Sonya Barnes

Defense Date

3-1-2007

Graduation Date

Spring 2007

Availability

Immediate Access

Submission Type

dissertation

Degree Name

EdD

Department

Interdisciplinary Doctoral Program for Education Leaders (IDPEL)

School

School of Education

Committee Chair

James A. Ryland

Committee Member

Joetta Palkovitz-Brown

Committee Member

Mary Frances Grasinger

Keywords

curriculum structure, high-stakes test, Maryland School Assessment, mobility, No Child Left Behind, performance

Abstract

School systems are under continual pressure to increase student achievement on high-stakes tests and make Adequate Yearly Progress based on the No Child Left Behind mandate. One population which struggles to achieve on such tests is the mobile student population. Recent studies have shown that these students do not typically score as high on standardized tests as the stable student population. While past studies have focused on the ethnicity and socio-economic status of mobile students, very little research has been conducted to examine the effects of curriculum structure on the achievement of these students. This study examines the effects of synchronous and non-synchronous curriculum structure on mathematics and reading achievement in mobile and non-mobile students as measured by the Maryland School Assessment (MSA). Using third and fifth grade data from 2003-2004 MSA Mathematics and Reading, a two-way analysis of variance was conducted to analyze data from two Maryland school districts with differing curriculum structures. Non-mobile, with-in-school district mobile, and out-of-school district mobile student data were evaluated. Combined third and fifth grade data were examined, as well as data from each grade level, independently. Significant differences were found in the mean scores of non-mobile and mobile students, with the non-mobile students recurrently having the highest mean score in sub-test areas. No differences were found between mean scores based on curriculum structure, nor the interaction of curriculum structure and mobility status. The author provides recommendations for practice and further research.

Format

PDF

Language

English

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