Hart, Monica2017-06-152017-06-152017-052017-06-08May 2017http://hdl.handle.net/11310/111This thesis investigates how two Texas universities affect local high school students’ writing skills. The research covers published best practices within the field of writing, the effects of high-stakes testing on composition instruction, and the complex relationships between universities and local school districts. Survey and interview responses from university faculty, public librarians, and high school teachers elucidate the role of local universities in secondary education. Ultimately, the author emphasizes the need for trust between universities and school districts in order to combat the negative effects of high-stakes standardized testing.application/pdfen-USWritingWriting InstructionCompositionHigh-Stakes TestStandardized TestTrustRelationshipInfluenceUniversitiesAcademic ResourcesLibrariesTexasPanhandle-PlainsTeachersStudentsAcademic SkillsEducational ReformNo Child Left BehindCommon CoreTexas Essential Knowledge & SkillsThesis2017-06-15