2024 Doctoral Capstone Projects

Renaissance Academy Charter School in Phoenixville, PA, has implemented a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) to provide comprehensive academic, behavioral, and social-emotional support to its students. The school emphasizes early identification and intervention through regular progress monitoring and data-driven decision-making to foster academic success and overall student well-being. A key focus of improvement for Renaissance Academy's MTSS framework is enhancing its behavioral support system. While the academic MTSS structure is well-defined and supported by ongoing professional development and curriculum alignment with state standards, the behavioral MTSS procedures need clearer guidelines and implementation strategies. The focus of the research project was how to improve the current MTSS system at Renaissance Academy Charter School. By identifying the areas of growth in the school’s current system and using other schools as models, Renaissance Academy can strengthen its MTSS framework and improve outcomes for all students.

This Doctoral Capstone Research Project investigated the effectiveness of the AP exam fee reimbursement incentive at Thomas Jefferson High School (TJHS) in the West Jefferson Hills School District. The financial incentive program reimbursed AP students their AP exam fee(s) for each qualifying score of a three or higher. Three years of AP exam results (2018-2020) when no financial incentive was available, was compared to three years of AP exam results (2021-2023) when the reimbursement incentive was offered. Additionally, AP students and parents were surveyed to gather their perspectives of the reimbursement incentive and how it impacted AP exam registration and AP exam preparation. The average number of AP exams administered, the average number of qualifying scores, and the average AP exam pass rate were all higher during the reimbursement incentive years. The survey results indicated that AP exam participation was mostly driven by the opportunity to earn college credit, and the reimbursement incentive was viewed as a secondary bonus. The survey results supported the rise in AP exam performance since a large majority of the participants viewed the financial reimbursement incentive as influential and motivational. The research findings suggest that the AP exam fee reimbursement incentive was an effective strategy to improve AP exam results at TJHS.