Abstract
Purpose. To remain competitive in the 21st-century global marketplace, America must annually increase the number of employees pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, and math. Positive experiences in math courses increase self-efficacy, motivation, and effort. Negative experiences decrease success leading to an avoidance of advanced-level math courses and careers. Classroom practices promoting relationships increased student academic success. Minimal research has been conducted on the effect of the Capturing Kids' Hearts process on academic outcomes.Methodology. This causal-comparative study examined the impact of teacher utilization of the Capturing Kids' Hearts process on math success, as measured by students' cumulative grade point averages in 7th-grade general education math courses. This study compared secondary data from students in 2015 to students in 2017 at 2 Southern California schools. The sample size included 1,077 students. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis, controlling for gender and minority students, examined math success measured by students' cumulative math grade point averages as a result of the intervention.Findings. Descriptive analysis results indicated that students demonstrated greater math success when taught general education 7th-grade math by untrained Capturing Kids' Hearts teachers. Inferential analysis results showed a statistically significant impact on math success for all students and especially for girls and minority student.Conclusion. This study supported the need for research on teacher utilization of the impact of the Capturing Kids' Hearts process on 7th-grade student general education math success since no previous studies have been conducted. Federal and state legislatures, site and school district administrators, teachers, and researchers should note that while the findings of this study showed negative impacts on student math success, more research is needed to identify the impact of this process on student academic success. While Capturing Kids' Hearts promotes positive impacts on student academic success, there is very limited research to support these claims.Recommendations. Study findings suggest policymakers and school administrators conduct additional research on program effectiveness for student math success. American students need effective learning support to ensure they achieve math success in junior high, which will increase as they enroll in advanced-level math courses and pursue math-related careers necessary for the United States to remain competitive in the global marketplace.