Date of Conferral

2023

Degree

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

School

Education

Advisor

David Weintraub

Abstract

There is a high dropout rate of English language learners (ELLs) compared to non-ELLs at the school under study. Guided by Bass and Burns’s transformational leadership conceptual framework, this qualitative study aimed to examine the perceptions of administrators and teachers regarding the influences contributing to the high dropout rate of ELLs. Two research questions were employed to investigate the perceptions of administrators and teachers regarding the underlying reasons for the elevated dropout rate of ELLs at the study site school as well as examine what administrators and teachers believe causes the high dropout rates of ELLs at the high school and what tools teachers think are needed from administrators to lower the ELLs’ dropout rate. Participants were five administrators and five high school teachers who all work with ELLs. Data were collected through participant interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis. The results indicated the importance of transformational leadership in supporting teachers to improve the quality of instruction provided to ELLs. The results also showed the importance of adult and child relationships in improving the graduation rate of ELLs. The findings were used to develop professional development (PD) training for high school educators on strategies that can be used to support ELLs and help improve their graduation rate, such as developing partnerships with families of ELLs. It is recommended that school leaders provide meaningful PD that can help improve the quality of instruction ELLs receive to improve their graduation rate. The project contributes to positive social change by providing research-based strategies that teachers can use to improve the graduation rates of ELLs.

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