Teachers need support with on-going professional learning to effectively address Spanish-speaking biliterate students’ strengths and language needs. They also need to build capacity in learning new standards and in implementing policy. This study util . . .

The research has a social justice agenda that confronts the reality of inequality while seeking to empower Latino students through a search for what led to students’ transformational experiences. This research revealed the stories of four Latino male . . .

Efforts to improve student outcomes for Chican@/Latin@ students in community colleges have focused on fixing perceived student problems with little attention and accountability directed specifically towards the institutions and the educators who teach . . .

This dissertation explores strategies used by successful Black early childhood education students completing coursework toward degree attainment at San Francisco State University. Minimum ECE teacher qualifications are gradually changing to require fo . . .

This study investigates the influences of the medical and social models of disability in mass media. Specifically, the study dissects comic book representations of difference in context of American cultural attitudes. Five comic book anthologies publi . . .

Community college students begin their higher education studies with the goal of completing an associate’s degree, a certificate, transferring, or improving/obtaining employment skills. Students do not begin higher education thinking they will depart . . .

Student support services, such as academic advising, promote college student retention and increased graduation rates. As educational institutions continue to face budgetary uncertainties, academic advising services are facing cuts that threaten their . . .

This dissertation consists of three linked papers that examine and amplify teachers’ voice during Common Core State Standards (CCSS) implementation. Using the framework of narrative inquiry, the first paper explores my own sense of agency and voice ov . . .

Mindfulness is a contemplative practice and mode of awareness that has been shown to promote adaptive psychological skills and provide therapeutic benefit. There is currently a burgeoning movement to incorporate mindfulness in diverse educational sett . . .

This study set out to understand how the federal work-study (FWS) program currently plays a role at San Francisco State University (SFSU) in supporting college students, particularly students of color, toward college completion and in their career dec . . .

Students with Pacific Islander (PI) heritage have among the lowest bachelor attainment rates with four-year degrees at only 15%. This study seeks to identify the strengths of Pacific Islanders (PI) by examining their experiences at Asian American and . . .

The growth and popularity of undergraduate asynchronous online courses within the California State University (CSU) system including at San Francisco State University (SF State) has provided students with more opportunities for learning. However, rese . . .

This phenomenological study explored the growing concerns, meanings, and implications of no confidence vote sanctions against presidents in California’s community colleges. Using in-depth interviews, this study attempted to contribute in-depth knowled . . .

This study consists of a comprehensive analysis of Afrocentricity and African Centered Education and the value and viability of these paradigms as alternatives to the current Eurocentric educational system in the United States. It will seek to critica . . .

The purpose of this review is to provide insight to urban educators and policy makers about measures that can be taken to improve teacher retention in urban schools. An to establish context for current educational discourse regarding issues of teacher . . .

This study focuses on California’s controversial “double dose” intervention program mandated for schools placed in Program Improvement. Meant to accelerate student achievement, the “double dose” intervention program presents an unique opportunity to s . . .

This comparative case study utilized oral histories to illuminate the life stories of three Black men who grew up impacted by the crack epidemic and the attendant traumas. The goal of the study was to better understand how they navigated education and . . .

This qualitative study explores pedagogical practices and student responses in three community college learning communities targeting African American students. Using classroom observations, instructor and student interviews, and student focus groups, . . .

This mixed methods dissertation explores the application of critical media literacy pedagogy in higher education. A review of the scholarly literature found that there are five hypothesized outcomes of a critical media literacy education: student enga . . .

The central focus of this study explores the transition of students with learning disabilities from high school to community college. Although students with learning disabilities are entitled to transition services as highlighted in ADA, OCR, and IDEA . . .

California community colleges make higher education accessible for all; however, nearly half its students fail to achieve their goal of degree completion. Based upon the recommendations of the Student Success Task Force, the California legislature pas . . .

One way districts and schools improve the academic achievement of students is to increase teacher quality — a key contributor a student’s academic success (Darling- Hammond, 2000; Rivkin, Hanushek, & Kain, 2005). This quantitative study employed logis . . .

All Latin@ students do not learn the same. The socioeconomic factors which impact the personal, cultural, civic, and academic development of Latin@ students varies significantly based upon the geographic region, the local community dynamic, and their . . .

The aim of this thesis is to critique how the perception of the culture of social institutions (i.e. public education) has led to failure of pure democracy as conceptualized in Western experience due to groundless focus on individual accountability fo . . .

This qualitative case study followed one school’s journey through a professional development series based on the theory of culturally relevant pedagogy. The study focused on the transformation of fourteen teachers in a small urban elementary school wh . . .

The purpose of this study was to examine power relations in the community college classroom utilizing Freire’s theory of co-construction and Foucault’s theory of power. Through practitioner research, qualitative data suggested that faculty have power . . .

Issues of race, privilege, and cultural diversity in education have turned to the field of neuroscience for insights on how to disrupt pernicious and persistent racial disparities in student outcome data. This mixed methods study examined the impact o . . .

Consistently low levels of study abroad participation by students of color have fueled extensive anecdotal advice literature and a few empirical studies that examined perceived barriers to access. Literature that explores the experiences of students o . . .

Student success is often predicated upon what happens in the classroom. Traditional methods of education have historically denied students of color equal access to quality educational experiences that value their culture and knowledge. Additionally, s . . .

In 2005 the California legislature amended The Master Plan for Higher Education by passing Senate Bill 724 authorizing the California State University (CSU) system to offer education doctorate degrees (Ed.D.). The purpose was to prepare future leaders . . .

With the growing desire to revitalize the middle class, gentrification has taken an all time high in urban areas. While the general rhetoric around gentrification emphasizes rebuilding poor, urban communities and the racial and socioeconomic mixing of . . .

While more women lead community colleges than ever before, males hold more than 70% of top leadership positions. Despite decades of scholarship and emerging concepts of leadership, the masculine model of leadership persists. Using social role theory a . . .

This case study explored the viability of using a Critical Friends Group (CFG) dialogue protocol within a novice teacher induction program to facilitate dialogue about equity in a diversifying suburban school setting. The study included two research q . . .

This study critically examines the historical discourse surrounding postsecondary remediation policy in the United States. As opposed to considering remediation as an objective ahistorical remedy for students who lack basic English and math skills, th . . .

Districts are challenged with providing quality educational services as evidenced by the persistent gaps in learning among poor students and students of color. Changing conditions, such as changes in district size, affects the capacity of school distr . . .

This qualitative study explores how African American students make sense of the various language practices they must utilize across various contexts. The psychological juggling of these different language practices can potentially influence academic o . . .

This study evaluates the effectiveness of continuation education high school investments at an urban Bay Area school district using cultural responsive practices. Soliciting perspectives of administrative stakeholders, data was collected to determine . . .

Early childhood educational (ECE) leaders are faced with real and persistent challenges around the equity and mclusiveness of preschool disciplinary practices. During early development, the implications of decisions to include or exclude early learner . . .

This action research study chronicled the process of community college L2 composition teachers as they worked together in a professional learning community (PLC) to identify student learning challenges and develop pedagogical strategies and techniques . . .

A plethora of dropout-prevention interventions exist, many as standalone programs and some as ecological approaches that wield many programs at once. The effectiveness of these programs are widely variable. While there is some knowledge of which inter . . .

This study sought to determine the impact of structural reform in the developmental English sequence at a California community college. This multiple methods case study examined changes in student success and in faculty pedagogy. Analysis was framed b . . .

The inability of California Community Colleges to produce equitable outcomes for Latina/o and African American students, and provide a successful pathway to higher education, is an educational problem. Although research shows many factors influence st . . .

This dissertation explores the facilitators and barriers for African American students who transferred from a Northern California community college district to a four-year institution. The study examines the particular importance of counseling and int . . .

The purpose of this case study was to assess whether the Heuristic Model of Employability when paired with career-related programming, services and work-based learning activities produced equitable employment outcomes for Sonoma State University alumn . . .

This study examines the early childhood workforce’s experiences in higher education, focusing on African-American and Latina staff who hold an Associate’s degree or less. The study examines a pilot program aimed to support the transfer of these studen . . .

This embedded mixed-method case study focused on the academic and social outcomes of participants in the Metro Academy program. A fairly new program at San Francisco State University, Metro focuses on increasing the retention and persistence rates for . . .

Many students struggle with structuring their writing in composing expository texts. This dissertation examined the scaffolding strategies inherent in the Thinking Maps program to see if students’ compositions were more organized if they used a Thinki . . .

This study focuses on Youth of Color in the Bay Area neighborhoods of East Palo Alto and eastern Menlo Park who attended the Ravenswood City School District (RCSD), as they transition to and through Sequoia Union High School District (SUHSD). This is . . .

Since the establishment of the first public charter school in 1991, the number of public charters has grown to more than 6,400 schools serving over 2.5 million students in the U.S. As their numbers continue to grow, charters are becoming responsible f . . .

This empirical case study focused on the impact of the Academic Senate of the California State University (ASCSU) resolution AS-2818, “Support of International Experiences and Global Perspectives in CSU Education,” on campus internationalization. This . . .

Despite the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which protects equal employment opportunity for all, and other California legislation to increase faculty diversity, the disparity between the demographics of California’s community college student population and . . .

This exploratory qualitative study examines the student services practices and experiences of African American students in three community colleges. The study addresses important issues of college retention, transfer, and integration of support servic . . .

This phenomenological study uses critical race theory to explore counterstories of four firstgeneration college (FGC) students of color who attend selective universities. In a postaffirmative action context in California, institutional focus on studen . . .

Narrowing the achievement gap between Latino and African American students and their White and Asian peers is the moral imperative of every district and school administrator. If this; moral imperative is to be realized, administrators must combine a d . . .

Nixon's War on Drugs served to bring the body of the individual under the increasing scrutiny of the state (Derrida, 1980; Zakaria, 2012) and since the 1970’s, the state and education have engaged a comprehensive system of social and educational surve . . .

Matriculation of foster care youth in four-year colleges and universities has been abysmal bordering on the side of not existing at all. Research has evidenced that foster care youth are often left out of the dialogue of post-secondary education. Many . . .

By using auto-ethnography and extended case study to frame the qualitative methodology, this dissertation examines the philosophy and practices of the Pin@y Educational Partnerships (PEP). Derived from Tintiangco-Cubales’ (2010) Critical Leadership Pr . . .

For many first-generation college students the opportunity to participate in education abroad is an important part of college success, achievement, and growth. However, the opportunity may feel unattainable for some. This dissertation examined intervi . . .

This is a study that examines the Amherst Writers & Artists (AWA) method of leading writing groups. The methodology for this study includes a naturalistic inquiry approach to examining experiences, reviewing literature and interviewing practitioners a . . .

While the gains in Latin@ college-going rates are promising, they trail behind all other ethnic groups in the number who have earned college degrees. In California, only 11 percent o f Latin@ adults 25 years and older have earned a bachelor’s degree, . . .

I certify that I have read The Effects o f the Model Minority Theory on Chinese Americans and Southeast Asians by Amy Lieu, and that in my opinion this work meets the criteria for approving a thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements . . .

This study was conducted to develop a deeper understanding of the role afterschool programs play in supporting science identity development for low-income Latino youth in California’s central valley. With over 4,000 afterschool programs operating in C . . .

This study focused on community based organizations leading community colleges in workforce development partnerships to train unemployed and underemployed adults. These collaborations operate where community based organizations deliver case management . . .

The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of using Jumpstart for Young Children curriculum to improve reading comprehension for preschool English Language Learners. I will draw implications for preschool literacy programs in the United . . .

Inspired by Discipline and Punish (Foucault, 1977), this historical analysis studies how academic advising uses methods of hierarchical observation, normalized judgment, and examination to discipline and punish students in US higher education. By anal . . .

This-study explores the extent to which educators use service-learning methods and how these methods are incorporated into their pedagogy and practice. A review of the literature provides a framework for understanding how service-learning has been con . . .

In this study, I review the history of school desegregation, the attempts to integrate schooling, and propose renewed efforts in this direction. I begin with the promises of the Brown v. Board of Education (1954) ruling and an analysis of evolving con . . .

At present, a majority of one-to-one student laptop programs exist in schools that serve affluent communities, which denies low socioeconomic students the learning benefits of ubiquitous access to technology. Using a “Studying Up - Studying Down” para . . .

Only 26 percent of graduates earning sub-baccalaureate degrees from Advanced Technological Education (ATE) programs are women, which has declined from 31% since 2006 (Patton, 2011; Smith, Wingate, & Gullickson, 2014). Funded by the National Science Fo . . .

Poor academic outcomes for incarcerated students are well-established in the literature but limited qualitative data are available that describe students’ educational experiences. This study deepens our understanding of students’ experiences in the sc . . .

Principals who work in underperforming schools are challenged with making the instructional changes needed as the school moves through the reform process. This study looks at eight principals who work in successful high-poverty, high-performing school . . .

Students are often assessed by what they lack and this contributes to educational disengagement. High needs students involved with alcohol and drugs are particularly vulnerable. I have examined how positive family/community assets can be acknowledged, . . .

An emerging body of scholarship has begun to illuminate the prevalence of college student food and housing insecurity, however, less is known about the characteristics and academic progress of students experiencing these conditions. This study identif . . .

As the United States increases in racial and ethnic diversity (Kirsch, Braun, Yamamoto, & Sum, 2007), reports indicate that colleges and universities have inadequately responded to the needs of their more diverse student populations (Reindl, 2007; Sen . . .

This study was born out of a concern that U.S. community colleges were currently using or considering using noncognitive variables for academic placement without an understanding of how students would react to these scales in a high-stakes setting. Wh . . .

This study of five undocumented Latina students focused on the lived experience of navigating higher educaTion in the context of the political climate in the United States. A Critical Latina Feminist Phenomenology lens gives voice to undocumented and . . .

This study investigates the use of mathematical discourses, facilitated student participation, and agentive problem-solving in a GED math class to improve students’ identities as doers of mathematics. Research on marginalized students in K-12 public s . . .

Latino students represent the fastest-growing population in the state of California and in the United States as well as the largest number in the California Community College (CCC) system. Unfortunately, compared to other ethnic groups, Latino communi . . .

This study seeks to address how participatory action research (PAR) helps middle school teachers reflect on the process of change, attitudes, and pedagogy towards teaching English language learners (ELLs) in content classes. The PAR study involved six . . .

The largest entry point into higher education for Latino students is through the California Community College system. Only 14% of those students successfully transfer to a fouryear university to pursue their baccalaureate degree. This study explores o . . .

The reason for the proposed study is: Does participation in high school sports impact academic achievement and healthy lifestyles? In order to answer this question I conducted a field study to understand the relationship between athletics and academic . . .

This study explores how the legislative goals of AB 288 dual enrollment are understood and externalized by the policy adopters, administrators, and supporters interviewed and what impact these differences in understanding have had on the implementatio . . .

First-generation college students of color are one of the most frequently targeted groups for access and retention programs in higher education. However, literature on the persistence and resistance strategies of this student population remain predomi . . .

In 2013, a contract between Santa Clara County Office of Education and San Francisco State University was agreed upon between parties to complete a research study that examined how school districts approached the implementation of Local Control Accoun . . .

The purpose of this study is to further the understanding of youth civic culture in America. In using the sociocultural approach to cognitive development as the theoretical framework for this study, discourses on culture, history, and institutions are . . .

School districts in California and across the United Sates face similar dilemmas and challenges in relation to the questions of when students should take Algebra I and what the requirements of that course should be. As educators are just beginning to . . .

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of validation experiences on academic outcomes for Oceania community college students, utilizing Rendon’s theory of validation. Quantitative analysis of survey data showed Oceania students at a mi . . .

The purpose of this qualitative study is to examine the critical pedagogy behind four men of color teachers in secondary education in the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD). Data collection methods included semi-structured interviews, class . . .

Faculty at some of the best colleges and universities across the country have expressed concerns about the quality of student writing. Such is the case at San Francisco State University (SFSU), which recently revised its writing assessment policy by p . . .

Educational leaders are required to ensure equitable academic outcomes for all students, regardless of social class, race, gender, language, cultural identity, or other factors—including sexual orientation. Though the concept of equitable schooling an . . .

Community colleges are opening their doors to international students, who, like their domestic counterparts, see the community college as a steppingstone to four-year institutions. This study explored the challenges and the contributors to the success . . .

The study examines the experiences of Southeast Asian (Cambodian, Hmong, Lao, and Mien) college graduates that have contributed to their academic success in higher education. These four specific communities were selected for the study because they exh . . .

The persistent Latino student achievement gap has been shown by the literature to be associated with socio-economic status and race/ethnicity. In attempting to reform schools and increase minority student achievement the federal government has made pa . . .

The academic experiences of Chinese American high school students are poorly understood and often misrepresented. The purpose of this research was to understand the meanings and consequences of the high school experiences of Chinese American adolescen . . .

Community college counseling services have long-been recognized as being vital to student success. At the same time, the quality and availability of services has been widely criticized in the research literature, particularly as related to first-gener . . .

This study highlights the underrepresentation of women in the K-12 superintendency and explores barriers and facilitators for female educational leaders during their career trajectories. It investigates female leadership behaviors that have been linke . . .

The Serrano decision found the California school funding system unconstitutional as it violated the equal protection clause of the state constitution and discriminated against school districts in low property wealth communities. The basic aid policy, . . .