An Analysis of Data Collected from the 2007-2008 Tennessee State Report Card and the Variables Related to Science Test Results.

Author

Julia Lorie Lamons, East Tennessee State University

Degree Name

EdD (Doctor of Education)

Program

Educational Leadership

Date of Award

5-2009

Committee Chair or Co-Chairs

Eric S. Glover

Committee Members

Cecil N. Blankenship, James H. Lampley, Terrence A. Tollefson

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine whether Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) Achievement reading scores, school district per-pupil expenditures, school size, percentage of students qualifying for free and reduced-priced meals, and attendance were related to science TCAP test scores from the 2007-2008 school year. The data were gathered from an analysis of mean standardized test scores in reading and science of 8^th graders in 67 school systems comprising 181 schools located throughout Tennessee. One hundred eighty-one schools configured grades 6 through 8 were used in this study. Only 177 schools had reported attendance available on the Tennessee Department of Education website.

Pearson correlations were performed between the 8^th mean grade science TCAP scores and 8^th grade mean reading scores, per-pupil expenditure, school size, attendance, and the percentage of students qualifying for free and reduced-priced meals. Independent-samples t tests were conducted to evaluate whether 8^th grade mean science TCAP scores and 8^th grade mean reading scores varied depending on whether the school per-pupil expenditure was above or below the state average of $8,345. Independent-samples t test were also conducted to evaluate whether 8^th grade mean science TCAP scores and 8^th grade mean reading scores varied depending on whether the school attendance percentage was above or below the state goal of 93%.

The school characteristic with the strongest association with the mean 8^th grade science TCAP scores as computed by Pearson's correlation is the mean 8^th grade reading TCAP scores. The values can be ranked as follows: mean 8^th grade reading scores (.92) > percentage of students qualifying for free and reduced meals (-.84) > per-pupil expenditure (-.62) > attendance (.60) > school size (.23).

Document Type

Dissertation - unrestricted

Recommended Citation

Lamons, Julia Lorie, "An Analysis of Data Collected from the 2007-2008 Tennessee State Report Card and the Variables Related to Science Test Results." (2009). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 1848. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/1848

Copyright

Copyright by the authors.