Date of Award

12-1-2004

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Teaching & Learning

Abstract

This study focused on some of the problems school districts face in implementing the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) of 2001. NCLB requires that by the year 2013-2014 all students must score at the proficient level or above in state assessments. This requirement poses unique problems for school districts in achieving 100% of the students scoring at or above the proficient level.

Some of the problems this study examined were: What was the relationship between the number of mathematics courses taken and performance on the North Dakota Mathematics Assessment? What was the relationship between achievement on the North Dakota Reading and Mathematics Assessments, performance on the ACT, and student achievement in high school coursework? What ACT mathematics score did a student need in order to score at the proficient and advanced levels on the North Dakota Mathematics Assessment?

Data of 27 4 students from 4 small rural school districts in southwest North Dakota was used for this study. Correlations, tests of statistical significance, and regression were employed.

Among the conclusions reached were: In order for schools to maintain adequate yearly progress under the NCLB Act, more students will need to take and pass mathematics courses above algebra 1. Higher grades in mathematics and English III and English IV were positively related to increased scores on the North Dakota Mathematics and Reading Assessments. Not until students were enrolled in their fourth mathematics course beginning with algebra 1 and above did over 50% of the students perform at or above the proficient level. Students with low grades of "C" and below in English III and IV tended not to score in the proficient or advanced performance levels.

Unless major changes take place, very little chance exists that 100% of North Dakota students will score at the proficient level in Mathematics or Reading at anytime in the foreseeable future.

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