This document provides an outline for a proposed dissertation study examining effective school practices that are important for the achievement of African American learners. The study will use a mixed methods approach, collecting quantitative data through surveys administered to freshman students at a historically black college and qualitative data through focus group interviews. The quantitative research questions examine how former high schools were rated on effective school criteria and the relationship between those ratings and student achievement in developmental math courses. The qualitative questions explore how various effective school practices like instructional leadership and high expectations were implemented. The significance of the study and a review of relevant literature are provided to support examining school leadership strategies that could improve academic achievement, especially among African American students.

1. A STUDY OF EFFECTIVE SCHOOLS PRACTICES IMPORTANT TO THE ACHIEVEMENT OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN LEARNER A Proposal Presentation by Steven Norfleet October 2008

17. Conceptual Framework ENHANCE STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT ENHANCE EFFECTIVE SCHOOLS PRACTICES SAFE AND ORDERLY ENVIRONMENT CLIMATE OF HIGH EXPECTATION FOR SUCCESS CLEAR AND FOCUSED MISSION POSITIVE HOME/SCHOOL RELATIONS FREQUENT MONITORING OF STUDENT PROGRESS OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN, TIME ON TASK INSTRUCTIONAL LEADERSHIP

50. Analysis of Data (Quantitative) Descriptive statistics measures including central tendencies, frequency distribution, and percentages will be used to summarize the results of the survey. Effective Schools Ltd. will compile the results in a narrative, tabular, and graphical form. How do freshman African American students enrolled in a selected Historically Black College and University (HBCU) rate their former high school campus with regard to each criterion of effective schools identified in the “ effective schools” literature? Statistical Measurement Research Question #1

51. Analysis of Data (Quantitative) 1. Correlation using Pearson r 2. Multiple Regression Analysis R ² *SPSS 13.0 will be used to run the statistic. Semester Grade in Developmental Education Mathematics Correlates of Effective Schools H01 - There is no statistically significant relationship between a selected Historically Black College and University (HBCU) freshman African American student ratings of their former high school’s “effective schools” characteristics, and the student’s first semester of college achievement in Developmental Education Mathematics. Is there a relationship between the high school characteristics of effective schools rated by freshman African American students enrolled in a selected Historically Black College and University (HBCU) and their post- secondary achievement during their first semester of college in Developmental Education Mathematics ? STATISTICAL TEST DEPENDENT VARIABLE INDEPENDENT VARIABLES HYPOTHESES RESEARCH QUESTION #2