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Dissertation
Schools that Demonstrate Growth in PSSA Math Proficiency from 3rd to fourth grade in 2017, 2018, and 2019: A Qualitative Multi-Site Case Study
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), Drexel University
May 2024
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00010615
Abstract
This qualitative multi-site case study explores the self-identified traits of four Philadelphia schools that demonstrate growth in grade four proficiency on the Math Pennsylvania System of State Assessment (PSSA). Obtained proficiency/advanced scores on the PSSA show a drop from third to fourth grade cohorts during 2017, 2018, and 2019. In Philadelphia, only four schools (out of over 200 School District of Philadelphia (SDP) and Charter Schools) demonstrated an increase in Math proficiency from third to fourth-grade cohorts on the combined 2017, 2018, and 2019 PSSA exams. The narratives of the staff at these four schools give insights into the perspectives surrounding their experiences and fourth-grade math. This study was guided by the following research questions: What are the self-described qualities, systems, and backgrounds that staff believed contributed to their success. Success is defined by the increase in Math proficiency/advanced percentages, as many of the sites also had increases in the percentage of students below basic during the period studied. Data was collected using one-to-one interviews and document analysis. In the findings section, 17 themes were explored across the four schools with unique findings related to changes in school population, comparative levels of experience of the third/fourth grade teams, and two schools specializing in Math. Recommendations include schools explicitly focusing on instructional practices and interventions at a fourth-grade level. Further research is recommended into the impacts of departmentalization/specialization, the impact of organizational knowledge of teachers.
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Details
- Title
- Schools that Demonstrate Growth in PSSA Math Proficiency from 3rd to fourth grade in 2017, 2018, and 2019
- Creators
- David Ezekiel Brown
- Contributors
- Colin Hennessy Elliott (Advisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- ix, 170 pages
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- School of Education (1997-2026); Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 991021890311004721