This document provides instructions for an assignment to submit the introduction section of a capstone project prospectus. The introduction section should include a title page, overview, and two subsections on the organizational profile and introduction to the problem. It must follow the formatting requirements in the course textbook, including being at least 1.5 pages excluding the title and references page. It must also include at least 4 unique sources cited within the text and listed on the references page using APA format.

1. EDU 880
Recommendations for Solving Low Rates of College Readiness
at James Monroe
High School, West Virginia
Michael Whitener
School of Education, Liberty University
In partial fulfillment of EDUC 880
Author Note:
Michael Whitener
I have no known conflict of interest to disclose.
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to
Michael Whitener
Email: [email protected]
Chapter 1: Introduction
Overview
The purpose of this study was to provide Recommendations for
Solving Low Rates of College Readiness at James Monroe High
School, West Virginia. The problem was that 28% of the low -
income and underserved students were ready for college
compared to an 84% overall college readiness rate (Vogel &

2. Heidrich, 2020). This chapter of the report presents the
Organizational Profile, an Introduction to the Problem, the
Significance of the Research, the Purpose Statement, the
Central Research Question, and the Definitions for this
research.Comment by Drew Van Dam: Why is this capitalized?
Organizational Profile
The education site for this study was James Monroe High
School in West Virginia. Its mission is to educate its student
population with a rigorous, multifaceted curriculum that
empowers students to express personal histories, build
meaningful connections to the outside world, and become
lifelong learners. Its vision is to motivate every student to
achieve academic and personal success through a dynamic
academic program, personalized relationships, and meaningful
connections to the outside world. The school is located in
Monroe County and serves students from various backgrounds
(white, black, low-income). It has 524 students from the 9th to
12th grade, ranking it the 76th in West Virginia and 10416th
nationally (James Monroe high school, n.d). Comment by Drew
Van Dam: citeComment by Drew Van Dam: Just author or
organization here, if there isn't an author name or an
organization, then italicize. It looks like High Schools would be
used as the organization name that provided this info.Comme nt
by Drew Van Dam: Include information regarding the
administration. What about guidance counselors or even a
college readiness program at the school?
Introduction to the problem
The problem at the school was that 28% of the low-income and
underserved students were ready for college at James Monroe
High School compared to an 84% overall college readiness rate
(Vogel & Heidrich, 2020). College readiness indicators at the
school include placement tests and GPA, among others. States
can establish school specific-standards to measure college
readiness rates (Leeds & Mokher, 2019).Comment by Drew
Van Dam: What are the long term effects of this problem on
your school, city?

3. Significance of the Study
Solving low college readiness gaps at James Monroe High
School will promote public confidence in the school. Secondly,
it will promote the relationship between the neighboring
communities and James Monroe High School. Lastly, the study
will help the school administration develop school-specific
parameters to measure college readiness (Leeds & Mokher,
2019).
Purpose Statement
The purpose of this applied study was to provide
recommendations for solving low college readiness gaps at
James Monroe High School in West Virginia. Qualitative and
quantitative methods were used to collect data. These methods
included semi-structured interviews and observation.
Participants were students, teachers, and community members.
Central Research Question
How can low college readiness rates among students from
diverse backgrounds at James Monroe High School be reduced?
Definitions
1. College readiness – Possession of skills, behaviors, and
knowledge required from high school students before
enrollment in their first year of college (Durham et al., 2015)
2. College readiness indicators- Parameters used to determine
whether high school students are ready for college. Indicators
may include high school GPA and course taking (Durham et al.,
2015)
3. Underserved communities- Populations traditionally faced
barriers to accessing employment, equal political
representation, etc. Examples include the elderly, illiterate,
low-income families, and people living with disabilities
(Durham et al., 2015)
References
Durham, R. E., Bell-Ellwanger, J., Connolly, F., Robinson, K.
H., Olson, L. S., & Rone, T. (2015). University–District
Partnership Research to understand college readiness among

4. Baltimore City Students. Journal of Education for Students
Placed at Risk (JESPAR), 20(1-2), 120–140.
https://doi.org/10.1080/10824669.2014.987278
James Monroe high school. High Schools. (n.d.). Retrieved July
8, 2022, from https://high-
schools.com/directory/wv/cities/lindside/james-monroe-high-
school/540096000768/
Leeds, D. M., & Mokher, C. G. (2019). Improving indicators of
college readiness: Methods for optimally placing students into
multiple levels of postsecondary coursework. Educational
Evaluation and Policy Analysis, 42(1), 87–109.
https://doi.org/10.3102/0162373719885648
Vogel, D., & Heidrich, L. (2020). Make Connections–ask
questions. Sprachsensible Schulen im Internationals Network
for Public Schools in New York. Bremen: Universität,
Fachbereich 12. Arbeitsbereich Interkulturelle Bildung
Plato believed that the rulers of the ideal society should be paid
no more than four times the lowliest
member of that society was paid. In the United States in 1980,
CEO compensation was estimated to be
42 times that of average employees; by 2014 it was 303 times.
The $700 billion government bailout of
2008 rescued many major financial institutions whose leaders
had steered the United States into the

5. worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. While
millions of jobs, homes, and retirement
savings were lost, senior executives in the financial sector were
rewarded with enormous pay
packages. The Economic Policy Institute reported in 2016 that
the CEO-worker pay ratios of the largest
168 companies in the United States averaged 70 – 1 with some
earning more than 300 times the median
salaries of their employees.
1. Write a 3-4 Problem-
Solution
Analysis Paper.
2. In your writing, analyze executive compensation with the
ethical toolkit and address the
following questions in writing:
o How would Milton Friedman want to compensate executives?
o How would a utilitarian?
o A deontological thinker?
o What would a virtue ethicist have to say about executive

6. compensation?
o What would be the response of the ethic of care?
3. 1-inch margins
4. Double-spaced
5. 12-point Times New Roman font
6. Title page with topic and your name
7. References page
8. *** Make sure you cite ALL information in the text that is
used from another source, paper
will be checked for plagiarism upon submission
Criteria Ratings Points

7. Section
Content
69 to >62.0 pts
Advanced
Includes all items and
sub-sections required by
the instructions. Effectively
addresses all required
content areas within each
section. Content is
addressed in a substantive
manner. Is a minimum of
1.5 pages.
62 to >57.0 pts
Proficient
Includes most items and
sub-sections required by
the instructions.

8. Adequately addresses
most required content
areas within each section.
Most content is addressed
in a substantive manner. Is
between 1 and 1.5 pages.
57 to >0.0 pts
Developing
Includes some items and
sub-sections required by
the instructions.
Inadequately addresses
required content areas
within each section.
Content is not addressed in
a substantive manner. Is
less than 1 page.
0 pts
Not
Present

9. 69 pts
Information
Literacy
51 to >46.0 pts
Advanced
Exceptional understanding
of existing body of
knowledge on the topic. All
the following qualities are
present: supports claims
with evidence; critically
evaluates claims of others;
seriously considers or
engages with other
interpretations. Contains
at least 4 sources/citations
to support claims.
46 to >42.0 pts

10. Proficient
Adequate understanding of
existing body of knowledge
on the topic. Most of the
following qualities are
present: supports claims
with evidence; critically
evaluates claims of others;
seriously considers or
engages with other
interpretations. Contains at
least 3 sources/citations to
support claims.
42 to >0.0 pts
Developing
Inadequate understanding
of existing body of
knowledge on the topic.
Few of the following
qualities are present:
supports claims with

11. evidence; critically
evaluates claims of others;
seriously considers or
engages with other
interpretations. Contains
fewer than 3
sources/citations to support
claims.
0 pts
Not
Present
51 pts
Grammar,
Spelling, &
Current
APA
Formatting
30 to >27.0 pts
Advanced

12. Spelling and grammar are
correct. Sentences are
complete, clear, and
concise. Paragraphs
contain appropriately
varied sentence
structures. Where
applicable, references are
cited in current APA
format. Reference page
contains at least 4
sources.
27 to >24.0 pts
Proficient
There are some spelling
and grammar errors.
Sentences are presented
well. Paragraphs contain
some varied sentence
structures. Where
applicable, references are

13. mostly cited in current APA
format. Reference page
contains at least 3
sources.
24 to >0.0 pts
Developing
Spelling and grammar
errors distract the reader.
Sentences are incomplete
or unclear. Paragraphs are
poorly formed. Where
applicable, references are
minimally or not cited in
current APA format.
Reference page contains
fewer than 3 sources.
0 pts
Not
Present

14. 30 pts
Total Points: 150
Prospectus: Part 1 - Introduction Grading Rubric |
EDUC880_D11_202230
EDUC 880
Prospectus: Part 1 – Introduction Assignment Instructions
Overview
This assignment is linked to the development of your capstone
project.
Instructions
The candidate will submit a well-developed draft of the
Introduction section, including a separate title page, an
overview of the Introduction section, and two sub-sections: the
organizational profile and the introduction to the problem, and a
reference page. The submission must follow the requirements
described in detail within the course textbook, and especially
the section checklists. The Applied Research Report Example
chapter is extremely useful and can be found in the course
textbook. The Introduction: Part 1 draft will be a minimum of
1.5 pages, excluding the title and reference pages. The
submission must include at least 4 unique sources/citations,

15. which are also properly listed on a reference page at the end of
the submission using proper APA format.