Date

12-7-2025

ESRP 9000 Professor

Linda Gaughan, Ph.D.

ESRP 9001 Professor

Linda Gaughan, Ph.D.

Executive Summary

This strategic research project was designed to examine how inconsistent funding affects student experiences at an urban high school for agricultural studies. The school's structure, pathway programs, instructional systems, and support services were designed to understand how resource distribution patterns influence student learning. The analysis showed that funding limits access to technology, work-based learning, industry tools, and the alignment of resources needed across agricultural pathways. Research was reviewed about instructional practices, access to technology, career and technical education, funding systems, professional learning, and capacity building. The review supported the connection between stable resources, clear instructional systems, and student outcomes. The project consultant identified four possible solutions and selected a capacity-building approach that links instruction, data use, and resource planning.

An action plan was developed for monitoring instruction, reviewing pathway data, and guiding team collaboration. If this plan is adopted by the high school, these routines will support the identification of student needs and provide a structure for tracking instructional gaps across programs. The evaluation plan includes how evidence cycles, team feedback, and student performance data can be used to study the project results. Creating monitoring and feedback systems, the school's stakeholders can improve program alignment, increase access to agricultural technology, and other academic programs, such as dual enrollment courses. In addition, student experiences in the classroom can be enhanced through hands-on classroom activities. The project author concludes that building capacity for equitable learning offers a sustainable method for addressing the problem of inconsistent funding. This direction provides a foundation for continued study and future work in agricultural education as well as overall schoolwide improvement.

Document Type

Strategic Research Project-NSU Access Only

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

College

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education

Concentration

Organizational Leadership

Language

English

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