<p> High schools have undertaken numerous approaches to reduce the number of first-time 9<sup>th</sup> grade students who do not move to 10th grade with their cohort. The purpose of this study was to determine if a summer program successfully transitioned 9<sup>th</sup> grade students from middle school to high school environments. Guided by the stage-environment fit conceptual framework, this study explored the effectiveness of a summer transition program at acclimating first time 9<sup>th</sup> grade students to physical, social, and academic environments. A mixed-method design was used in the study. A t test was used with a sample of approximately 400 archival 9<sup>th</sup> grader student responses to the Delaware School Climate Survey-Student. Statistical differences in familiarity with physical environments and perceptions of school climate were found between attendees and nonattendees, with attendees reporting better acclimation. A chi-square revealed greater course success for first-time 9<sup>th</sup> graders in the first marking period and lower 9<sup>th</sup> grader retention rate for attendees. Acclimation of 9<sup> th</sup> grade students as perceived by a sample of 10 teachers was explored through individual interviews and analyzed using the constant comparative method. Narratives from teacher interviews suggested acclimation to physical and social environments was greater for attendees. Study results led to development of a 1-day transition program aimed at utilizing effective transition program strategies with the entire upcoming 9<sup>th</sup> grade cohort. Long-term data collection and disaggregation is recommended to determine lasting effects of the program. Effective 9<sup>th</sup> grade transition programs may result in social change through increased promotion rates and higher graduation rates.</p>
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:PROQUEST/oai:pqdtoai.proquest.com:3666437 |
| Date | 14 April 2016 |
| Creators | Wickert, Jonathan Scott |
| Publisher | Walden University |
| Source Sets | ProQuest.com |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | thesis |
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