Graduation Term
Fall 2024
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (EdD)
Department
Department of Educational Administration and Foundations: Educational Administration
Committee Chair
Dr. Elizabeth Lugg
Committee Member
Dr. Mohamed Nur-Awaleh
Committee Member
Dr. Lindsey Hall
Abstract
The project focuses on one school – The Carrie Anderson School (TCAS) in Medellin, Colombia which is a private bilingual school that has American accreditation and is one of the most popular and well-regarded schools in the country. The idea for this project started with observation of TCAS ninth grade students and how they struggled during the first half of their freshman year in high school. At that time the school did not have vertical alignment between their middle and high schools. Data was collected from the school using student grade data, faculty surveys, and faculty interviews. The data shows how the school does not have vertical alignment and how it impacts students’ academic production. The results also show why there is no vertical alignment between the eighth and ninth grade schools even though they are housed in the same building. Themes from those interviewed and surveyed showed the school administration’s lack of understanding of the classroom activities in middle and high school, communication issues between the middle and high students and principals, and issues with the physical structure of the school. These results at TCAS shine a light on both the school’s problem and the problems with Westernized Pre-K to 12 education systems at large and separation between grade/school levels. These findings indicate that the need for vertical alignment is known, but ‘who’ is supposed to bridge the gap between schools is left to teachers, principals, and other administrators – in turn each of whom end up pointing the finger at one another.
Access Type
Dissertation-Open Access
Recommended Citation
Revels, Timothy, "A DISCONNECTED SCHOOL: WHY VERTICAL ALIGNMENT IS NOT USED TO BETTER TRANSITION STUDENTS FROM MIDDLE TO HIGH SCHOOL (A QUALITATIVE STUDY)" (2024). Theses and Dissertations. 2016.
https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/etd/2016
Included in
Curriculum and Instruction Commons, Educational Leadership Commons, Educational Methods Commons