The problem investigated in this quantitative study was that schools in a small, rural East Texas town were falling below acceptable ratings in reading on the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) and the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR). Researchers have found that constructive-based learning environments (CBLEs) can improve student achievement. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between length of time enrolled in a CBLE and reading achievement. Based on the framework of constructivism, 2 research questions were examined. To answer Research Question 1, an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) calculated the difference in reading achievement as measured by the TAKS in 2011 and the STAAR in 2015, between 5th grade students (N = 81) enrolled in a CBLE for more than 2 years (Group 1) and students enrolled in a CBLE for less than 1 year (Group 2) when adjusted for 4th grade scores. Results showed that Group 1 students demonstrated higher adjusted mean reading scores than Group 2 students on TAKS with F(1, 32) = 15.374, p = < .001 and on STAAR with F(2, 42) = 9.427, p < 001. To answer Research Question 2, an independent-samples t test compared the means of the reading scores growth from 4th to 5th grade. The result showed no significant difference in TAKS with t = .607, p = .548 and in STAAR with t = .277, p = .783. America's reliance on standardized tests influences the way in which reading is taught. Examining standardized reading test outcomes may indicate how teaching and learning environments affect student success. This information may lead to positive social change as educators examine teaching and testing goals, ultimately contributing to student success on standardized tests.

This study surveys a sample of second-, fourth-, and sixth-grade teachers' proficiencies in three areas of standardized achievement test information—knowledge of standardized test terminology, interpretation of standardized tests, and application of standardized test results in program planning. A comparison is also made of teacher knowledge of standardized tests and public school administrators' expectations of teachers' skills. The purposes of the study were to determine elementary teachers' knowledge of standardized achievement test terminology, interpretation and application of test score information. This determination was made across the three variables, grade level taught, highest degree earned, and the number of years teaching experience.

abstract: Teacher mobility is a policy issue that affects students and school across the country. Despite a long-standing body of research related to teacher mobility, relatively little is known about how teacher-school pairings affect teachers’ decisions to stay at or leave their schools. Therefore, this study tested a model of teacher-school fit with a focus on the value that teachers and principals place on standardized test scores. Survey responses were collected from 382 K-8th grade public school teachers from 22 schools in two school districts. The results show that teachers who placed higher values on standardized test scores reported slightly higher levels of teacher-school fit and were slightly less likely to leave their schools within five years. Additionally, teachers’ self-assessed teacher-school fit showed a strong, positive relationship with teacher retention. These findings suggest that a better understanding of the factors that affect teachers’ sense of teacher-school fit may help reduce teacher mobility. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Educational Leadership and Policy Studies 2017

Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2017-09-28T13:02:38Z No. of bitstreams: 1 giovannasaraivabezerrabarbosa.pdf: 1509646 bytes, checksum: 380ea8fa2010d882479c25b326f720cb (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2017-09-28T14:15:14Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 giovannasaraivabezerrabarbosa.pdf: 1509646 bytes, checksum: 380ea8fa2010d882479c25b326f720cb (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-09-28T14:15:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 giovannasaraivabezerrabarbosa.pdf: 1509646 bytes, checksum: 380ea8fa2010d882479c25b326f720cb (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-12-19 / A presente dissertação é desenvolvida no âmbito do Mestrado Profissional em Gestão e Avaliação da Educação (PPGP) do Centro de Políticas Públicas e Avaliação da Educação da Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora (CAEd/UFJF). O caso de gestão estudado discute o uso da Prova Padronizada pelos professores, coordenadores e diretores das escolas de 6º ao 9º anos do Ensino Fundamental da Rede Municipal de Ensino de Teresina-PI, na perspectiva de que esta avaliação seja utilizada como uma ferramenta pedagógica com vistas a melhorar seu processo de implementação. A Prova Padronizada é uma avaliação externa, de Língua Portuguesa e Matemática, realizada com os alunos do 6º ao 9º anos. Os objetivos definidos para este estudo foram, além de investigar de que maneira se dá a apropriação dos resultados da Prova Padronizada como ferramenta pedagógica nas escolas municipais de Teresina, descrever o processo de implantação e implementação da Prova Padronizada, desde a sua concepção (2009) até o ano de 2015, na Rede Municipal de Teresina; compreender como os atores escolares se apropriam dos resultados da Prova Padronizada no período recortado nesta pesquisa e propor ações voltadas para a melhoria do processo que envolve a Prova Padronizada de forma que seja adotada nas escolas, pelos professores, diretores e coordenadores pedagógicos como um instrumento pedagógico que contribua de modo mais consistente para a aprendizagem dos alunos. Para tanto, utilizamos como metodologia a pesquisa quanti-qualitativa e como instrumento o questionário aplicado aos professores de Língua Portuguesa e Matemática, diretores e coordenadores pedagógicos que atuam nas escolas de 6º ao 9º anos da Rede. Percebeu-se que os sujeitos compreendem que a Prova Padronizada tem uma função diagnóstica. Entretanto, o uso e a apropriação dos seus resultados ainda se apresentam de forma frágil, necessitando de ações voltadas para superação desta postura diante dos dados das avaliações. Buscamos nos referenciais teóricos a discussão sobre matriz e currículo, avaliação externa e interna, por serem questões que ampliam a compreensão sobre a Prova Padronizada e o seu uso efetivo. Com base nos resultados obtidos a partir desta pesquisa, foi elaborado um plano de ação educacional que visa consolidar a PP na Rede. / This work was developed on the Professional Master in Management and Education Evaluation from the Center for Public Policies and Education Evaluation on the Federal University of Juiz de Fora (CAEd / UFJF). The management case presented here discusses the use of the Standardized Test by teachers, coordinators and principals of 6th to 9th grades from elementary education in public schools from Teresina/Brazil, considering that this evaluation must be used as a pedagogical tool in order to improve its implementation process. The Standardized Test is an external evaluation on Portuguese Language and Math, applied to students in 6th to 9th grades. The aims of this study were: investigating the appropriation of the Standardized Test results as a pedagogical tool inside Teresina public schools; describing the process of Standardized Test implementation, since its conception (2009) until 2015, in the city educational system from Teresina; understanding how the school actors appropriate the results of the Standardized Test in the period of this research; proposing actions aimed at improving the process that involves the Standardized Test in a way that it can be adopted in schools by teachers, principals and pedagogical coordinators as a pedagogical tool which contributes more consistently to student learning. For that, we use quantitative and qualitative research as methodology, and as instrument we use a questionnaire applied to Portuguese Language and Mathematics teachers, directors and pedagogical coordinators who work in the 6th to 9th grades in schools from the city educational system. It was noticed that individuals understand that the Standardized Test has a diagnostic function. However, the use and appropriation of its results are still fragile, requiring actions aimed at overcoming this posture considering the data of the tests. We searched on the theoretical frameworks the discussion about matrices and curriculum, external and internal evaluation, since they are issues that increase the understanding about the Standardized Test and its effective use. Based on the results obtained on this research, an educational action plan was developed in order to consolidate the PP in the educational system.

This study has the following purpose: (1) to find the relationship between teacher rating of pupil personality and standardized test results; (2) to find the relationship between teacher rating of pupil achievement and standardized test results; and (3) to determine where more emphasis should be placed in order to better evaluate the child and his work.

The purpose of this study was to examine the longitudinal impacts of the Science Writing Heuristic (SWH) approach on student science achievement measured by the Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS). A number of studies have reported positive impact of an inquiry-based instruction on student achievement, critical thinking skills, reasoning skills, attitude toward science, etc. So far, studies have focused on exploring how an intervention affects student achievement using teacher/researcher-generated measurement. Only a few studies have attempted to explore the long-term impacts of an intervention on student science achievement measured by standardized tests. The students' science and reading ITBS data was collected from 2000 to 2011 from a school district which had adopted the SWH approach as the main approach in science classrooms since 2002. The data consisted of 12,350 data points from 3,039 students. The multilevel model for change with discontinuity in elevation and slope technique was used to analyze changes in student science achievement growth trajectories prior and after adopting the SWH approach. The results showed that the SWH approach positively impacted students by initially raising science achievement scores. The initial impact was maintained and gradually increased when students were continuously exposed to the SWH approach. Disadvantaged students who were at risk of having low science achievement had bigger benefits from experience with the SWH approach. As a result, existing problematic achievement gaps were narrowed down. Moreover, students who started experience with the SWH approach as early as elementary school seemed to have better science achievement growth compared to students who started experiencing with the SWH approach only in high school. The results found in this study not only confirmed the positive impacts of the SWH approach on student achievement, but also demonstrated additive impacts found when students had longitudinal experiences with the approach. By engaging in the argument-based classrooms where teachers value students' prior knowledge, encourage students to take control of their learning, and provide non-threatening environment for students to developing big ideas through negotiation, student's achievement can be enhanced. The results also started to shed some light on sustainability of the SWH approach within the school district.

According to the U.S Department of Education, co-teaching is an intervention used to give students with disabilities access to the general education curriculum while in the general education classroom. It's necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of co-teaching as it relates to academic performance. However, there has been a dearth of research on quantitative studies related to co-teaching and their results have been inconclusive. This quantitative study explored whether co-teaching has a positive effect on academic performance compared to collaborative teaching, and adds to the literature in this area that is considered current. On an annual basis from 2002 to 2011, junior and senior students from each school district in Georgia were given the GHSGT. Descriptive statistics were performed on the demographics of the respondents, including gender and ethnicity. The Mann-Whitney U Test was performed to evaluate if there were significant GHSGT mean scores differences between the co-teaching and collaborative class settings. Results indicated that students with disabilities performed better in the collaborative setting in math, English, and writing; and students in the co-teaching setting did not perform better than students in the non co-teaching setting in all subject areas. These results support that co-teaching is not meeting the needs of all students with disabilities (SWD) in this school district. Butts County education professionals may want to use this research to help guide them in designing a special education program that focuses on the needs of the SWD and how to meet those needs. This study contributes to positive social change because it supports previous research that concludes the needs of all SWD are not being met. More research still needs to be conducted to determine how to meet the needs of these students.

High attrition rates and a nursing shortage across the nation have led schools of nursing to seek out ways to better identify which applicants will be most successful in graduating from the nursing program and passing the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN). Nursing programs have historically included standardized entrance exam scores and prerequisite scores among their admission criteria but have not used standardized critical thinking assessments (CTA), even though critical thinking is an integral part of being a successful nursing professional. Using Astin's input-environment-output (I-E-O) model, the purpose of this retrospective correlational study was to determine whether a significant relationship exists between prerequisite grade point average (GPA), Test for Essential Academic Skills (TEAS) composite scores, entrance and exit CTA scores, and nursing GPA and the outcome of interest, passing the NCLEX-RN exam. Archival data for 64 students enrolled in a baccalaureate degree program at a Texas university were analyzed using binary logistic regression. A significant positive relationship was found between prerequisite GPA, TEAS composite scores, entrance and exit CTA scores, and nursing GPA, and the outcome of interest, passing the NCLEX-RN exam. However, in looking at each independent variable separately, no significant relationship was revealed between the individual scores of the prerequisite GPA, TEAS composite, entrance and exit critical thinking assessment, nursing GPA, and the outcome of passing the NCLEX-RN exam on the first attempt. These findings have implications for positive social change by illuminating the complexities of nursing program retention and graduation and informing efforts to train the most talented nurses.

To date, there is little current research which explores the effect of allocated assessment time and allocated instructional time as related to student achievement (Spanjers, Burns, & Wagner, 2008). Current educational reform has placed accountability and assessment at the forefront of public education (Hirsh, 2007; Jennings, 2012; Kallemeyn, 2009; NCLB, 2001; Supovitz, 2009). Research of time on task has demonstrated that there may be a positive correlation between the amount of time on task in learning activities and student achievement (Fredricks, McColskey, Meli, Mordica, Montrosse, & Mooney, (2011). There is current legislation to increase the time demands of assessment and the resulting decrease of allocated instructional time may result in lower levels of student achievement (Butler, 1926; 1936; Brophy, Rohrkemper, Rashid, & Goldwater, 1982; Carroll, 1963; Doppelt, Mehalik, Schunn, Silk, & Krysinski, 2008; Spanjers, Burns, & Wagner, 2008; Wyss, Dolenc, Kong, & Tai, 2013). The purpose of this study was to compare allocated assessment time to allocated instructional time in small, medium, and large school districts in Florida. A sample of 12 school districts was selected representing small, medium, and large school districts based on student enrollment from Florida Education Finance Plan (FEFP) data. Data related to State and school district mandated assessments were collected for each school district using school district testing calendars and State assessment calendars. These data were examined and the number of minutes spent on each assessment was calculated. The calculation was used to determine the amount of time spent on State and school district mandated assessment. Allocated instructional time was calculated using the difference in allocated time and allocated assessment time. In addition, data were analyzed to determine what, if any, relationship existed between allocated assessment time and school district size as well as student achievement. Time lost to assessment preparation was also included in the determination of allocated assessment time.

By grounding my work in this series of four essays in literary theory, but telling stories to which almost anyone can relate I hope to begin making the connection between sometimes heady academics and everyday working-class Americans. Only when learners understand their circumstances and the need for education, can they begin to take control of what they learn and how they employ that knowledge.