Academically Resilient Elementary Students in One Virginia School Division: Identifying and Exploring Protective Factors
Academically Resilient Elementary Students in one Virginia school division: Identifying and Exploring Protective Factors LaQuiche R. Parrott Dissertation submitted to the faculty of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education In Educational Leadership and Policy Studies Carol S. Cash, Chair Laura D. Kassner Ted S. Price Travis W. Twiford October 12, 2015 Blacksburg, Virginia Keywords: academic resilience, at-risk students, economically disadvantaged, protective factors, resiliency, risk factors, rural Academically Resilient Elementary Students in one Virginia school division: Identifying and Exploring Protective Factors LaQuiche R. Parrott Abstract The purpose of the study was to identify the internal and external protective factors found in family, school and community as perceived by rural elementary students who experienced poverty and demonstrated academic resilience in a Virginia school division. By identifying the common protective factors among the academically resilient elementary students, school leaders and educators can implement practices that foster a learning climate that cultivates and supports resilience in students who are at risk of academic failure. A qualitative approach was used to analyze a purposefully selected group of academically resilient elementary school students living in rural poverty. The research questions were: 1. What are the self-identified protective factors regarding academic achievement for students purposefully selected as meeting the criteria for academic resilience? 2. What are the similarities and differences in protective factors among these purposefully selected students? Ten fifth grade elementary students, a boy and girl from each of the elementary schools in the rural school division meeting the definition of academic resilience and living in poverty were eligible to participate in the study.
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