When COVID-19 first disrupted the routines and traditions that constitute school, many teachers grappled for the first time with online instruction, often with little experience or support. The experience of the past months has demonstrated that those who could transition seamlessly to online or hybrid models were already delivering authentic,…

During the 2020-21 school year, COVID-19 forced Virginia's school divisions to adapt to unprecedented circumstances, which led many divisions to deviate from the typical five-day-a-week pre-pandemic school schedule with all students attending school in person each day. In-person learning is superior to remote learning in promoting student…

In addition to promoting programs and services that improve academic outcomes, state education leaders identify ways to support the social and emotional health of students, parents, and educators. This topical brief summarizes social and emotional learning (SEL) needs and strategies in Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, as outlined…

Youth are natural scientists at birth, discovering and exploring their world and trying to make sense of it (Bers, 2008). A child's education is not limited to just the time they spend in the classroom. Children learn at home with their families, in public libraries, or through out-of-school-time (OST) experiences provided at community centers and…

Teaching and learning are changing drastically in the wake of COVID-19, and once-skeptical K-12 system and school leaders are increasingly responding to students' academic needs with competency-based learning models. State boards of education and other state leaders should examine the rationale and structures that underpin these student-centered…

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic forced districts to rapidly adjust their policies in ways that altered teachers' working conditions. Teachers' perceptions of how conditions changed could impact their well-being, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment. Purpose: We examined the relationships between Virginia teachers' perceptions of how…

Physical Educators face significant challenges in including students with disabilities. To address this issue, appropriate professional development must be provided. Traditional professional development is limited by barriers such as cost, time, location and availability. The purpose of this randomised experimental design study was to determine…

The 2022 National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) data provide a window into how the landscape of American education has shifted over the past two years in response to COVID-19-related school disruption. Between 2020 and 2022--a period marred not only by the health and safety worries that COVID brought but also by the heated debates about…

Only half of high school students report feeling prepared for their postsecondary lives, according to a Gallup poll. In a separate survey by Morning Consult, two-thirds of young people aged 16-24 said they did not know what career to pursue, and only 44 percent of 19- to 24-year-olds who had not enrolled in college were satisfied with their career…

This interview study with special education teachers in rural and urban school divisions within Virginia, USA, reports instructional strategies that support outcomes for students with social emotional mental health (SEMH) needs. Evidence-based strategies from the interviews are delineated for teachers who work with this highly vulnerable…

Mathematics specialists support the teaching and learning of K-12 mathematics and attend to school-based responsibilities and needs. This study examined the shifts in responsibilities of mathematics specialists during the COVID-19 pandemic to better-understand their current and potential future influence on mathematics teaching. An online survey…

Mental health and well-being significantly impact students' academic performance, social interactions, and school engagement. Partnering with communities can enhance the effectiveness and reach of mental health initiatives and supports within educational settings. By collaborating with community organizations and agencies, schools can augment…

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic forced districts to rapidly adjust their policies in ways that altered teachers' working conditions. Teachers' perceptions of how conditions changed could impact their well-being, job satisfaction, and organizational commitment. Purpose: We examined the relationships between Virginia teachers' perceptions of how…

Distributed leadership practices were used by principals to engage teacher leaders in instructional leadership responsibilities to create an innovative learning culture in Title I elementary schools. It was not known how teachers described the influence of principal-distributed leadership practices on organizational learning and innovativeness in…

Higher education has immense power to support the transformation of K-12 teaching and learning because it incubates future educators and supplies opportunities for professional development. University presidents and deans of colleges of education can also use their influence to support systemic change to modernize the profession through a variety…