---

Over the past decades educational and political leaders attempted to improve school performance. Yet still, there remain immense gaps in academic achievement between schools with high and low poverty rates. The expected gains to close the gap have not been achieved by the policies implemented, nor from the threats of sanctions for districts, school leaders, and teachers. The purpose of this quantitative study was to answer a primary question: Can specific leadership influence (LI), collective teacher efficacy (CTE), and socioeconomic status (SES) predict either alone or in combination, student achievement scores in Title I elementary schools? The study investigated the constructs´ effects exclusively among Title I elementary schools. The focus of analysis in this study included 23 Title I Schools. Among the schools, 308 teachers responded to the Collective Teacher Efficacy Scale and 265 responded to the Principal Instructional Management Rating Scale. Multiple regression analysis determined LI, CTE, and SES, together, were significant predictors of student achievement, explaining 65.2% of the variability in reading scores and 48.9% of the variability in math scores.

---

I lived my childhood in foster care and never felt a sense of belonging when I was in school. Now, I have served 17 yrs. as a teacher and administrator in Title I schools. Today, I am an organizational psychologist in search of specific educator behaviors and attitudes found to improve academic performance for students living in poverty.

---