COREQUISITE MATHEMATICS EDUCATION AT MISSOURI COMMUNITY COLLEGES ________________________________________________________________________ A Dissertation presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School at the University of Missouri-Columbia ________________________________________________________________________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Education ________________________________________________________________________ By TRISHA WHITE Dr. Cynthia MacGregor, Dissertation Supervisor DECEMBER 2020 © Copyright by Trisha White 2020 All Rights Reserved The undersigned, appointed by the dean of the Graduate School, have examined the Dissertation entitled COREQUISITE MATHEMATICS EDUCATION AT MISSOURI COMMUNITY COLLEGES presented by Trisha White, a candidate for the degree of Doctorate of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis, and hereby certify that, in their opinion, it is worthy of acceptance. ______________________________________________________________ Dr. Cynthia MacGregor, Chair ______________________________________________________________ Dr. Ximena Uribe-Zarain ______________________________________________________________ Dr. Tracey Glaessgen ______________________________________________________________ Dr. William Agnew DEDICATION This dissertation is dedicated to my precious family, friends, and colleagues who have encouraged and supported me throughout my doctoral work. If I have learned anything, it is that we truly need each other. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank my dissertation supervisor, Dr. Cynthia MacGregor, who provided expertise and support. She kept me on track and pushed me to jump into intimidating tasks. I would also like to thank Dr. Ximena Uribe-Zarain who helped me learn to manage a massive data set and provided statistical expertise. In addition, I would like to thank the other members of my dissertation committee, Dr. Tracey Glaessgen and Dr. William Agnew. Thank you for the time spent reading and responding to my writing. I am grateful for your knowledge and support. Finally, I would like to thank my friend and fellow math teacher, Rima Freeman. She reminded me to celebrate the small victories and listened with interest (for months and months) to my thoughts and troubles surrounding my research. Thank you for your friendship. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................ ii LIST OF FIGURES .......................................................................................................... ix LIST OF TABLES ...............................................................................................................x ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................................... xi Contents SECTION ONE: INTRODUCTION TO THE DISSERTATION ..................................... 1 Background of the Study ................................................................................................ 2 Statement of the Problem ................................................................................................ 3 Purpose ............................................................................................................................ 4 Research Questions ......................................................................................................... 5 Theoretical Framework ................................................................................................... 6 Design of the Study ......................................................................................................... 8 Setting ......................................................................................................................... 8 Participants ................................................................................................................ 10 Role of the Researcher .............................................................................................. 11 Data Collection Tools ............................................................................................... 11 Data Analysis ............................................................................................................ 13 Integration of the Qualitative and Quantitative Data ................................................ 16 Limitations .................................................................................................................... 16 iii Definitions of Key Terminology ................................................................................... 17 Significance of the Study .............................................................................................. 19 Summary ....................................................................................................................... 20 SECTION TWO: PRACTITIONER SETTING OF STUDY .......................................... 21 Community Colleges in Missouri ................................................................................. 22 Local Context of Community Colleges in Missouri ................................................. 22 Comparisons of Missouri Community Colleges ....................................................... 26 History and Background of Policies Influencing Missouri Public Institutions ............ 28 Organizational Analysis ................................................................................................ 31 The Structural Frame ................................................................................................ 31 The Political Frame ................................................................................................... 33 Leadership Analysis ...................................................................................................... 36 Implications for Research in the Practitioner Setting ................................................... 37 Summary ....................................................................................................................... 38 SECTION THREE: SCHOLARLY REVIEW FOR THE STUDY ................................. 39 Theories of Retention and Persistence .......................................................................... 42 Social and Cultural Reproduction ............................................................................. 42 Tinto’s Theory of Student Retention ........................................................................ 43 Academic Momentum ............................................................................................... 46 Summary of Theories of Retention and Persistence ................................................. 50 iv Effectiveness of Developmental Education of College Completion ............................ 50 Alternatives to Traditional Developmental Education Approaches ............................. 55 Emporium Model ...................................................................................................... 55 Corequisite Remediation ........................................................................................... 56 Technology Use in Developmental Education ......................................................... 58 Summary ................................................................................................................... 59 Issues Driving Developmental Education Reform ....................................................... 59 Conclusion .................................................................................................................... 62 SECTION FOUR: CONTRIBUTION TO PRACTICE ................................................... 63 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Transforming Mathematics Education at Missouri Community Colleges .................................................................................................... 65 Power Point Presentation .............................................................................................. 67 Appendix A ................................................................................................................... 77 Crowder College ....................................................................................................... 77 East Central College ................................................................................................. 79 Jefferson College ...................................................................................................... 81 Metropolitan Community College ............................................................................ 83 Mineral Area College ................................................................................................ 85 Moberly Area Community College .......................................................................... 87 North Central Missouri College ................................................................................ 89 v Ozarks Technical Community College ..................................................................... 91 Saint Charles Community College............................................................................ 93 Saint Louis Community College ............................................................................... 95 State Fair Community College.................................................................................. 97 Three Rivers College ...............................................................................................