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In order to understand withdrawal rates in online K-12 schools, it is vital to have detailed documentation of these rates and to describe characteristics of the students who withdraw compared to the students who remain enrolled. Once these characteristics are known schools can develop programs and/or policies that support students who are at risk of withdrawing. This study was a descriptive analysis of (a) attendance, (b) lessons completed, (c) participation, (d) teacher-student communication, and (e) overall performance percentage comparing the means between the enrolled student population and the withdrawn student population using extant data. Four of the five variables, (a) attendance, (b) lessons completed, (c) teacher-student communication, and (d) overall performance percentage, were significant at the p < .01 level. Upon analysis, the results of average lessons per day were not reportable due to problems with the data. The Enrolled group had significantly higher means in the following variables: (a) attendance, (b) lessons completed, (c) teacher-student synchronous contact, and (d) overall performance percentage.

Thesis advisor: Marilyn Cochran-Smith / Beginning in 2000, a number of new graduate schools of education (nGSEs) have been established in the U.S. in response to increasing calls for more effective teachers. Among these are programs affiliated with “No Excuses”-style charter schools, which are focused on closing the achievement gap in urban K-12 schools. Teacher education programs at nGSEs affiliated with “No Excuses” schools were designed to prepare teachers specifically for these schools. Although these nGSEs have been applauded by the press and by education reform advocates, there has been almost no independent research about them. Systematic study of the goals, practices and beliefs of teacher educators and candidates at these programs is necessary to understand the impact “No Excuses”-affiliated nGSEs may have on teacher preparation for urban schools. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to analyze teacher preparation from insiders’ perspectives at the Sposato Graduate School of Education, which is connected to the Match Education charter management organization. For this study, the Sposato GSE was regarded as an illustrative and an instrumental case of the nGSE phenomenon. Drawing on multiple data sources and using qualitative data analysis methods, this dissertation found the Sposato mission was to create “jaw-droppingly effective rookie teachers,” and it argues this mission was in large part realized due to the remarkable coherence of the program’s design, curriculum, and vision. However, this dissertation also argues the success of the Sposato teacher education program came at a cost. My analysis shows that Sposato leaders and faculty members zeroed in almost exclusively on two goals: (1) implementing a technical, moves-based epistemology of teaching in their teacher preparation curriculum; and (2) socializing teachers into a gradualist and technically rational vision of equity and justice consistent with the goals of “No Excuses” schools. This study has important implications for the practice of urban teacher preparation, research into the nGSE phenomenon, and policies related to improving teacher education program quality and the goal of closing the achievement gap.

O objetivo central da pesquisa é compreender o surgimento dos chamados fretados, os motivos de sua consolidação, suas características e seu significado no cotidiano dos transportes macrometropolitanos. A dissertação busca num primeiro momento analisar a rede urbana paulista e seu processo de metropolização, apresentando os diversos entendimentos e leituras desse fenômeno. Também se destaca a importância dos transportes no processo de metropolização e a implantação dos sistemas técnicos e administrativos da infra-estrutura de transporte de passageiros, tendo como premissa os conceitos de acessibilidade e mobilidade. Os fluxos de passageiros são analisados mediante suas modalidades, origens, destinos e densidades, especialmente os deslocamentos pendulares, um dos principais elementos da vida de relações da rede urbana paulista, que muitas vezes utiliza os fretados como suporte. Outra questão fundamental abordada é o entendimento da alta demanda das viagens diárias, que integram toda a Região Metropolitana de São Paulo. Nota-se aqui uma crise dos transportes e uma busca por alternativas à crise. Nesse contexto, procuramos identificar os impactos positivos e negativos da ação dos fretados, assim como buscamos analisar o ponto de vista dos órgãos reguladores das empresas prestadoras desses serviços, de seus contratantes e usuários. / The main objective of this research is to comprehend the origins of charterers, the reasons of its consolidation, its characteristics and its meaning on macrometropolitan transportation. At first, this dissertation intends to analyse São Paulos urban network and its process of metropolization, by presenting some understandings and readings about this phenomenon. By having the concepts of acessibility and mobility as a premiss, its also of main importance to look at the implantation of technical and administrative systems related to the passengers transport infrastructure. The flowing of passengers is analysed by its origins, destinies, densities and especially by pendulous orientations, one of the most important elements on São Paulos urban network of relationships, using charteres as a support. Also, an understanding is made on the high demand of daily trips that intregrates the entire São Paulos Metropolitan Region. We can see a transportation crisis aproaching and a pursuance of alternatives to it. In this context, we can identify the positive and negative impacts of the charteres, and at the same time analyse the various points of views of users, public and private hirers, and companies that offer the service.

O Manuscrito Espagnol 30, mais popularmente conhecido como Atlas Catalão, é um objeto de difícil catalogação, mas com importância reconhecida pelas diversas áreas do saber que se debruçam sobre ele. A predominância da parte geográfica, o mapamúndi que ocupa quatro das seis folhas do Manuscrito, o coloca entre os objetos mais estudados pela Historia da Cartografia, uma vez que suas características permitem classifica-lo entre as Cartas Portulano, produto cartográfico que se tornou comum no século XIV, principalmente no comércio mediterrâneo controlado pela Catalunha, na figura de Pedro IV, de Aragão, cuja família de longa data mantinha relações com a família do judeu Cresques Abraham, possível autor do Manuscrito produzido em Maiorca e produzindo cartas Portulano com tamanha frequência que se chegou a cogitar a existência de uma Escola Cartográfica na ilha. A leitura de suas características cartográficas enfatiza a questão da técnica utilizada para a obtenção do desenho de um plano da Terra, no caso, o perfil mediterrâneo, quase com a mesma perfeição obtida com a técnica disponível hoje. As duas folhas restantes do Manuscrito são entendidas como sendo Cosmografia, uma vez que representam, em seu Calendário, a ordem aristotélica do Cosmos, além da divisão da esfera pelo ano solar. Como um manuscrito medieval, suas fontes são de difícil identificação. Por outro lado, a ausência de identificação de procedência em suas folhas favoreceu no sentido de um aprofundar-se na historia da produção cartográfica na Ilha de Maiorca durante o século XIV e na cotidianidade da comunidade judaica que o produziu. Do cotejamento entre a cotidianidade da comunidade produtora do Manuscrito com a historiografia desenvolvida pela Leitura Cartográfica resultou uma série de dados, principalmente em relação às atividades desenvolvidas pela comunidade judaica de Maiorca, materializados neste estudo que discorre sobre o Padrão Cartográfico Portulano, as fontes disponíveis na comunidade judaica e a necessidade de se considerar a unidade pictórica de um Manuscrito Medieval quando de sua leitura. Esta pesquisa busca ainda equacionar a situação histórica que poderia explicar a hipótese de existência de uma escola e de um estilo cartográfico na produção maiorquina a partir da biblioteca documentada na comunidade judaica, entendendo que parte desta biblioteca possa ter sido utilizada como fonte do Manuscrito e justificativa de seu programa pictórico, conclusão desta investigação. / The Manuscript Espagnol 30, more popularly known as \"Catalan Atlas\" is an object of difficult cataloging, but has its importance recognized for several areas of knowledge that focus on it. The predominance of the geographical part , the world map which occupies four of the six Manuscript leaves, places it among the most studied objects of the Cartography History, once their characteristics allow it ranks among the Portulano Charter, cartographic product that has become common in the XIV century, mainly in the Mediterranean trade controlled by Catalonia, in the figure of Pedro IV of Aragon, whose family had longstanding relationships with the family of the jew Cresques Abraham, possible author of the Manuscript produced in Mallorca and producing Portulano Charters with such frequency that it was considered the existence of a \"Cartographic School\" on the island. The reading of their cartographic characteristics emphasizes the issue of the technique used for obtaining a drawing earth plane, in this case, the Mediterranean profile, almost with the same perfection obtained with the available techniques today. The two remaining leaves of the manuscript are defined as Cosmography, since it represents in its calendar the Aristotelian order of the Cosmos, besides the sphere division by the solar year. As a medieval manuscript, its sources are difficult to identify. On the other hand, the lack of identification of its origin in their leaves assist towards a deepening in the history of cartography production on the Mallorca island during the XIV century and in everyday life of the Jewish community that produced it. From the confront between the day by day of producing community Manuscript with historiography developed by Cartographic Reading resulted a series of data, especially in relation to the activities of the Jewish community of Majorca, materialized in this study that discusses about the Standard cartographic Portulano, the sources available in Jewish community and the need to consider the pictorial unity of a Medieval Manuscript when reading it. This research also seeks to equate the historical situation which could explain the hypothesis of a school and a cartographic style in Majorcan production based in the documented library of the Jewish community, understanding that part of this library may have been used as a source of the Manuscript and a justification for its pictorial program, conclusion of this investigation.

The article provides for an analysis of the legal nature of Article 30 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, which declares "the right to protection against unjustified dismissal". In the focus of attention is the question, whether this right constitutes a human or a fundamental right or it is a right without the status of being fundamental or alternatively only a basic principle. The considerations are based on the legal theory of human rights and particularly social rights, as well as on the understanding of this right in the various international treaties and the constitutional traditions of the Member States. Furthermore, the article addresses the question of implementation of Article 30 in the national laws, scrutinizes the interpretation of Art. 51 Abs 1 of the Charter and highlights the deficiencies and possibilities. Also the image of this right mirrored in the European Union's law and the case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union is examined.

Cette thèse de droit public se propose d'étudier le développement du système politique tibétain en exil. Ce travail est basé sur une analyse détaillée des normes tibétaines encadrant le fonctionnement du Gouvernement tibétain en exil et de son Administration centrale, lesquels n'ont pas été reconnus au plan international. Mené principalement sous l'angle du droit constitutionnel tibétain, ce travail décrit le fonctionnement des différentes institutions centrales, instances décisionnelles, ayant autorité au sein de la communauté tibétaine en exil. L'institutionnalisation du pouvoir politique tibétain a pris avec la Charte de 1991 une nouvelle dimension car les rapports politiques au sein du système passent désormais par la médiation du droit. Cette médiation du droit est liée à l'établissement d'un ordre général et collectif dépassant les volontés individuelles / This public law thesis deals with the development of the Tibetan political system in exile. The objective was to carry out a detailed research on roots texts and commentaries on law and other relevant documents passed in the Tibetan refugee community, in order to explain the functioning of the Central Tibetan Administration, which for all practical purposes functions as the Tibetan-government-in-exile, although not formally recognized as such by the world at large and in particular by the host government. This work covers the various institutions of political representation, decision-making and governance within the Tibetan Refugee Community. Considering all this elements, we reached at the conclusion that the basics fundamentals laid down by this Charter, and the substantive and procedural laws and other rules, are inevitable for the immediate and long-term functioning of the Tibetan government in exile

Is social media a human right? The first of July 2018 the Ugandan government implemented a new tax on social media, called “Over-The-Top” tax which includes over 60 social media platforms. The tax needs to be paid before entering the social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Whatsapp. The tax can be paid through a daily, weekly, monthly or through a fee every year. The reason for the tax according to the president Yoweri Museveni is to boost the government revenue and to end “lugambo”, gossip on social media. The aim of this thesis is to analyze whether the tax is violating human right and specially freedom of speech. The hypothesis of the thesis is that the OTT-tax is a cumbrance to people’s right to freedom of speech. The thesis concludes that freedom of speech is a negative right which means freedom from state influence. African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights(ACHPR) and the Banjul charter is defining freedom of speech such as every individual shall have the right to receive information, right to expression and to disseminate his opinion. ACHPR has also chosen to get inspiration from the UN which has established that internet is included in freedom of speech, rights which exists offline shall also exists online. Social media has served as an important tool throughout different occasion such as the #Metoo campaign, Arabic spring and through domestic´s events in Uganda as “Save Mabire” and #FreeBobiWine. Through argumentation analysis are the arguments for and against OTT-tax reviewed to verify or falsify the thesis hypothesis and the question formulation. The thesis concludes that the president´s arguments are neither solid or evidence-based and can thereby not falsify the hypothesis. The arguments against the OTT-tax are however solid and evidence-based and gets support from international law, therefore confirms the thesis hypothesis. The thesis concludes that there is a restriction on freedom of speech due to the OTT-tax since less people are able to access social media after the introduction of the tax.

Charter schools have often boasted about differentiating themselves in the educational marketplace. With today’s growing emphasis on student achievement, whether this differentiation has had a positive effect on student learning is still debatable. The purpose of this exploratory mixed-methods study was to establish if innovation is a reported practice in charter schools in Miami-Dade and Sarasota Counties in Florida and to determine if a relationship exists between innovation reporting and student achievement as measured by Florida school grades. A qualitative analysis of School Improvement Plans and school websites for a 62 school sample was utilized. As well as a quantitative measure of the correlation between level of reported innovation in eight categories (organizational structure, ideology and culture, leadership models, professional development for teachers, curriculum, technology, parent involvement, and other) and student achievement, as measured by Florida’s school grade formula. The study found that charter schools in both counties reported innovation at high levels with only three schools reporting innovations in fewer than five categories of innovation. An examination of opposing forces of loose and rigid structure, autonomy and policy control, as well as creativity and standardization led to findings of less reported instances of innovation on average in schools with looser structure, autonomy, and creativity. Furthermore, Title I schools and high minority student population schools (≥50%) showed signs of innovation saturation, with no value added to student achievement (school grade averages) by reported innovation beyond a moderate level. Still, reported innovation level (overall categories of innovation) and student achievement (school grade averages) showed a negligible relationship (r = -.062). In conclusion, reported innovation existed in charter schools despite opposing forces, but was often similar across charter schools. In fact, past a moderate level of innovation, there was no value added to school grades for Title I and high minority charter schools. Yet, a weak, negative relationship existed between specific reported innovations in combination (professional development in pedagogy, tutoring programs, non-district behavior programs and incentive, and multiple levels) and student achievement (school grade averages) which can inform us on the nature of reporting. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2016. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

As part of the education reforms of the 1990s, charter schools were proposed as a private alternative to public education, offering parents and their children greater choices. Publicly financed but privately operated, charter schools have now grown in numbers and influence. While there are many studies of student outcomes in charter schools demonstrating mixed results, one negative outcome of charter schools has been less examined. Since inception, 23% of charter schools nationally have closed and these closures are disruptive to parents, children, and their school districts. This paper addresses charter school closures from an organizational perspective. Applying theory from population ecology and resource dependency theory, the population of nonprofit charter schools is examined. What are the primary determinants of charter school success and failure? Florida, with the third highest number of charter schools nationally and, at the same time, the highest number of charter school closures in the United States, is a paradox. This study identifies the significant variables that are related to school survival and failure in the state of Florida over the years 2015-16 through 2015-16. Variables tested in this study, using Survival Analysis (SA), include age, management structure, size, school performance, grants, and density. All variables except density at founding were significant in explaining the unique variance in survival rates among charters. Charter schools sub-contracted by for-profit educational management organizations (EMOs) were larger, achieved higher grades, secured more grants and achieved higher survival rates than their counterpart nonprofit, independent, and charter management organization (CMO) led schools. These results contribute to our understanding of charter school survival and failure, thereby informing public policy options to strengthen the charter school population and the nation’s public education system overall. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2017. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection