Addressing The Mathematical Achievement Gap Through Improvements In School Facilities: The Case Of Fort Bend Isd School District In Texas

Author

Damian K. Viltz, Prairie View A&M University

Date of Award

8-2024

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

Degree Discipline

Business Administration

Abstract

In 1966, Americans were introduced to the term achievement gap by James S. Coleman, a Johns Hopkins sociologist. Coleman et al.’s (1966) study explained most of the gap between the achievement of America’s White and Black students. Since that study was published, scholars have identified strategies to close the achievement gap. Accordingly, my research investigated the possibility of using the quality of school facilities as a potential strategy to enhance learning equity across racial categories. My findings may fuel policies targeting the development of local communities through inclusive learning achievements.

My empirical methodology was sustained by an expanded theoretical framework that considered schooling, or quality of education, as an output that derives from a combination of inputs, including the quality of facilities. The main dataset contained information from a Texas school district with over 80,000 students. I used the State of Texas Education Agency (TEA)

students’ categorization and measured their performance using the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) exam results. The results of a comprehensive survey conducted by a consulting firm were used as a measure of the building condition. Alternative datasets were used to check the robustness of the findings.

Keywords: achievement gap, facilities, academic outcomes

Committee Chair/Advisor

Erick Kitenge

Committee Member

Reginald Bell

Committee Member

Jaeyoung Cho

Publisher

Prairie View A&M University

Rights

© 2021 Prairie View A & M University

Date of Digitization

6/18/2024

Contributing Institution

John B Coleman Library

City of Publication

Prairie View

MIME Type

Application/PDF

Recommended Citation

Viltz, D. K. (2024). Addressing The Mathematical Achievement Gap Through Improvements In School Facilities: The Case Of Fort Bend Isd School District In Texas. Retrieved from https://digitalcommons.pvamu.edu/pvamu-dissertations/41