<p> This action research study explored the complex nature of homeless adults and their perceptions of barriers to mental health services. Barriers to mental health services and a lack of resources for homeless adults are social justice issues explored in the study. The participants were homeless adults with a history of substance abuse, diagnosis of Hepatitis C (HCV) infection, and mental illness. A qualitative approach allowed for data analysis which described the experiences of homeless adults living with HCV infection. Due to the stigma assigned by HCV based on the prevalence of HCV being contracted by substance abuse, a defined high-risk behavior, the homeless adults were not offered mental health services. As a result, the homeless adults did not get treatment.</p>

<p> With changing academic standards, more rigorous state assessments, growing diversity among student populations, decreased school funding, and high achievement expectations from the state and federal government, teachers have a very challenging and demanding job. Fully aware of these high expectations from the education community, school leaders and teachers continue to explore strategies that will improve the quality of classroom instruction and help increase achievement for all students. </p><p> This study was conducted in a large urban K-12 school district in the southwestern United States with a district enrollment of approximately 63,000 students. The study employed a multi-method, correlational, descriptive, non-experimental research design. Quantitative data were collected through teacher completion of a professional learning community (PLC) questionnaire and the Arizona Instrument to Measure Standards (AIMS) math assessment. The Professional Learning Communities Assessment-Revised (PLCA-R) questionnaire enabled teachers to report the extent to which they engage in practices known to support the development of a well-functioning PLC. In addition, qualitative data were collected through individual teacher interviews. </p><p> This study determined the correlation between grade-level team overall implementation of PLCs measured by teacher completion of the PLCA-R questionnaire and student achievement of fourth-grade students measured by the AIMS math assessment. The study also determined the correlation between the individual dimensions of PLC implementation by grade-level teams measured by teacher completion of the PLCA-R questionnaire and student achievement of fourth-grade students measured by the AIMS math assessment. The individual dimensions of PLCs included shared and supportive leadership, shared values and vision, collective learning and application, shared personal practice, supportive conditions-relationships, and supportive conditions-structures. </p><p> A Pearson product-moment analysis found no significant correlation between grade-level team implementation of PLCs, overall or by dimension, and fourth-grade student achievement measured by AIMS math percent passing scores and median growth percentiles. Although no significant correlation was found, qualitative data from the in-depth individual teacher interviews resulted in several themes related to PLCs and student achievement. Teachers spoke passionately about knowledge of student performance, quality of instruction, support for collaboration, and shared leadership and how those factors relate to improved teaching and increased student learning. </p><p> The results of this study may help other leaders and educators understand more completely the relationship between the dimensions of PLCs and student achievement. Furthermore, the study provides implications for practice that may enhance teacher collaboration with a focus on improved instructional practices and high levels of learning for all students.</p>

<p> This study investigated the perceptions of Black and White central office administrators regarding the Black-White achievement gap. Four research questions (RQ) were explored: RQ1: How docentral office administrators understand the causes of the Black-White achievement gap? RQ2: How do central office administrators perceive their role in impacting the Black-White achievement gap? RQ3: How docentral office administrators address Black-White achievement gaps in their districts? RQ4: How do perceptions about achievement gaps and agency vary between Black and White central office administrators? Data for this qualitative study were gathered in 15 interviews with current and former central office administrators from seven districts in the Middle Atlantic region. Eight of those interviewed were White and seven were Black. Relationships between teachers and students were viewed as a major factor in the creation of achievement gaps. Raising the issue of gaps and providing professional development to educators are two major ways central office administrators viewed their role. Teachers and their inability to develop positive relationships with students were identified by participants in the study as a major obstacle in closing achievement gaps. Administrators used a multifaceted approach to addressing achievement gaps including working directly with students, parents, educators (through professional development), and changing the structure of the school day to provide intervention. A major distinction between Black and White administrators in the study had to do with the perceived obstacle of alienation. Five of the seven Black administrators expressed some sense of alienation due either to job title (typically those who work in offices of diversity or equity) or race. </p><p> <i>Keywords:</i> achievement gap, central office administrator, social capital, deficit thinking,color-blindness, White privilege, and identity. </p>

<p> Violence among America's youth, both in schools and in their surrounding communities, has become a serious concern as a public health issue with physical, economic, social, and psychological consequences (Cooper, Faccia, Hepworth, &amp; Lutenbacher, 2003). School districts are now required to provide safe learning environments under the guidelines of the NCLB (Greenberg, 2004). The programs available to assist school districts in combating this aggressive behavior can be costly and often times ineffective for long term results. </p><p> The purpose of this qualitative mega-analysis is threefold. The first purpose is to identify the intervention methods used most often as prevention and/or repair strategies for aggressive behavior among school-age students by analyzing prior quantitative research on the topic. The second purpose is to create a qualitative mega-analysis of behavior intervention strategies that is easier to understand for teachers and school districts while adding to current research in the field. The third and final purpose is to help schools minimize costs and give them the tools needed to identify their greatest school and/or district need, detect common situations, and solve their own problems.</p>

<p> Whether academic achievement is defined as passing a state-mandated test for graduation or earning "A's" in a rigorous course load and having a resume full of extra-curricular accomplishments, the pressure to achieve is pervading public education, creating a culture of competition and causing academic stress. A culture of competition within a school can negatively affect adolescents during a developmental stage in which other's expectations influence the way adolescents' view themselves. Many school leaders struggle with how to rigorously prepare students for the 21^st century and global markets, within the confines of a seven-hour school day. </p><p> Popular and journalistic literature acknowledged the issue of academic stress (Robbins, 2006), and some researchers recognized the prevalence of academic stress among high achieving students (Connor, Pope, &amp; Galloway, 2009; Pope, 2001; Pope &amp; Simon, 2005; Richard, 2009) in this academically competitive time. However, the literature had not yet addressed how the school's organizational culture, specifically the scheduling of courses, organization of time, homework and workload policies, and extracurricular activities caused or alleviated academic stress. The researcher conducted three-part interviews with students and school leaders to learn about their experiences with academic stress in an academically competitive school culture. The researcher learned that there were positive and negative impacts of academic stress and that some of the main causes included simultaneous deadlines, conflicts between extracurricular activities and homework, and busywork. This study is important for school leaders, particularly to examine whether and how high school students perceive and articulate that time-related school components common in high school culture (such as scheduling, homework/workload policies, and extracurricular activities) contribute to these students' stress levels. The study illuminated similarities and differences in student versus school leader perception about the stress of time-related school components on students. The researcher hopes that the understandings gained from this study will help school leaders make decisions on how to schedule teacher and student time.</p>

<p> Private liberal arts colleges are uniquely American institutions whose very existence is due to the philanthropic generosity of individuals and organizations (Thelin, 2004). They receive little direct government support and rely on tuition revenues, endowment earnings, and philanthropy to balance their budgets, making them susceptible to shifts in the economy (Balderston, 1995). How these institutions plan for the future and how philanthropy factors into these plans was an important question to examine (Connell, 2006). This study addressed deficiencies in the literature by providing an in-depth view of how the constituencies of a singular four-year, private liberal arts college believed that philanthropy affected a strategic planning process and how administrative decision-making models were used during this process. </p><p> The following research questions were addressed: a.) How did philanthropy affect planning for capital projects within a strategic plan? b.) How did philanthropy affect the focus of current and future academic offerings of an institution? c.) How did philanthropic considerations affect the organizational structure which supports the fulfillment of the strategic plan? A total of 23 key informants were interview for this study and 58 pages of materials were reviewed. Using case study methodology provided practitioners and scholars with a deeper understanding of how philanthropy and strategic planning have a mutual influence upon one another. Also, exploring how decision-making models were utilized in this process provided an important insight into the practice of shared governance and decision-making at a liberal arts college. </p><p> It was evident during the case study of Selective College that philanthropy did play a role in facility planning, and the implementation of new value-added academic and co-curricular programs. The core mission, values, and academic focus of Selective College were not altered due to the influence of philanthropy during the strategic planning exercise. In addition, new administrative positions were created to increase philanthropic revenue. There was also a focus on increasing revenue through tuition and fees leading to investments in admissions and marketing efforts. A new form of institutional decision-making emerged during this study which allowed for feedback, but resulted in institutional leadership making final decisions with a focus on increasing revenues.</p>

<p> Careful journaling spanning ten years of classroom work in elementary and middle school grades was the data used in the research. Utilizing journals and various forms of correspondence and note-taking, this investigation demonstrates what is required of classroom teachers and the reaction to more and more demands being made on their time with students.</p><p> The research indicated that standardized testing, data collection and the dehumanization of students and deskilling of teachers continues to grow each year exacerbated by less funding and less autonomy of the teacher in the classroom.</p><p> <i>Key Words:</i> Praxis, critical pedagogy, conscientization, critical theory, Common Core, No Child Left Behind, standardized testing, high stakes testing, deskilling, ESOL, ESL, autoethnography, Freire, hope, poverty, racism.</p>

<p> The following is a doctoral dissertation that studied administrators', teachers', and parents' perceptions and attitudes related to an early childhood center/preschool accreditation experience. A qualitative case study of one preschool center focused on the influence that the decision to pursue accreditation and implement the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) self-study process had on administrators, teachers, and parents. Interviews with administrators, teachers, and parents explored (a) issues that motivated the pursuit of NAEYC accreditation; (b) the NAEYC guidelines and their experience of the self-study and quality-improvement process; and (c) their perception of outcomes following accreditation. Current NAEYC guidelines are based on key child development theories and research, and require programs to integrate Developmentally Appropriate Practices (DAP) in school curricula and staff training. It was necessary to explore how these NAEYC recommendations regarding DAP were interpreted during the quality-improvement and accreditation process. Key themes and issues around the accreditation experience were revealed through analyses of qualitative data. This case study of NAEYC accreditation illuminated factors in the decision to pursue accreditation and implement quality improvements leading to NAEYC accreditation. This case may serve as a model of a successful accreditation process to encourage early childhood centers to undertake quality improvements and pursue national NAEYC accreditation.</p>

<p> The academic achievement gap between African American and Caucasian students continues to be a major concern for policymakers and educators. This gap started to shrink in the 1970s and 1980s with integration, but the 1990s showed the achievement gap was on the rise again. The characteristics of the neighborhoods where children live and attend school have a great impact on their academic performances. This research study examined the relationship between poverty, community violence and the academic performance of elementary school age children, especially African American students. Seventy-eight public elementary schools were randomly chosen in Los Angeles County that had at least 10% African American students who completed the reading achievement test in each primary grade level (2-5 grade levels) in April 2012. The results showed that poverty and community violence had a significant negative impact on reading achievement test scores for African American students. Furthermore, the impact of community violence was twice that of poverty on academic performance. On the other hand, Caucasian students&rsquo; test scores were significantly impacted by poverty and not community violence. One explanation for this difference was that African American students experienced twice as much community violence in their neighborhoods as compared to Caucasian students. Since educators cannot change neighborhood characteristics, they need to focus on developing educational models that mitigate the impact of community violence and trauma on African American students.</p>

<p>The purpose of this quantitative study was to examine the educator&rsquo;s perception of the optimal professional development experience. Research studies have concluded that the biggest indicator to predict student achievement is teacher effectiveness (Aaronson, Barrow, &amp; Sander, 2007; Marzano, 2003; Sanders &amp; Horn, 1998; Wong 2001). Guskey (2000) stated, &ldquo;Never before in the history of education has greater importance been attached to the professional development of educators&rdquo; (p. 3). School districts continue to face reduced budgets and continue to expend resources on professional development. In addition, states such as Indiana have recently changed their evaluation system to encourage more professional development at the school and district level. A survey was created to analyze educator perceptions of professional development in five Midwest states: Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, and Kentucky. The survey collected basic teacher demographic data: gender (male/female), licensure (elementary K&ndash;5, secondary 6&ndash;12), years of experience (0&ndash;5, 6&ndash;10, 11&ndash;15, 16&ndash;20, and 20 or more), and position type (teacher/principal). The survey consisted of 35 questions that focused on educator perceptions of professional development. In all, 396 educators from 18 school districts across five Midwest states responded to the survey instrument. A statistical analysis of the responses provided composite mean scores and standard deviations. A factorial ANOVA was used to test the first hypothesis. An independent samples t-test was used to test the second, fourth, and fifth hypotheses. A one-way ANOVA was used to test the third hypothesis. There was a significant difference between position type (teacher/principal) and licensure (elementary K&ndash;5, secondary 6&ndash;12) on their perceptions of professional development. Principals responded with a higher perception of professional development than teachers. Elementary licensure, K&ndash;5th grade teachers, also responded with a higher perception of professional development. There was no significant difference between gender (male/female) and years of experience (0&ndash;5, 6&ndash;10, 11&ndash;15, 16&ndash;20, and 20 or more). Educators responded that their perception of the most effective forms of professional development were having more time to work with colleagues (86.6%), using a professional learning community model (85.7%), and attending conferences and workshops (84.9%). In addition, educators had a higher perception of the effectiveness of professional development at the school level versus the district level. </p>