Virginia School Research Articles

Insurrection through the balance sheet

Abstract What has actually happened to the political economy of the United States over the last half-century? For too long now, ‘neoliberalism’ has been the standard answer given, yet today, the term seems to have lost both its analytic and critical capacities. Melinda Cooper’s Counterrevolution offers readers a fresh and productive response to this fundamental question of contemporary political economy. Cooper comes neither to praise nor bury neoliberalism but to shift from the level of generalizing accounts or polemics to the level of concrete ideas and the policies they have engendered. She directs attention away from the Chicago school and toward both the Virginia School of public choice theory and a long line of supply-side thinkers. On strictly economic grounds, these two strands ought to be in tension, but Cooper illuminates their political convergence: agreeing to constrain ‘certain kinds of public spending’, they implemented a politics committed to inflating asset values for the wealthy while holding workers’ wage growth in check. This balance-sheet insurrection, which directs the flow of capitalist value upward, stopped and reversed the potential Keynesian revolution that had been underway in the 1950s and 1960s.

Geoff Brennan and Public Policy

Geoffrey Brennan made a contribution to public policy that was broad, reflecting his own inter-disciplinary research interests – from conventional tax and public finance issues, through to constitutional political economy and institutional design. This contribution was tempered by Brennan’s own reluctance to offer direct policy recommendations, partly a function of natural epistemic humility and also his views on the appropriate role of the economist in public debate – views shaped by his association with the Virginia school of Constitutional Political Economy. Brennan’s research interests evolved to include some contrarian insights on public finance issues, a major contribution to public choice theory, early development of the idea of expressive motives in voting behaviour, and the ‘economy of esteem’ as a motivator of human action. Despite this breadth, throughout his intellectual career, Brennan remained within the broad ‘methodological coherence’ of Virginia political economy – methodological individualism, the centrality of exchange, the Pareto criterion for welfare analysis and a predominant focus on the ‘rules of the game’.

Development and Implementation of the “Exercise is Medicine” Elective at an Osteopathic Medical School

Abstract Introduction Lifestyle changes are a powerful way to combat many chronic illnesses. However, education on appropriate instruction of physical activity appears to be insufficient among medical students. This manuscript highlights development, incorporation, and feedback of the Exercise is Medicine elective at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine. Materials and Methods Twenty-four medical students attended ten weekly sessions, each of which lasted 2 h and covered a different topic. Participants were selected based on previous experience with exercise-based medicine and their personal beliefs on incorporating it into clinical encounters. Outcomes were gathered using surveys consisting of the Likert Scale, rating, yes/no/maybe, and free text questions. Results Confidence in prescribing lifestyle changes increased (p < 0.0001) from pre- to post-elective. Feelings of incorporating course material into practice increased (p < 0.05) after the elective. Feelings that physicians could impact their patients’ physical activity did not change. Conclusion Implementation of the Exercise is Medicine elective was well received among students and increased student knowledge and confidence in prescribing lifestyle changes to a variety of patient populations.

“The Kids can Handle it”: A Culturally Responsive Case Study of Four Detracking School Leadership Teams

Purpose: This comparative case study focused on high schools in California, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia using the lens of Culturally Responsive School Leadership to investigate the actions of school leaders in implementing detracking and asks How do school leaders’ actions regarding detracking fit into the larger framework of Culturally Responsive School Leadership? Research Methods: This study uses a qualitative comparative case study method involving interviews with leadership team members at detracking high schools. Findings: Leaders in all the schools explicitly demonstrated creating inclusive spaces, embracing community assets, and enacting culturally responsive instructional leaders. Leaders at three of the schools explicitly celebrated students’ identities. Leaders at two of the schools suggested they engage in critical self-reflecting aimed at combating biases against minoritized students but did not explicitly mention this self-reflection. Implications for Researchers and Practitioners: Though emergent in nature, these findings add to our collective knowledge about practices in detracking schools that may be beneficial elsewhere and being to fill in gaps in our knowledge about specific detracking conditions over which school leaders have control. These findings also demonstrate a need for researchers, professors of leadership education, and policy makers to support school leaders in becoming culturally responsive and sustaining the practices at the heart of CRSL. Applying this framework allows for a rigorous discussion of leaders’ specific actions along with avenues of detailed consideration for researchers, educators of future school leaders, and policy makers in a coherent manner to create and sustain schools that can serve all children well.

A multi-year characterization of confiscated vaping products from Virginia school youth.

The US Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) regulatory oversight over electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) includes access restriction for persons <21 years of age and flavor restrictions for "cartridge-based" products. Despite the restrictions, consumption by US youth perseveres. Studies on youth e-cig use are limited by the reliability and accuracy of self-reports. As an alternative to self-reports, the current study examined nicotine, cannabinoid, and unlabeled e-cigs and other vaping products confiscated from Virginia public schools to characterize trends among students. Findings highlight a shift from JUUL and pod-based products to single use disposable e-cigs following the FDA flavor restrictions on cartridge-based e-cigs. Chemical analysis of e-liquids by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry identified a wide variety of flavorants and an increase in the prevalence of synthetic coolants. Most confiscated products were nicotine salt formulations, but the prevalence of cannabinoid-based vaping products increased. The popularity of flavored disposable e-cigs highlights the need for further restrictions to reduce youth consumption. The increasing use of synthetic coolants instead of menthol may suggest that manufacturers are employing tactics to bypass regulations. Continued youth access to e-cigs and the abundance of cannabinoid-based products is problematic from health and safety perspectives. Continued research incorporating confiscated product analysis can be used to understand youth access to vaping products and evolutions in manufacturing practices.

Pedagogical strategies in the cotaught K–12 inclusive setting: role responsibility for teacher partners and leaders

ABSTRACT Knowledge of instructional strategies in cotaught K–12 classrooms raises awareness of this unique collaboration for benefitting students with disabilities. The purposes of this qualitative study were to (1) identify pedagogical strategies that facilitate coteaching in inclusive environments and (2) explore the relevance of coteaching teams and administrative support for these partnerships. Interviewing during the coronavirus pandemic involved nine experienced general and special educators (coteachers) from elementary, middle, and secondary schools in Virginia, USA. Practices of inclusive education and leaders’ involvement in coteaching were revealed. Coteaching strategies, administrative needs, and tips for future partners were probed in the interviews. Individual partners’ communication, responsibilities, tasks, and expectations were other areas of interest. Investigating how coteaching teams instruct and perceive administrative support contributes to the research. Importantly, the relationship of coteaching to leadership is crucial to the viability and effectiveness of instructional collaboration.

The 7 Elements Communication Rating Form for Teaching and Assessing Medical Communication Competency.

Medical communication skills are a critical component of clinical medicine and patient satisfaction.Communication skills are difficult to teach and evaluate, necessitating tools that are effective and efficient. This study presents and validates the 7 Elements Communication Rating Form (7E-CRF), a streamlined, dual-purpose, evidence-based medical communication checklist that functions as a teaching and assessment tool. A 14-item teaching and assessment tool is described and validated using face, concurrent, and predictive validity indices.The study was conducted with 661 medical students from the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM).Student performance was assessed in year 1 labs, year 2 labs, and year 2 and year 3 objective structured clinical examination (OSCE).These internal indices were compared with student performance on the Humanistic Domain of the Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX) Level 2-Performance Evaluation (PE), a licensure exam previously taken in years 3 or 4 of osteopathic medical schools. The evidence of interrater reliability and predictive validity is strong. Data from the 7E-CRF is compared to performance on the COMLEX Level 2-PE, Humanistic Domain. The 7E-CRF can identify students who are at a 10-fold increased risk of failure on the COMLEX Level 2-PE Humanistic Domain. Conclusions:The 7E-CRF integrates instruction and assessment, based on a national and international model. The simplicity, foundation in professional consensus, ease of use, and predictive efficacy make the 7E-CRF a highly valuable instrument for medical schools in teaching and evaluating competency in medical communication skills.

Exploring mathematic struggles among STEM students at Fairmont State University

Mathematics serves as the cornerstone of every STEM major, and proficiency in this subject is paramount for achieving academic success, societal integration, and meaningful participation in the workplace. However, numerous students encounter challenges in mastering mathematical concepts. In West Virginia, students face an additional hurdle, poverty, with households in the state ranking among the lowest earners in the nation. This can have significant implications for the funding and resources available to the West Virginia School System. Recognizing the interplay between socioeconomic factors and academic performance is crucial for devising targeted interventions and providing necessary support. In pursuit of this understanding, during the 2023-2024 school year, we administered a survey in 50 STEM courses at Fairmont State University (n = 447) and collected data from the LEAD Center on tutoring. Preliminary results show that math made up 50% and chemistry 37% of requested tutoring subjects in STEM and 69.7% receiving tutoring were in their first two years. Survey demographics are the following: gender identity: 212 male, 212 female, and 4 non-binary; economic status: 82% were middle class, 13% working class, and 4% on assistance; 29.5% are first generation; 62% are within their first two years of study. The most common math completed in high school was algebra (24.8%), trigonometry (34%), and calculus (24.4%). There was a strong correlation between major and enjoying math (0.99) and having a good math teacher in high school (0.62). Through data analysis and working with students directly, our goal is to discover why students struggle with math and how to better prepare future generations.

Moving the Needle: A Qualitative Exploration of the School Nurses' Experience with Virginia's Human Papillomavirus Mandate.

In all US localities, students provide proof of compliance with vaccination requirements to attend school. Despite benefits, vaccine legislation remains contentious. The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is recommended for adolescents and prevents cancer, but its inclusion in school immunization requirements is challenged. Virginia was the first state to mandate HPV vaccination. HPV is the only required vaccine in VA that allows caregivers to elect out. School nurses are trusted members of communities and enforce vaccine compliance. This study aims to understand Virginia school nurses' practice in implementing the HPV vaccine mandate through the exploration of their subjective experiences. Semi-structured interviews were conducted. Thematic analysis using the socioecological model guided data analysis. Factors that influence nursing practice were identified at all socioecological model levels The data from this study is intended to provide an understanding of school nursing practice so that interventions to improve HPV vaccination rates can be developed.

CPDD election results

The College on Problems of Drug Dependence (CPDD) has a new president‐elect: Wendy Lynch Ph.D., of the University of Virginia School of Medicine. The results of the 2024 Officers and Board of Directors election also included new board members Cecelia Bergeria Ph.D. of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Bethea “Annie” Kleykamp Ph.D. of the University of Maryland, Aron Lichtman Ph.D. of Virginia Commonwealth University, and Judith Tsui M.D. of the University of Washington.

Contextualizing Multilingual Learner Disproportionality in Special Education: A Mixed-Methods Approach

Background/Context: One of the most complex and systemic challenges U.S. public schools face is the disproportionate identification of multilingual learners in special education. Currently, students with multidimensional identities are often trapped in ambiguous and contradictory education policies and practices that contribute to both under- and over-representation in special education. Given the legacy of racial discrimination in the United States and in Virginia due to its history, students who have multidimensional identities where social categories intersect and interact with power dynamics are more likely to have their needs and outcomes overlooked. Purpose, Objective, Research Question, or Focus of Study: For these reasons, this mixed-methods study, situated within a Virginia school district, built on extent disproportionality research by applying a multilevel model of intersectionality to understand the relationship between social categories (i.e., race/ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status [SES]), practices, and policies and the disproportionate representation of multilingual learners in special education. We also examined the extent to which multilingual learners are disproportionately over- or under-represented in special education in Virginia, and how disproportionality varies by school level (i.e., grades K–5 for elementary, grades 6–12 for secondary), race/ethnicity, gender, and SES. Research Design: The quantitative findings from phase one were used to focus on one school district to find out how eligibility processes and services are impacted by organizational structures and school and community contexts. Our results demonstrate disparities for multilingual learners with disabilities by race/ethnicity, gender, and SES. Quantitative findings from this study both support and refute what is known in the extant literature about outcomes related to grade level, race/ethnicity, gender, and SES of multilingual learners with disabilities. The qualitative results, however, illustrate how the larger sociopolitical landscape and perceptions of ability/disability shape eligibility processes and outcomes for these students. Our qualitative data provide insight into multilingual learner disproportionality and the role of context and educational practices that contribute to these types of disparities in special education. Conclusions or Recommendations: The implications of these results for future practice, policy, and research are discussed. Generally speaking, this mixed-methods study shows that (1) using intersectional framing in a risk analysis of multilingual learner disproportionality reveals disparities a one-dimensional approach obscures, (2) representation in special education is associated with a multilingual learner’s social categories (i.e., race/ethnicity, gender, SES), and (3) contextual factors impact how multilingual learner eligibility policies and practices are communicated and implemented within schools. The fact that multilingual learner identification with a disability is correlated with social categories suggests that how we address learning challenges may reflect social problems rather than issues related to learning.

The CATCH My Breath Vaping Prevention Curriculum: An Evaluation of Impacts in Central Appalachian Middle and High Schools, 2019-2023.

Since 2015, the rise in e-cigarette use among youth has concerned public health authorities. After peaking in 2019, usage rates have declined but remain high. In 2023, 10% of high school and 4.6% of middle school students reported current use. This report describes the implementation and evaluation of a school-based e-cigarette prevention program, CATCH My Breath (CMB), in 8 central Appalachian counties. These counties have some of the highest rates of tobacco use, poor health, and premature death in the United States. A total of 6217 students across 25 middle and high schools in West Virginia and Kentucky received the CMB program from 2019 to 2023. Lists of participating counties, schools, and teachers were maintained on a rolling basis over the 4 years of the project. Program reach and impact on e-cigarette knowledge and use are reported. Thirteen-item pre- and post-tests were completed electronically by students before and after each course delivery. Questions assessed knowledge about e-cigarettes, current (past 30-day) e-cigarette use, and interest in future use. From 2019 to 2023, there were 9399 deliveries of the 4-session CMB course, primarily to middle school students. Approximately 84% reported being less likely to use e-cigarettes following the program. Significant improvements in e-cigarette knowledge and beliefs on 5 of 8 items were observed, including a significant increase in knowledge composite score (4.15-4.75, P < .001). From pre- to post-test, declines in current e-cigarette use (5.1% to 4.4%; P = .005) and peer influence (4.9% to 4.0%; P = .025) were also observed. CMB was feasible, effective, and well-received in a convenience sample of central Appalachian counties and schools. This curriculum, combined with other policy initiatives, offers hope for curbing the growing epidemic of youth e-cigarette use and nicotine dependence. The success of this project contributed to a decision by the West Virginia Bureau for Public Health and the West Virginia Department of Education to launch a joint effort to bring CMB to middle schools in all 55 counties during the next 3 school years of 2023-2026.

Bounded rationality of prosecutorial decision-making in corporate fraud violations

Purpose This study aims to analyze corporate mail and wire fraud penalties, using bounded rationality in decision-making and assessing internal and external influences on prosecutorial choices. Design/methodology/approach The study analyzed 467 cases from 1992 to 2019, using data from the Corporate Prosecution Registry of the University of Virginia School of Law and Duke University School of Law. It examined corporations facing mail and wire fraud charges and other fraud crimes. Multiple regression linked predictor variables to the dependent variable, total payment. Findings The study found that corporate penalties tend to be lower for financial institutions or corporations in countries with US free trade agreements. Conversely, penalties are higher when the company is a U.S. public company or filed in districts with more pending criminal cases. Originality/value This study’s originality lies in applying the bounded rationality model to assess corporate prosecutorial decisions, unveiling external factors’ influence on corporate penalties.

Effects of bounded rationality on prosecutorial decision making: Analysis of penalties on corporate fraud violators

Our study analyzes data from the Corporate Prosecution Registry of the University of Virginia School of Law and Duke University School of Law. This registry provides information on federal organizational prosecutions in the United States, including detailed information about every federal organizational prosecution since 2001, as well as deferred and non-prosecution agreements with organizations since 1990. We examine a subset of corporate violators, namely those who allegedly committed five types of fraud, namely, accounting fraud, mail fraud and wire fraud prosecutions, health care fraud, securities fraud, and tax fraud. We utilize the framework of bounded rationality of decision making to hypothesize that prosecutors are influenced by internal and external factors that affect the total penalties ultimately levied on corporate violators. Specifically, our results indicate that corporate penalties are significantly more likely to be lower when U.S. Department of Justice sections are involved in the prosecution and the company's country of incorporation has a Free Trade Agreement with the U.S. but significantly more likely to be higher when the violator is a U.S. public company.

Bridging the Gap: Development of frontal crash mode ATD Analogous human body models

Anthropomorphic variation is an important factor in computational studies using Human Body Models (HBMs), particularly regarding how such differences can influence observed kinematics and loading. Currently, a gap exists between Anthropomorphic Test Devices (ATDs) and human body models (HBMs). By necessity, there are differences in constitutive behaviors at a material level, however segment mass distribution and anthropometry differences can make matched simulations of ATDs and HBMs difficult to interpret, which has real-world implications for current or future regulatory applications. In response to this gap, we present Global Human Body Model Consortium (GHBMC) 50th percentile male models (M50-OS) analogous to Hybrid III and THOR 50th percentile male models to serve as intermediaries between the HBMs and ATDs in computational biomechanics studies.Statistical human shape models were sized to each ATD, individually, using measurement metrics from ANSUR I. The M50-OS model surface and body shape surface were then converted to both polygon data (STL) and nodal coordinates. Landmark registration was performed, and the morphed nodes were imported back into the existing M50-OS models to generate two morphed versions analogous to the ATDs. The qualification suites were obtained from each respective ATD manual and run against the baseline and morphed models. The models were also simulated in a frontal NCAP crash pulses (56 km/hr) to assess variation in loading in a regulatory crash environment. 33 simulations were run between all models. The LSTC Hybrid III version 151,214 (open access software, ANSYS, Canonsburg, PA), Adult Shape Parametric Model (open access model, UMTRI, Ann Arbor, MI), GHBMC M50-OS (Elemance, LLC, Winston-Salem, NC), Thor v2.7 (University of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Science/NHTSA) were used in this study. All simulations were run using LS-Dyna R. 9.3.1 (ANSYS) on an in-house computational cluster.The Male 50th Percentile THOR Analogous Occupant Simplified (M50 THAN-OS) has 364 × 103 elements and weighs 77.1 kg, the Hybrid III Analogous Occupant Simplified (M50 HAN-OS) has 370 × 103 elements and weighs 79.2 kg. The M50 HAN-OS and M50 THAN-OS response data exhibited a closer match to their respective models overall when compared to the baseline M50-OS human. In the vehicle test environment, the airbag and seatbelt peaks between M50 HAN-OS and M50 Hybrid III at nearly the same time.The results indicate that the ATD analogous models exhibit more similar response characteristics to their ATD counterparts after correcting for shape and mass distribution discrepancies. The ATD analogous models therefore represent a novel means to compare anticipated biomechanical loading on an occupant under similar testing conditions that use ATDs. Furthermore, the models represent a potential bridge towards testing modes of interest that ATDs are not well suited or are not validated for, such as low speed maneuvering, or oblique and far-side modes of crash.

Learning with Leaders: Bringing the village together: John B. Gordon III

In the new Learning with Leaders column, PDK CEO James Lane talks with Dr. John B. Gordon III, superintendent of Suffolk Public Schools in Virginia. Gordon shares how leading has changed in his career, how he’s built bridges with students and families, and the partnerships that he’s cultivating to help his district succeed.

The Academic Year Governor’s Schools of Virginia: A Community of Learners

High-ability and gifted students are well-served by a focus on the development of community. The Academic Year Governor’s Schools of Virginia were created with a formalized emphasis on the network of relationships built among the students, faculty, and the larger community. The power of these communities of learners was evident in a study of the Governor’s Schools. At a time when students are buffeted by stressors such as school shootings, pandemics, and war, a community of like-minded and caring peers and adults can provide support for their positive psychological development.

An inclusive school for computer science: Evaluating early impact with propensity score matching

Inclusive STEM high schools are designed to address racial, gender, and socioeconomic disparities in access to high-quality STEM education. Our study focuses on an inclusive, computer-science-themed, regional high school in Virginia, which admits students via a weighted random lottery. Using a quasi-experimental design, we analyzed a restricted-use, longitudinal dataset to compare outcomes for admitted students to those of a propensity-matched group of non-admitted applicants who attended traditional schools. Results from the school’s first two years show positive effects of admission on computer science course-taking and attendance, but negative effects on several standardized test outcomes. Our study contributes to research examining the potential of schools designed for equity and centered on STEM, and underscores the importance of careful analytic approaches to evaluation.

Analysis of publications on surgical gloves

Aims: This bibliometric analysis aimed to examine the trends and characteristics of publications related to surgical gloves. The study analyzed articles retrieved from the Elsevier Scopus database, focusing on topics such as the history of glove usage, the importance of sterility, glove punctures, and advancements in glove designs. Methods: The data in this study were obtained by searching the Elsevier Scopus database. The search was selected from records containing the keywords in the title “surgical gloves” and a single day was chosen for the sake of being unbiased. In this study, only the articles were analyzed and the online library and digital resources of Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University were used. Scopus' visuals were used for visualization after data analysis. Results: A total of 568 publications were included in the analysis, consisting of articles, letters, reviews, and other study documents. The majority of articles were written in English, and the top three countries in terms of publication output were the United States, United Kingdom, and Germany. Medical journals accounted for the largest share of publications, followed by nursing journals. Notably, there was a rising trend in the number of studies on glove punctures and advancements in glove designs. Richard F. Edlich from the University of Virginia School of Medicine emerged as the most productive author, and the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) Journal was the most prolific journal in this field. Conclusion: Today, studies on surgical gloves; focuses on latex glove allergy and surgical site infections. These studies; It is important for the prevention of infection during surgery in the future and the prevention of infectious diseases in healthcare workers.

Defining Myeloma and Advancing Treatment Options: A Conversation Between S. Vincent Rajkumar and Lale Kostakoglu.

Lale Kostakoglu, MD, MPH, a professor of radiology and medical imaging at the University of Virginia School of Medicine (Charlottesville), talked with Vincent Rajkumar, MD, the Edward W. and Betty Knight Scripps Professor of Medicine at the Mayo Clinic (Rochester, MN) about his collaborative work in