Dr. William Allan Kritsonis, PhD Dissertation Chair for Donald Ray Brown, Jr., PhD Program in Educational Leadership, PVAMU, Member of the Texas A&M University System.

1. EXPLORATORY QUAILITATIVE INVESTIGATION OF REDUCING RECIDIVISM RATES FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN MALES ENROLLED IN MIDDLE SCHOOL DISCIPLINARY ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAMS A Dissertation Proposal by DONALD RAY BROWN, JR. Dissertation Chair William Allan Kritsonis, PhD PhD Program in Educational Leadership

10. Theories Guiding the Study Reciprocal Determinism Symbolization Logic Abstract Thought Problem Solving Social & Cultural Influence Bandura Piaget RQ1 How does each program structure model affect African American male student recidivism rates in an alternative setting? RQ2 Is their a relationship between Teachers’ Sense of Efficacy score and African American male student recidivism rates in disciplinary alternative education settings? RQ3 What aspect of parental involvement influences African American male student recidivism rates? RQ4 To what degree of influence does the social skills curriculum have on African American male student recidivism rates? RQ1 How does each program structure model affect African American male student recidivism rates in an alternative setting? RQ4 To what degree of influence does the social skills curriculum have on African American male student recidivism rates?