<p> As teacher recruitment intensifies to locate qualified teachers for our nation's classrooms, alternative teacher certification programs are becoming prevalent. Initially these programs were designed to attract professionals and college graduates to enter urban classrooms. However, what has occurred is that over 140 alternative certification programs are available to teacher candidates. Some of these programs are well designed with education courses and content area methodology along with pre-service teaching internships while others may not provide the opportunities for new teachers to be successful in their first years of teaching. This study investigated the perceptions of secondary school principals regarding the effectiveness of traditional and alternative teacher preparation programs.</p>

<p> Few classroom measures of English language proficiency have been evaluated for reliability and validity. This research examined the concurrent and predictive validity of an oral language test, titled A Developmental English Language Proficiency Test (ADEPT), and the relationship to the California English Language Development Test (CELDT) in the receptive/listening and expressive/speaking domains. Four years of retroactive data representing 392 student records were obtained from a local urban school district in Los Angeles County with a significant proportion of English language learners. After preparing the data file for analysis, data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) system. Cronbach's alpha was used to analyze the internal consistency of ADEPT. Pearson r analysis was performed to examine concurrent validity and predictive validity. Findings indicated moderate to high correlation coefficients of internal consistency in the first three levels of ADEPT. Concurrent validity results varied depending on the school year. In the most recent school year, 2012-2013, positive moderate to strong correlations were found. This relationship was weaker in each previous year. Overall, correlations increased and remained positive as sample size increased but predictive validity was weak for all three sets of comparative years. These findings support the use of ADEPT as a multiple measure, as a monitoring tool and to inform instruction. </p>

<p> Since No Child Left Behind legislation was enacted, accountability features intended to assure that all students receive quality education have influenced teachers' perceptions and actions in the classroom leading many to leave the profession. The problem is that high teacher attrition rates plague education. The intent of this research was to explore and discover teachers' experiences with NCLB, including how they made sense of their experiences, and how it affected their patterns of behaviors and decision making. Fifteen instructors of grades three through five in Texas participated in interviews and responded to a grand tour question. Utilizing classical grounded theory methodology, the core variable, <i>Caring Less,</i> emerged from the data. Initial stages began with conditions and consequences that were present in participants' experiences in the substantive area of teachers working with NCLB legislation, forming the framework for the theory. The theory, Caring Less, accounted for the greatest variation in participants' behavior explaining how educators resolved their main concerns. It established four main categories: conforming to the mandate, obeying authority, being in relationship, and wanting out. Overwhelmed and overloaded educators de-prioritized critical portions of their work, caring less about components of their employment that affect students. The high level of stress associated with the pressures of testing and accountability seriously impacted their role as educators and contributed to teacher demoralization and instructor attrition. Conclusions include the necessity for pre-service training at the university level to include instruction and practical experiences with co-teaching, new teacher induction and mentoring, and training for social and emotional competence. For veteran instructors, districts' likelihood of retaining teachers is greater if choices in voluntary staff development are offered, training in social emotional competence is available, and teacherpreneural opportunities are supported by school administration. For school districts, campus studies of burnout and modifying hiring practices to measure grit as part of the hiring process may improve teacher retention. Recommended for future research is administrative leadership due to its effect on campus culture. In this study, effective school leadership was the most significant factor in determining how educators perceived their ability to navigate their employment under NCLB.</p>

<p> The purpose of this study was to investigate the impacts of strategic partnerships between community colleges and key stakeholders; to specifically examine strategic partnerships; leadership decision-making; criteria to evaluate strategic partnerships that added value to the institution, value to the students, faculty, staff, and the local communities; and that furthered the community college mission. One-hundred and twenty-five higher education administrators from thirty seven states and one U.S. territory participated. </p><p> The literature defined strategic partnerships in higher education (Alfred, 2006; Gajda, 2004) and highlighted the theoretical constructs of strategic management (Alfred, 2006; Myran &amp; Howdyshell, 1994; Stahl &amp; Grigsby 1992), leadership decision-making (Bogart, 1994; Eaton, 1988; Strauss, 1978), collaboration theory (Gray, 1989; Schroeder, 1999), negotiation theory (Faberman, 1978; Strauss, 1978), and resource dependency theory (Nienh&uuml;ser, 2008; Strauss, 1982, Schwalb et al., 2011). The literature review established a basis for successful strategic partnerships. </p><p> A web-based survey was created by the author based on the literature and was reviewed by an expert panel. The sample included community college administrators, primarily College Presidents (<i>n</i> = 66). Data collection utilized SurveyMonkey. Data analysis was descriptive on seven research questions. </p><p> The recommendations abridged from the research study were: &bull; Reevaluate strategic partnerships to meet the current goals outlined in the existing community college mission statements. &bull; Modify the community college missions in the United States to be reflective of the federal mandates of accountability and degree completion. &bull; Provide greater inquiry by community college administrators over the costs and benefits of strategic partnerships to improve selections that ratify the missions with focused emphasis on accountability and degree attainment. &bull; Strengthen strategic partnerships that foster K-12 transitions, greater attainment of two-year degrees, and matriculation toward higher level degrees to be reflective of the higher expectations placed upon community colleges to meet the needs of diverse student populations. &bull; Advance and strengthen models of strategic partnerships, particularly with the university, to improve the effectiveness and increase successful transfer rates and higher rates of degree completion.</p>

Thesis (Ph.D.) -- Australian Catholic University, 2002. / A thesis submitted in total fulfillment of the requirements of Doctor of Philosophy. Bibliography: p. 323-342. Also available in an electronic format via the internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Drexel University, 2007. / Includes abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 145-151).

Abstract not available.

Four case studies were developed of women who were promoted to high school principalships in a public school district in Virginia, 1970 __ 2000. Using qualitative research methods, data were obtained through interviews, school system documents, and written media. The software package Ethnograph was used to code and analyze interview data. Three themes resulted from cross-case analysis: school district policies, school district culture, and women's career aspirations. Grounded in data from coding and analysis, a theory evolved that changes that occurred over time opened leadership opportunities for these four women, changes that emerged from society's pressure to the institution of education, then the individual. Further research is needed to corroborate this theory of change that impacted women's careers in education administration. / Ed. D.

<p> The purpose of this qualitative study was to examine Latinas' access to Advanced Placement/Honors courses in a Catholic female single-sex high school and to examine their experiences and perspectives when they are granted or denied access into an AP/Honors course. This study also aimed to explore how the Catholic single-sex high school is aligned with the Catholic, single-sex, and Advanced Placement advantage for Latina students who have been granted or denied access to an Advanced Placement/Honors course. The case study focused on one Catholic all-female high school in the Western United States and participants included Latina current students and alumnae (n=11), the high school principal (n=1), and teachers (n=2) from the school. Data was collected via document review, the gathering of descriptive data, as well as participant interviews. The theoretical framework used to analyze this data was a blend of Critical biculturalism, Chicana feminist theory, as well as the principles of Catholic social teaching. Findings highlight a fairly exclusive AP/Honors placement process with unclear guidelines to be followed in order to appeal a decision. Latinas' experiences range from feeling like outsiders and being made to feel not good enough, to feeling competitive and being resilient. Their perspectives on why they decided to appeal the decision of their placement had to do with their feeling that they had the capacity for advanced work, their driven nature, and their desire to be exposed to more learning. Further, perspectives also emerged concerning the school's sisterhood and its influence on issues of race and class. In regards to alignment with the Catholic, single-sex, and AP advantage the data illustrates that while participants seemingly agree that there are advantages, they are also cognizant of other factors that overshadow these advantages.</p>

<p> Principals are increasingly responsible for ensuring an equitable learning environment in their schools. The development of a disposition to meet this responsibility is an under-researched area. This study was a qualitative narrative analysis of the stories of five white, female, elementary principals from the same suburban school district who were interviewed to understand where their disposition may originate and how their disposition manifests itself in their self-reported decisions and actions. The following question became the focus of the research: What do principals report are the factors that support or challenge their decision-making regarding students and families with diverse characteristics? A qualitative inquiry method with an emphasis on narrative analysis was used to identify themes. These themes were illuminated using the lens of Bourdieu's sociological theory of habitus and field. Principal narratives of equity fell into two broad thematic areas of capital and management. Principals who participated in this study build social capital, which is then used as a currency to create and support equity with the other habitus and structures on the field. According to the analysis of the data, the stances principals take to provide equity include a managerial orientation. The analyses of the narratives reveal that where principals stand for equity is evident through the stories they tell rather than their statements of what they believe and value. This study suggests that building upon the stories of personal experiences may be a good starting point for professional development around issues of equity. These opportunities could strengthen a principal's ability to both understand and articulate a concrete set of self-expectations for equity. Additionally, Bourdieu's theory of habitus and field presents a way to understand a principal's actions and intentions on their field of work. </p>