Research has demonstrated that many children and adolescents exhibiting behavior problems also evidence serious reading problems as well as a low self-efficacy (i.e., belief in their ability) toward reading. The consequences of these problems on both the student (e.g., dropping out of school) and society as a whole (e.g., cost to taxpayers) are serious and, in most cases, preventable. In order to prevent students from dropping out of school and to empower teachers with a method for removing disruptive students from the classroom, many states have implemented alternative education programs. The purpose of this study was to implement an effective reading intervention in a disciplinary alternative school where students were assigned from 20-40 days for infractions such as fighting, threatening others, and excessive office referrals. The design consisted of a series of 26 single-case AB studies. Subjects were ages 12-16 in a mid-sized city in Central Texas. There were 19 males and 7 females. Subjects were mostly of African American and Hispanic backgrounds, and the majority received some form of special education services. Data were analyzed using visual and statistical single case model techniques. Results suggest that an intensive oral reading fluency program can positively impact the oral reading fluency, accuracy, comprehension, self-efficacy toward reading, and social comparison with regard to the reading ability of students placed in a disciplinary alternative education program on a short-term basis.

Research has demonstrated that many children and adolescents exhibiting behavior problems also evidence serious reading problems as well as a low self-efficacy (i.e., belief in their ability) toward reading. The consequences of these problems on both the student (e.g., dropping out of school) and society as a whole (e.g., cost to taxpayers) are serious and, in most cases, preventable. In order to prevent students from dropping out of school and to empower teachers with a method for removing disruptive students from the classroom, many states have implemented alternative education programs. The purpose of this study was to implement an effective reading intervention in a disciplinary alternative school where students were assigned from 20-40 days for infractions such as fighting, threatening others, and excessive office referrals. The design consisted of a series of 26 single-case AB studies. Subjects were ages 12-16 in a mid-sized city in Central Texas. There were 19 males and 7 females. Subjects were mostly of African American and Hispanic backgrounds, and the majority received some form of special education services. Data were analyzed using visual and statistical single case model techniques. Results suggest that an intensive oral reading fluency program can positively impact the oral reading fluency, accuracy, comprehension, self-efficacy toward reading, and social comparison with regard to the reading ability of students placed in a disciplinary alternative education program on a short-term basis.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the psycholinguistic abilities which the disadvantaged child brings with him to the preschool setting, and the growth in language development made during his participation in the program.

No description available.

In 2009 alarming rates of childhood obesity resulted in the Government of Ontario launching a province-wide initiative through the Ministry of Health Promotion & Sport. This study focused on Eastview Boys and Girls Club (Eastview unit) in Oshawa, Ontario and examined immediate impacts of an after-school snack program involving close to 100-children daily. Data collection included key informant interviews (n=7); one focus group interview with parents (n=8); three interactive children‟s sessions, and document review. Findings identified changes in children‟s eating behaviours (e.g., willingness to try new foods) and shifts in staff attitudes (e.g., role-modelling). Facilitators included staff commitment, strong partnerships, and previous program accreditation. Organizational barriers included gaps in nutrition-related knowledge/skills of staff and insufficient program-specific training and resources. Recommendations call for building capacities at individual-, organizational- and community-levels to strengthen the nutritional component of the after-school initiative. Future research should evaluate long-term outcomes of the snack program. / UOIT

The dissertation examines the Texas Foundation School Program (FSP) empirically to determine its effectiveness in meeting state constitutional requirements and legislative policy goals. Three research questions guided this study, two of which focused on the relationship between campus-level expenditures and standardized test performance, while the third analyzed the influence of a district’s property wealth designation on its respective accountability rating. Longitudinal Texas Academic Excellence Indicator System data, consisting of selected academic performance indicators and funding components, was collected from the Texas Education Agency. Approximately 7,000 campuses and 1,050 districts per year of study comprised this data. Ordinary least squares multiple regressions and multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify significant predictors of campus expenditures, campus standardized testing performance, and district academic accountability ratings. After examining the FSP and its funding components empirically, evidence suggests that while campus-level funding components positively predict the ability of a campus to spend, they do not predict campus academic performance. Key campus funding components, such as compensatory education and special education, do not appear to be funded at appropriate levels to contribute to positive performance outcomes. If vertical equity is important, then the FSP appears to have the conceptual structure, but not the funding levels, in place to contribute to positive academic outcomes at the campus level. Data also suggests that a district’s wealth designation is not a significant predictor of accountability ratings. Though property wealth plays a key role in determining district revenue and expenditures, it does not appear to influence Texas accountability ratings to the same extent.

The purpose of this study is to determine an evaluative instrument for evaluating a modern school program.

This thesis presents an analysis of 1996/97 survey research data regarding the relationship between three types of Teton Science School (TSS) programs and classroom teachers ' ability to teach about the environment. Based on observations by resident instructors and faculty at TSS, three research questions were developed. The primary objective of the research questions was to consider the relationship between TSS residential education programs and participating teachers' ability to teach about the environment. Analyses are based on comparing descriptive statistics of teachers who have participated in one of the three types ofTSS programs or a combination of the three types of programs. Where appropriate, first-order distributional comparisons are considered. Findings of the thesis include: 1) in general, teachers who participate in TSS programs reported doing a great deal of teaching about the environment and have a positive attitude toward environmental education (EE); 2) both TSS residential education programs and outreach programs, although specifically designed for students, help teachers to incorporate EE into their teaching; 3) specific components of TSS teacher workshops, TSS residential education programs, and TSS outreach programs, which include spending time outdoors and observing others teach, were rated very highly by participating teachers for teachers' ability to incorporate EE into their teaching. This thesis supports the idea that teacher training in environmental education can include programs that are designed for students, specifically participation in residential education programs. This thesis contributes to the future design of programs at TSS and similar centers and to the literature on long-term evaluation studies in EE, specifically teacher training in EE.

The purpose of this study was to measure whether an after-school environmental education program based on modified Project Wild materials, positively impacted third graders environmental knowledge, attitudes and behavioral intentions. Eight lesson plans were developed, piloted and re-designed over a one year period and then delivered to third graders for a total of eight weeks in a fall semester. The lessons included units on water, air, land, recycling, insects, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. A pre-post test retrospective questionnaire was developed to determine changes in the participant's knowledge, attitudes and behavioral intentions as a result of participating in the program. Results indicate positive shifts in knowledge and changes in environmental attitudes and behavioral intentions. Recommendations were also made for future studies.

The purposes of this study was to investigate the junior high school students¡¦ perceptions of ¡uQuality Senior High School Program¡v and the factors of selecting senior high schools for further study. 1,112 8th and 9th graders of Pingtung County junior high schools were sampled to complete a 37 ¡V items questionnaire. Based on reliability and validity analyses, the 37 ¡V items were divided into 6 dimensions as follows: school and teachers¡¦ performances, recommendation from relatives or friends, school propaganda, personal selection factor, school activity, and the distance between home and school. The descriptive analysis, t-test, one-way ANOVA, and Logistic Regression were conducted to come to the following findings: 1. Most of the countries in the world adopt school district, in high school education and their students enroll nearby schools mostly. 2. The main purpose of promoting the Quality Senior High School Program is to make the students who have good achievements remain in local schools, and develop the school characterization. 3. The students in the north district of Pingtung County have highly approval towards Quality Senior High School Program. 4. The top three factors that influenced junior high students selecting which senior high to study are individual factors, the reputation of school and the faculties, and the transportation convenience. 5. The eighth grades and students from remote areas have higher recognition of the Quality Senior High School Program. 6. Students from different background are wide varied while making school choice. 7. Over 50% of junior high students are willing to enroll senior high schools nearby. 8. Individual factors, school activities, and distance between home and school will effectively predict the students¡¦ willingness to select neighboring senior high schools. According to the results stated above, the researcher offers several suggestions for the educational authorities, senior high schools and junior high schools in the north district of Pingtung County, hoping to be of referential value as far as related research and practice are concerned.