The achievement gap between White youth and youth of color is a pervasive problem in the United States. Many cultural explanations have been provided within the academic literature to explain the differences in achievement between Black and White youth. However, present theories lack empirical evidence and continuously use a deficit model to explain Black adolescent achievement. It is of utmost importance to explore other theories about Black youth achievement and to identify protective factors to support Black adolescent academic success. Study I of this dissertation examines the effect of behavioral engagement and achievement values on the academic achievement of Black late elementary school students longitudinally through the use of Structural Equation Modeling. Results indicate that whereas behavioral engagement is a significant predictor of academic achievement, abstract achievement values do not influence behavioral engagement or academic achievement. In a follow-up to the study, Study II examines a more complete construct of achievement values, along with behavioral engagement and the impact of these constructs on Black adolescents' academic achievement. Additionally, this study assessed who, peers or parents, has influence on the academic attainment of Black adolescents through the use of Structural Equation Modeling. Results indicate that the achievement values of Black adolescents affect behavioral engagement and subsequent achievement. Furthermore, results suggest that both peer and parent influences have a significant effect on students' achievement values and behavioral engagement. Intervention strategies including fostering the development of positive and academically supportive peer relationships, creating opportunities for youth to interact with pro-social peers, and providing explicit strategies to encourage the continued involvement of parents and parental academic socialization are discussed.

Abstract The relationship between individual¡¦s life and work is highly correlative. Personal perception of work value and achievement becomes the critical factor that affects this relationship. This perception significantly interacts with individual¡¦s work ethics including attitude and behavior. Moreover, it impacts on individual¡¦s social conscience and contribution. This study aims at discovering work achievement for high-level managers in the information software (IS) industry. The research results show that first, regardless academic/work background or job contents, the high-level IS managers are concerned about the company¡¦s contribution to social causes, which they consider as a critical reference for their career development. Second, innovation is the key work value for the interviewed managers. Third, self fulfillment is the essential factor of work achievement for these high-level IS managers. Key Words: work achievement, work value

This study determined the impact of downsizing on student achievement as reported in the AEIS database for the 10 downsized elementary schools in North East Independent School District (NEISD). Ten existing elementary schools lost students and teachers to four new schools that opened in 2005. Conclusions have been made regarding the impact of downsizing at these ten existing feeder schools on student achievement. The population of this study were students enrolled in third, fourth, and fifth grades at the ten downsized elementary campuses. Research questions were analyzed using an Independent Sample t test and the Pearson Product Moment Correlations to examine whether there was a significant difference between the variables and student achievement and correlations between student achievement and changes in teacher demographics. Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations are provided: 1. Total tested student population and White subpopulation TAKS scores returned statistically significant improvement at the ten elementary campuses in the area of reading "met standards" after downsizing. 2. The Hispanic subpopulation returned statistically significant improvement in the area of reading "commended performance" after downsizing. 3. The overall tested student population and the Hispanic subpopulation returned statistically significant in the area of mathematics "met standards" after downsizing. 4. The overall tested student population and the Hispanic and White subpopulations returned statistically significant improvement in the area of mathematics "commended performance" after downsizing. 5. The African American subpopulation was the only population in this study whose student achievement mean declined from 2005 to 2006 in the areas of reading "met standards" and mathematics "commended performance." 6. The African American subpopulation was the only population in this study to show a significant negative correlation between teacher years of experience and student achievement in "commended performance" for reading and mathematics prior to downsizing.

This study examines Levels of Technology Implementation (LoTi) teacher selfratings and Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) scores. The LoTi instrument is explained comprehensively in the study. Using a series of survey questions about classroom instruction and technology use, the instrument measures a teacher's level of technology implementation in terms of that teacher's perception of classroom practices. The study assesses the relationship between LoTi ratings and TAKS scores of 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students as reported in student records at Alamo Heights Independent School District, San Antonio, Texas. The study determined the degree to which teacher LoTi ratings were a predictor of success on TAKS exam scores as reported in student records at Alamo Heights Independent School District, San Antonio, Texas. In addition, the study ascertained the existence of differences among the variable of student economic status. For the purposes of this study, school and student performance analysis included only Alamo Heights High School in the Alamo Heights Independent School District (AHISD). The student data in the study came from approximately 359 9th graders, 372 10th graders, and 309 11th graders (1040 total students). A total of 11 English teachers, 14 math teachers, 9 science teachers, and 10 social studies teachers (44 total teachers) from this campus made up the population under study. The research findings of this study included: 1. A positive relationship exists between the level of technology implementation in the classroom and student performance on the TAKS test in math, English Language Arts/Reading, science, and social studies. 2. Further, the findings showed that this relationship impacts economically disadvantaged students the most in English Language Arts/Reading and math.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between vertical teaming in science and student achievement. This study compared student achievement of campuses implementing vertical teaming with schools that do not practice vertical teaming. In addition, this study explored the relationship between selected demographic variables and vertical teaming using Grade 5 Science TAKS results in the Academic Excellence Indicator System (AEIS). Campus demographic variables such as economically disadvantaged, minority students, English language learners, student mobility, and experienced teachers were researched. A call-out yielded 168 responses. With the exclusion of the 12 campuses, a total of 156 participating campuses from 18 traditional school districts remained. Campuses employing vertical teaming were self-identified on the basis of having implemented the process for two or more years. The gain in percent mastered for Science TAKS scores from 2004 to 2007 was used as the Science TAKS score variable. Results indicated that there was no significant difference in student achievement in science for campuses practicing vertical teaming and campuses that did not. The twoway ANOVA was used to measure the relationship between the independent variables (vertical teaming and campus demographic variables) on the dependent variable (student achievement on Science TAKS). The results suggested that campuses having low percentages of economically disadvantaged students statistically gained more on the Science TAKS than campuses that have high percentages of economically disadvantaged students irrespective of vertical teaming practices. In addition, campuses that have low percentages of minority students statistically gained more on the Science TAKS than campuses that have high percentages of minority students despite vertical teaming participation. Recommendations include districts, state, and federal agencies providing campuses with a high percent of economically disadvantaged students with more resources and more flexibility in using those resources. Recommendations for further study included a replication of the study that takes into account the degree of implementation of vertical teaming.

Thesis--PlanB (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin--Stout, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ed. D.)--West Virginia University, 2002. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains xii, 182 p. Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 155-172).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Liberty University School of Education, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references.

Title from PDF of title page (University of Missouri--Columbia, viewed on Feb 11, 2010). The entire thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file; a non-technical public abstract appears in the public.pdf file. Dissertation advisor: Dr. Barbara N. Martin. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2002. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Available also from UMI Company.