First Advisor
Christopher Pinkney
Date of Award
2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership: Special and Counselor Education
Department
Special Education
Language
English
Subjects
Belonging (Social psychology), Elementary school education -- Oregon, School improvement programs, Educational change
Abstract
Student sense of belonging is at the foundation of student outcomes with impacts reaching far beyond the walls of the elementary school classroom. This study investigates factors that shape students’ sense of belonging at an Oregon elementary school where Youth Truth survey data over the past three years have revealed a lack of sense of belonging amongst students. Correlates to the low sense of student belonging were identified via a root cause analysis process with students, staff and families. As a result of the root cause analysis, a theory of improvement was developed with input from students, staff and families. The methodology employs Improvement Science principles. Change ideas to improve classroom community and reduce the use of exclusionary practices were developed and tested via Plan Do Study Act (PDSA) cycles. The implementation of school-wide class meetings and the restructuring of the protocol for students being sent outside of the classroom for support aimed at increasing student belonging at the study site in order to build a more inclusive and supportive school culture. The results from this study included a reduction in time out of class and suggest an opportunity for future improvements to reported student sense of belonging.
Rights
Copyright 2025 Kelly Smith
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Persistent Identifier
https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/43718
Recommended Citation
Smith, Kelly, "Who Belongs and Why It Matters: Belonging at an Oregon Elementary School" (2025). Educational Leadership Professional Doctorate Dissertations. 4.
https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/edu_ed_pd/4
Comments
A Dissertation in Practice submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership: Special and Counseling Education.