Anne Parks( V) A Study of Character Education: Impact of Character Counts Framework upon School Culture Character education has been the foundation of education since the origin of education. There are many programs that teach character education throughout the world. This evaluative case study is a mixed method study that examines the impact of the implementation of the Character Counts! framework upon the culture of two school districts in the United States. The approach to this mixed-methods research is an explanatory sequential design that determines what differences in school culture were perceived by students. It also determines how character education was implemented in schools in this study. Finally, it answers the strengths and weaknesses of implementation. Lidia-Maria Schneider( V) Using Graphic Novels to Motivate and Foster Positive Attitudes Towards Reading in Upper Elementary School Students Graphic novels are transforming how young readers engage with texts, making reading more accessible, exciting, and motivating. This study explores the impact of graphic novels on students’ reading attitudes and motivation. Using a mixed-methods approach, it examines how participation in a graphic novel book club influences reading engagement and fosters positive attitudes among students in grades 3 – 5. Findings from this research highlight the potential of graphic novels as valuable tools in literacy instruction, offering new ways to inspire and support young readers.
Leslie Showell( V) The Accessibility of Tutoring for Underprivileged, Underserved and Under-resourced Families This study examines barriers underprivileged, underserved, and under-resourced families face in accessing K-12 tutoring, especially post- COVID-19. Using Bourdieu’ s Cultural Capital and Bronfenbrenner’ s Ecological Systems Theory, a qualitative phenomenological approach engaged 16 parents in interviews. Findings reveal financial constraints, racial disparities, and digital divide issues, with in-person tutoring preferred for interaction and online tutoring valued for flexibility. Key recommendations include increasing access to affordable, culturally relevant tutoring and implementing policy reforms to address disparities. Future research should explore intersecting challenges, long-term impacts of equitable tutoring, and strategies to enhance resource allocation, ultimately promoting educational equity for disadvantaged students.
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