Return-to-Learn for Students Who Experience Concussions: A Case Study of a Western Pennsylvania High School

The purpose of this case study was to examine the academic return-to-learn procedures implemented by a Western Pennsylvania high school. The case study sought to answer the following questions: 1. What factors led to the development of the Western Pennsylvania high school's academic return-to-learn procedures? 2. How has the implementation of a return-to-learn protocol impacted concussion management in the Western Pennsylvania high school? 3. What do the concussion management team members perceive to be the strengths, challenges, and recommendations for improvement of the Western Pennsylvania high school's return-to-learn protocol? The 12 participants of this study were members of the high school's concussion management team during the 2016-2017 school year. Through individual interviews, observation of a meeting, and a review of documents, this research revealed the process of developing and implementing a return-to-learn protocol in a western Pennsylvania high school. Interview data was transcribed and coded to exhibit emergent themes. Observation data analysis included a review of reflective and descriptive notes. Documents relevant to concussion management were reviewed and integrated with the other data to provide a rich, comprehensive picture of concussion management at the high school. The following conclusions were developed as a result of the implementation of the return-to-learn protocol: (a) the protocol improved communication amongst stakeholders, (b) the protocol provided a consistent plan for staff to follow, (c) the protocol provided clearly defined roles and duties for team members, and (d) the protocol allowed for individualization of accommodations.Ed.D., Educational Leadership and Management -- Drexel University, 201