Date of Award

Spring 5-7-2019

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education in School Leadership

Department

Center for Leadership & Learning

College

College of Education

Committee Chair

Dr. Steve Bounds

Second Committee Member

Dr. John Freeman

Third Committee Member

Dr. Matt McClure

Program Director

Dr. John Freeman

Dean of Graduate College

Dr. Jeff Robertson

Abstract

This study addressed college matriculation rates among high-poverty Arkansas high schools and public charter schools. The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of the college preparation program of Cross County New Tech High School and KIPP Delta Collegiate High School from 2014-2015 through 2017-2018. Central High School in Helena-West Helena was added along with KIPP Blytheville Collegiate, along with the aforementioned schools, once they formed the Delta College Attainment Network (DCAN) in the 2017-2018 school year. The study examined ACT scores of the schools from the previously mentioned dates, as well as, the college matriculation rates to Arkansas two-year and four-year colleges and universities. These four schools were compared to other Arkansas high schools and public charter schools of similar social-economic status (SES). The DCAN consortium has guidelines for the participating schools to use in the development of the college-going culture for its students. Early college advising, and college matching are two pillars of the program. There were varied results with the ACT data in that only KIPP Delta Collegiate showed a higher statistical difference in those scores. However, data revealed there was a statistically significant difference in the college matriculation rate of the schools and the combined efforts of DCAN.

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