Due to gaps in literature exploring communication outcomes in Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) children with access to more than one spoken language, limited agreement on optimal language use for DHH children, and an ongoing cultural and linguistic loss in this population, the aim of this pilot study was to further the literature and comprehensively explore the impact of oral bilingualism in DHH children. Participants were self-selected and recruited primarily through relevant social media. Speech and language development in children were observed and quantified at two time points (at the time of enrollment into the study and subsequently after 3-4 months of initial assessment), through administration of standardized questionnaires and twenty minutes of conversational play language samples between the parent and child. Specific language constructs such as the mean length utterance, number of total words, number of different words, and rate of spoken words per minute were analyzed. Speech production skills were assessed by identifying the sounds the child was able to produce during the conversational play sample to compare to monolingual norms. The data from the five case studies presented in this paper indicated that DHH children with access to more than one language were able to develop language skills on par with their typical hearing peers when factors such as early acoustic access, linguistically rich environment, and active parent advocacy were present.

Every child in America is entitled to a free public education; however, racial disparities in academics and discipline continue to grow in America’s school system (Glock et al., 2019; Muñiz, 2019). These racial disparities begin in preschool, following the students throughout their school years. African American students, specifically African American males, are three times more likely than their Caucasian peers to be suspended in preschool (CRDC, 2016; Musu-Gillette et al., 2016). Suspension at an early age correlates with students entering juvenile detentions, prisons and incompletion of schooling (Love, 2014; Meek & Gilliam,2016; Muñiz, 2019). Culturally responsive teaching and classroom management practices are a solution to reduce overrepresentation in exclusionary discipline practices; however, many educators remain unprepared to teach minority students (Muñiz, 2019; Taylor & Wendt, 2023). This research study used an exploratory mixed methods design to examine the associations between culturally responsive classroom management self-efficacy scores and preschool teachers’ privilege scores. Associations between race and privilege scores and between culturally responsive classroom management self-efficacy scores and teacher demographics were also examined. Data was collected and analyzed in two phases. In Phase I, 471 teachers from public school classroom, Head Start, and private preschool classrooms completed a survey combining the Culturally Responsive Classroom Management Self-Efficacy Scale (Siwatu et al.,2017) and a Privilege Test (McIntosh, 1990). In Phase II, the researcher chose six preschool teachers (two each from public, Head Start, and private preschool classrooms) to participate in a semi-structured interview. Results indicated a significant negative correlation between teacher privilege scores and teacher culturally responsive classroom management self-efficacy scores, r(471) = -.171, p < .000. Significant associations were also found between culturally responsive self-efficacy classroom management and race, teacher work experience, educational background and educational site. Qualitative results indicated that all interviewees agreed culturally responsive practices include all children’s cultural background, values, and experiences. Interviewees said that culturally responsive classroom management should be a necessity in the classroom. They felt that the absence of minority teachers is harmful to all students and that professional development should be a requirement. Results suggest that there are benefits to including culturally responsive classroom management models in teacher education programs and professional development to prepare all teachers with the skills to aid the growing, diverse population of students.

This study explored the perspectives of speech language pathologists and school psychologists, to identify the systemic challenges they identified that negatively impact how emerging bilingual students are referred, assessed, and identified for special education. This qualitative study used semi-structured interviews with 6 speech language pathologists and 6 school psychologists (n=12) to explore these challenges and barriers, as well as to look at the systems of belief present on campuses, that impact this process. Using a systems thinking framework and detailed inductive analysis of the data many themes emerged related to barriers such as difficulty finding an interpreter and ensuring that interpreter was reliable in their translations, limited access to bilingual resources, and inconsistent and unclear referral systems. Moreover, participants reported that many biases related to race and culture were present on their campuses and impacted how emerging bilingual students were referred for assessment. This study’s findings indicate a need for changes to be made at the federal, state, district, and school levels to address the various challenges present and to improve the overall system.

The purpose of this study was to determine the racial awareness of majority group member students at East Tennessee State University (ETSU) and factors related to racial awareness. Seven research questions and five hypotheses were examined. The Oklahoma Racial Attitudes Survey-Preliminary Form (ORAS-P) was used to identify the racial awareness of White students enrolled at ETSU during the fall of 1999. Forty-six classes were surveyed obtaining a sample totaling 395 students. In addition to completing the ORAS-P, students in the sample were asked the following demographic questions: gender, age, city and state of birth, name and location of high school from which they graduated, race, parents occupation and highest level of education, annual family income, college classification, number of core classes that have a diversity component completed at ETSU, and the nature of contact they have had with someone of a different race. Once the students' racial awareness levels were determined, t-tests and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to test for differences between subgroups on the ORAS-P. Results showed that annual family income and contact with minorities were significantly related to racial awareness while the percentage of minorities in the high school the respondent graduated from and the number of core classes having a diversity component completed at ETSU were not related to racial awareness. Hierarchical multiple regression was used to determine how effectively the independent variables could predict one's level of racial awareness. Analysis showed that the variables of age, gender, annual family income, and contact (with minorities) were the most significant predictors of racial awareness.

Each year, there is an increase of English Language Learners (ELLS) entering today's classrooms. A third grade teacher can be faced with having multiple ELLs in the classroom and still be required to teach them alongside native English speakers. Furthermore, third grade science teachers are also responsible for preparing all students in the classroom to comprehend and utilize scientific academic language based upon the Florida State Standards. Additionally, students are required on the FSA Florida Assessment to write about science content. Therefore, scaffolded instruction for ELLs, which will prepare them to write about science content is critical. This research study explored two third grade teachers' perspectives on implementing sentence frames and word banks in order to increase the writing levels of ELLs during science lectures. A professional development session was conducted by the researcher with the two participating third grade teachers regarding the use of sentence frames and word banks with ELLs while teaching science content. The teachers, thereafter, conducted a science lesson using the scaffolded strategy of sentence frames and word banks. It was found that when the third grade science teachers implemented sentence frames and word banks during science lectures, the ELLs showed improvement in their writing as well as their use of scientific academic language. Both teachers stated that their ELLs were somewhat completing more of their science worksheets than before the intervention. These results can conclude that implementing sentence frames and word banks during science lectures can increase the writing levels of ELLs during science lectures.

As schools have become more diverse ethnically and linguistically, the likelihood of cultural mismatches among students, families, and teachers has increased (Frank, 1999). Culturally relevant pedagogy has at its core the understanding that incorporating students‘ culture into the practices of the school and the classroom through culturally relevant curriculum is likely to improve student cooperation, inspire a greater understanding of the educational program, and increase academic outcomes (Brown, 2004). These pedagogies have the potential to be a vital tool toward closing the achievement gap, yet the practices associated with them are in danger of meeting the same fate as multicultural education. A lack of knowledge about the theory, practice, and implementation of culturally relevant pedagogy has led to ineffective attempts to meet the needs of students most at risk (White-Clark, 2005). Using the five themes of Critical Race Theory (Solórzano & Yosso, 2001) as the theoretical framework, the research examined how teachers perceive and implement culturally relevant pedagogy, and how students and their families perceive and evaluate these practices. This research conducted at a inner city, charter elementary school was grounded on Ladson-Billings‘ work on culturally relevant pedagogy and the three concepts of knowledge that she identified that teachers must bring to the classroom and impart to their students: a) Academic achievement, b) Cultural competence, and c) Sociopolitical consciousness (Ladson-Billings, 2001). The educational significance of this study resides in an analysis of its potential to influence teaching practices in many existing classroom settings that have an ethnically diverse population of students. On a micro level, through the use of catalytic validity and ongoing dialogue with the participants, the potential arose for members of the school community to have greater input in the structuring of their children‘s education. As members of the school community engage in future decisions regarding culturally relevant strategies, these research findings offer them an informed and critical perspective to work from.

Nearly 25,000 graduating high school students across California have earned state recognition for achieving proficiency in multiple languages in 2014. This exploratory, mixed-methods study investigated the early implementation of the State Seal of Biliteracy (SSB) in California. Sixty-two district personnel were surveyed, three SSB directors were interviewed, and a document review was conducted. Overall, the study revealed four themes that influence the implementation of the SSB at the district level: Intentional Creation of an Ecology of Biliteracy, Developing Notions for Biliteracy Scripts and Assessment, Privileging Sequential Biliteracy Development—Scarcity of Biliteracy Pathways, and Individual and Collective Agency for Biliteracy. Hornberger’s (2003) continua of biliteracy was used as a theoretical framework to analyze this study’s findings.

As the student population in U.S. public schools becomes more diverse, with an increase of students of color and from low socioeconomic backgrounds, it is critical that the opportunity gaps in our education system are addressed to provide an equitable education for urban youth. To mitigate these gaps, there is a need for an experienced urban teacher workforce, but urban schools face staffing challenges that make this difficult. There is an exceptional need for Latina/o teachers, who demonstrate positive impacts on Latina/o students, the largest minority population nationwide, however, the retention rate amongst Latina/o teachers is lower than that of other demographics. This phenomenological qualitative research study explored the personal and professional factors that sustain Latina veteran urban teachers in a predominantly Latina/o school district through the development of testimonios. Data was collected through a survey, instructional documents, and interviews to produce the individual testimonios of each participant’s history as a Latina veteran urban teacher and a cross-case analysis of the participants’ shared experiences. The findings demonstrated that Latina veteran urban teachers possessed la chispa, the spark, for serving students who share their cultural and linguistic identity. These teachers ignited, fueled, and preserved their chispa through various personal and professional factors, including a commitment to serving urban students, a dedication to continuous professional growth, and the support from personal and professional networks. These findings can inform teacher preparation programs and school systems on how to prepare and sustain Latina teachers for long-term careers in urban education.

Educational attainment among Hispanic populations in the United States remains a challenge, particularly among Mexican Americans who exhibit lower rates of degree completion. This dissertation examined the influence of cultural factors, specifically familism and collectivism, on the educational experiences of Mexican American undergraduate women at San Joaquin Delta College (SJDC) in California's San Joaquin Valley. The study aimed to elucidate how levels of familism and collectivism predict social, academic, and psychological support needs, as well as success strategies among this demographic. Literature highlights the significance of familism, emphasizing familial obligations, and collectivism, prioritizing group harmony, within Mexican American communities. Mexican American daughters often face conflicting demands between familial responsibilities and educational aspirations, a phenomenon previously underexplored in quantitative research. The research employed a quantitative survey design, distributed to undergraduate Mexican American female students at SJDC. The survey included scales measuring familism, collectivism, and social support, as well as researcher-developed scales for academic support, psychological support, and success strategies. Data collection and analysis adhered to rigorous standards, including IRB approval and comprehensive statistical analyses. Results revealed significant correlations between familism and the need for social and psychological support. Students with higher familism scores reported greater reliance on family networks for emotional sustenance but also experienced increased stress from balancing family obligations with academics. Collectivism was positively associated with utilizing peer study groups and seeking academic support. Interestingly, students with moderate levels of both familism and collectivism demonstrated the most effective use of success strategies, such as time management and goal setting. These findings informed tailored interventions at SJDC to enhance support services and promote academic persistence. Recommendations included developing family-inclusive academic counseling programs and culturally sensitive peer mentoring initiatives. This study contributes to discussions on addressing educational inequities and fostering inclusivity within Hispanic-serving institutions. It underscores the importance of considering cultural factors in designing support systems for underrepresented student populations. Future research directions include longitudinal studies to track the impact of culturally informed interventions on graduation rates and career outcomes for Mexican American women in higher education.

No description available.