Education

Session I

Jazmine Klinedinst, "Caregiver Advocacy Self-Efficacy and Advocate Insights in Special Education"

How do caregivers of students with disabilities perceive their advocacy self-efficacy in special education settings, and how do advocates identify strategies that effectively support caregiver advocacy? Caregivers of students with disabilities are often required to navigate complex special education systems and advocate for their children, yet many report feeling underprepared. This study examines caregiver advocacy self-efficacy in special education settings and explores advocate perspectives on what forms of support are most effective for families. Using a mixed-methods approach of qualitative and quantitative data, caregivers will be recruited independently to complete a Qualtrics survey assessing advocacy confidence, perceived barriers, and sources of support, along with open-ended reflections. A separate survey will be administered to current or former special education advocates to gather insights into effective advocacy strategies and training experiences. By integrating caregiver and advocate perspectives, this research aims to identify key factors that strengthen family-centered advocacy and inform more effective advocacy support practices.

Student Major: Psychology Major

Advisor: Professor Deborah Ramer

Ciara Onley, "Beyond Punishment: Restorative Justice as a Path Toward Equity in K-12 Schools"

Black students are 2.2 times more likely than white students to be referred to law enforcement or arrested at school, largely due to zero-tolerance policies introduced in the 1990s (American Bar Association, 2023).  These policies impose harsh punishments for minor infractions and contribute to the school-to-prison pipeline, which involves a system of school disciplinary policies that funnel black and brown students into the prison system (Morgan, 2021). This project examines how restorative justice practices in K–12 settings can promote positive student outcomes. Restorative justice is an alternative approach that emphasizes accountability, repairing harm, and strengthening relationships rather than punishment and exclusion (Morgan 2021). Through a comprehensive literature review, this project will analyze the effects of implementing restorative justice practices on disciplinary outcomes, academic achievement, and student engagement in K-12 settings. 

Student Major(s)/Minor: Government Major, History Minor

Advisor: Dr. Katherine Barko-Alva