KEYSTONES TO OPPORTUNITY: A STUDY OF LITERACY SKILL IMPLEMENTATION AND ITS IMPACTS ON SCIENCE LEARNING
Open Access
Author:
Clause, Patrick O
Graduate Program:
Curriculum and Instruction
Degree:
Master of Science
Document Type:
Master Thesis
Date of Defense:
April 05, 2018
Committee Members:
William S. Carlsen, Thesis Advisor/Co-Advisor William S. Carlsen, Committee Member Gregory J. Kelly, Committee Member
Keywords:
Literacy Science Learning Keystones to Opportunity Literacy Skills Literacy Teaching Teacher Autonomy State Intervention Design Aggregate Data Concerns Educational Reporting
Abstract:
This study provides an argument for increased literacy teaching implementation in the science classroom. The population studied consists of students in Pennsylvania who took the Keystone Biology assessment at least one time during the 2012-2016 school years. These students were also members of school districts that were recipients of the Keystones to Opportunity grant. In this study, a higher funding percentage from the Keystones to Opportunity grant is indicative of increased literacy teaching implementation, and growth on the Keystone Biology Exam is indicative of science learning improvement. The Keystones to Opportunity grant is Pennsylvania’s piece of the Striving Readers Comprehensive Literacy grant, which is a national initiative to promote comprehensive literacy gains in local educational agencies across the United States.
