An Examination of Third and Fourth Grade TCAP Scores and the Universal Breakfast Program in Unicoi County Tennessee.

<p>The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of standardized test scores on the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) of students enrolled in Unicoi County Schools, that offers a universal breakfast program, compared with mean scores of students in both public and private schools in the state of Tennessee during the 2007-2008 school year. Test results of 404 Unicoi County third and fourth graders were examined with only the mathematics and reading and language arts sections of the TCAP used in this research. The State means were calculated using data collected from TCAP mathematics and reading and language arts tests in 222 public and private school systems across Tennessee.</p><p>The concept that nutrition, eating breakfast in particular, played an integral role in cognition has been considered for years. Student assessments are now measured using standardized tests. A school system that featured a universal breakfast program and TCAP scores provided a connection between the 2 areas.</p><p>Four research questions guided the study. One null hypothesis was generated from each of these questions for a total of 4 null hypotheses. Four one-sample <em>t</em> tests were computed to evaluate the data.</p><p>The results of the one-sample <em>t</em> tests were that there were no statistically significant differences between the Unicoi County and State TCAP score means in third grade mathematics and reading and language arts. However, there was a statistically significant increase between the Unicoi County and State TCAP score means in fourth grade mathematics and reading and language arts. From the results of the study, it was suggested that school administrators consider implementing school breakfast and universal breakfast programs.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

EdD (Doctor of Education)

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation - unrestricted

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Educational Leadership

Year dc:date.issued

2011

Author dc:creator

• Smith, Harold Lamar

• obesity
• universal breakfast program
• Tennessee
• standardized testing
• Educational Sociology
• Social and Behavioral Sciences
• Sociology

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright by the authors.

Repository record dc:identifier

https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/1245

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dc.etsu.edu:etd-2436