represented organizational structure. An implication of the results suggests social context is central for shaping and reshaping values and norms.

This study was designed to examine the responses of four veteran teachers with 15 or more years of teaching experience as they moved through a beginning technology staff development program. The purpose of the study was to examine what factors have caused some teachers to wait until mid-career to take a beginning course in computer technology, determine what veteran teachers feel are successful computer technology professional development strategies, and to examine the resulting changes that a veteran teacher makes in classroom computer use. The study followed teachers from pre-instruction to instruction to one month after the staff development using interviews, journals and e-mail questionnaires. Taking as a starting point change theory literature, a grounded theory of the Five Universes that influence veteran teachers was defined. The study concluded with eight recommendations for future technology staff development programs for veteran teachers.

Middle school education is fundamental to the lives of millions of adolescents. It is a time of great opportunity for stimulating cognitive, emotional, and psychosocial growth and development. At the same time, the middle school environment can exacerbate the problems that some students face. To this end, decisions by school administrators to promote nutritional health that positively influence the eating behaviors of students on campus are crucial to the learning environment. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of school principals and the nutritional environment of middle grade schools through an analysis of the affective, social, and educational factors that may contribute to dietary behavior among students. The research methodology for this study consisted of both quantitative and qualitative analysis. The quantitative population included all middle grade school principals (N = 40) in Kern County, California. Of that number, 68 percent of the principals responded to the survey. The qualitative interview sample (n = 8) consisted of principals selected from the survey population. An analysis of the findings indicated that the nutritional environment of the middle grade school depends on the quality of leadership employed by the principal. Approximately ninety percent of the principals surveyed felt they had inadequate training in nutritional health to integrate nutrition into the curriculum. Sixty-two percent believe they have minimal input into decisions regarding the sale of convenience foods and beverages on their individual campuses. Therefore, their leadership responsibility in the promotion of nutritional health among students does not go beyond that of an overseer. While most principals believe that school leadership and the promotion of nutritional health are interrelated, many principals allow the sale of convenience foods and beverages on their campuses. Clearly, there is inconsistency between what is believed and what is overtly practiced. The results from this study will enable stakeholders of middle grade school education to modify administrative policies and practices in nutrition health promotion.

Students who are truant from school may result in their becoming academically and socially unprepared to enter the work force. In an age in which higher paying jobs require technical skills from workers, employees with minimal skills and academic preparation have a negative social and fiscal impact upon the school community and the larger social order of the country. The purpose of this study examines the problem through personal, in-depth interviews of students identified as truants in order to provide a deeper understanding of the phenomena and the critical effects upon their academic and social development. Eight individual students are interviewed, examining their lived experiences as it relates to their education through a collective case study methodology. The reconstruction of these students' reflections on life events provides a subjective analysis of their school attendance, with implications for educators to begin prevention and intervention strategies prior the onset of the middle school experience.

If a school is valued, it will inspire pride of ownership among students, staff, and community members. A sustainable campus beautification effort can be a source of inspiration. The purpose of this study was to determine if campus beautification projects made a positive impact on student behavior and academic performance. This study was based on qualitative research methods. Theoretical applications compared the results of a case study involving five middle/junior high schools in Region VI of the Statewide System of School Support for the Delta/Sierra Region. Interviews measured the perceptions of one administrator and three teachers at each school site. Interview responses were coded and analyzed to discover emerging themes in the data. In general, the teachers and the administrators agreed that campus beautification projects had positively impacted student behavior and academic performance. Teachers stated that involving students in the process of improving the quality of their school environment taught pride of ownership, community spirit, and leadership skills. Students who took part in campus beautification continued to seek experiences in campus improvement. Administrators reported a positive change in student behaviors and that beautification experience benefited students from all academic levels and behavioral backgrounds. The majority of the interviewees expressed that students benefited most directly from campus beautification. Others stated that the staff was most positively affected. In either case, interviewees' overall perceptions were that campus beautification improved student behavior and academic performance. Campus beautification projects should be investigated at every school level. Projects provide a simple solution to the rising problem of aging school facilities. Schools should pursue campus beautification as a means of improving staff and student morale. District office and site administrations should support beautification efforts and allow students the opportunity to improve their campus environment. Schools should enlist parents and community members to participate in beautification projects. Recommendations for further study include the impact of beautification at the elementary and high school levels, on urban, suburban and rural schools, and into how school administrations and district administrations can best support beautification efforts.