The purpose of this study was to understand what No Child Left Behind (NCLB) meant to teachers in Mississippi and to determine what impact this reform had on reading and language arts classroom instruction for teachers. Qualitative research methods in the form of interview data and classroom observations were used to examine teachers’ perceptions of accountability and its effects on classroom instruction. Teachers were asked to answer a set of research interview questions related to research questions. The specific research questions used to explore teachers’ perceptions about accountability were (1) What are reading and language arts teachers’ perceptions of accountability? (2) What are teachers’ perceptions of the influence of state testing on reading and language arts classroom instruction? and (3) How do elementary and middle school teachers prepare students for end-of-year reading and language arts state test? The researcher gathered qualitative data from five teachers with teaching experience ranging from 5 years to 30 years of teaching experience. Each teacher who participated in this study was familiar with administering Mississippi Curriculum Test 2 (MCT2) at the elementary and middle school level. The results of this study indicated that teachers believe that the Mississippi accountability system is effective for improving the teaching and learning process but not for holding schools and districts accountable. Each teacher in this study believed that test scores alone were not effective for addressing the familial and societal issues many schools face on a day-to-day basis and as a result using test scores to determine school quality was unrealistic. Of the five teachers interviewed, four reported engaging students in meaningful learning activities that put emphasis on the significance of language arts in daily life. These teachers were also observed placing more emphasis on rubric-based assessments, classroom writing activities, and student-centered activities as a result of the 2006 Mississippi Language Arts Framework-Revised and MCT2. Recommendations for further research include investigating whether the impact of teachers’ professional experience influences student achievement, or whether the impact of the building principal’s perceptions of the framework impact classroom instruction and teachers’ perceptions.

The purpose of this study was to identify relationships between an urban high school*s student participation in an after-school tutoring program and its relationship to accountability measures on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) Reading and End of Course (EOC) exams in the 2013-2014 school year. The research aimed to determine the influence of tutoring participation for urban high school students. Participants included students enrolled in one urban high school who participated in the FCAT Reading and EOC assessments and is was identified if they participated in the school tutoring program or not. Quantitative results revealed the relationship between students* frequency of participation and performance outcomes on state assessments. Then, the relationship between achievement on state assessments for all students, students with disabilities, and English Learners who participated in after school tutoring and those who did not participate in after school tutoring were examined. Finally, the relations of frequency of participation in tutoring to corresponding final grades were evaluated. Participants included students enrolled in one urban high school who participated in the FCAT Reading and EOC assessments and it was identified if they participated in the after school tutoring program or not. Statistically significant differences in performance outcomes existed between tutored students in mathematics courses who participated in tutoring and those who did not. However, there was no statistically significant difference in performance outcomes with students in courses that were heavily based on reading as a result of their participation in tutoring. The students with disabilities subgroup as well as the English Learners subgroup both experienced statistically significant differences in reading scores as a result in tutoring participation. These same subgroups did not experience statistically significant difference on other assessments: Algebra 1 EOC, Geometry EOC, Biology EOC, and U.S. History EOC. Although this study identified relationships tutoring participation had with accountability measures achieved by students there is still much to be understood. The structure and approach to tutoring intervention programs should continue to be sought after in research in an effort to continue providing all students with opportunities for success on high stakes testing.

No description available.

There are about 16,000 middle schools in the United States; the half million teachers who teach in them affect the academic and emotional lives of about a hundred students while working cooperatively with an array of adult personalities and endeavoring to cover the curriculum. Although research has been conducted on many components of the middle school, an in-depth look at teachers’ experiences with the concept is missing. The purposes of this study were to explore three ideas: the complexities of the work experiences of teachers who participate on interdisciplinary teams in urban middle schools, the possible interactions of the structures and principles of the middle school philosophy with their work lives, and how the reality of interdisciplinary teams connect to the ideals in the middle school and organizational theory literature. I conducted three in-depth phenomenological interviews with 15 urban middle school teachers. Teachers shared their teaching experiences, life histories (to put their experiences in context), and how teaching fits in with their lives. Subject matters, ethnicities, ages, and years experience varied. They came from 9 schools in 5 school districts in the Northeast. I include a brief history of how the junior high morphed into the middle school. The “ideal” practices, programs, and philosophy of the middle school and teaming (as defined by middle school and organizational theory literature) are explained and then contrasted with the realities. Results indicate that the “ideal” characteristics, as described in the literature, do not exist in all urban middle schools. Teachers lamented their absence and described their frustrations with student behavior, colleagues, administrators, and state testing. They also shared the joy they find in seeing their students progress, giving back to the community, and making a difference in students’ lives. I propose that these rewards make up for the incredible difficulties they face daily. I conclude that teachers need team planning time to implement the middle school characteristics and overcome the difficulties of teaching urban students, which include transience, absenteeism, poverty, lack of familial support, and a belief that being smart is “lame.” I also propose increasing community involvement and providing alternative schools.

The relationships between teacher opinions about Virginia's Standards of Learning testing program and five variables related to teachers' backgrounds and present working conditions were examined in the context of five dependent variables represented as discrete domains. A systematic sample of 464 members of the Virginia Education Association (VEA) was selected to participate in the study. A 52 item survey was mailed to the members of the sample to gather their opinions about the outcomes they believed were occurring as a result of Virginia's Standards of Learning testing program and the state's Regulations Establishing Standards for Accrediting Public Schools in Virginia. Three hundred fifty-two usable questionnaires were returned, for a 76% return rate. Descriptive statistics were used to portray teacher responses in five domains. Three way ANOVAs were computed to determine if any significant main effects or interactions were evident among the independent variables of tenure status, SOL test grade status, and school socio-economic level. Telephone surveys of twelve randomly selected teachers were conducted to enhance understanding of three dependent variables (domains): student outcomes, instructional outcomes, and teacher outcomes. These data were analyzed using qualitative strategies. Findings: Teachers' responses to the mailed survey indicated relatively unfavorable opinions about the outcomes of Virginia's Standards of Learning testing program and related regulations. Outcomes for instructional programs and for teachers themselves were rated more unfavorably than outcomes for students, outcomes for schools, or outcomes for public confidence. The ANOVA analyses indicated that teacher opinions did not vary meaningfully by any of the variables studied or by any combination of these variables. In short, even though a systematic sample of VEA members from throughout the state was surveyed, the opinions of this group of teachers were remarkably similar. Interview data confirmed that teachers had many concerns about outcomes associated with SOL testing. The interviews also indicated that teachers attributed several positive outcomes to SOL testing as well. Several rival hypotheses are presented to explain the apparent homogeneity of opinions among this systematic sample of Virginia educators. / Ed. D.

No description available.