Busy educators are often faced with a dilemma--staying up to date with evidence-based practices and initiatives that support their professional growth while combating a constant barrage of superficial ideas from other contexts. Continuous improvement approaches to change offer methods for testing new ideas and adapting them to local contexts. If…

Although the secondary-tertiary transition has been investigated in mathematics education research with different focuses and theoretical approaches, it remains a major issue for students in the transition. With success in a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) major at stake, we investigated a novel approach to support the…

Youth with disabilities encounter multiple systemic barriers to post-school success, including racism and discrimination. Critical consciousness is the foundation of culturally responsive and anti-racist work and supports self-determination and vocational outcomes expectations among marginalized youth. While secondary special educators are…

The construct of belonging has been studied in many marginalised student groups yet has been understudied among students with intellectual disability. The present study used a large dataset from the United States to quantitatively investigate the construct of belonging among 7th to 12th grade students with the educational classification of…

This research identifies the soft (employability) skills that key stakeholders view as essential for young people with intellectual disability (ID) to gain and maintain open employment. The study subsequently examined the work experience opportunities for young people with ID to develop these soft skills during their school years. Qualitative data…

Critical thinking, problem-solving, teamwork, and responsibility are essential when preparing students for the workforce. One national initiative to address these skills is the Career Pathways Model, which provides core classes designed to complement the students' career choices. The problem addressed in this study was that underserved high school…

The transition from a public middle school to a public high school represents a pivotal point in the educational trajectory of a student. To combat freshman transition challenges, school district administrators created Freshman Academy models. This study examines the impact of two Freshman Academy models, isolated and school-within-a-school, on…

In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the multi-level educational intervention among youth in a low-income, remote community in Hawai'i, United States. The program aided with middle schoolers' transition into adulthood through youth-adult partnerships, teen mentoring, and community sustainability. Drawing upon social capital framework, we…

To promote and enhance self-determination, the Self-Determined Learning Model of Instruction (SDLMI) was developed for teachers to teach students the skills needed to engage in goal-directed actions. The SDLMI was originally designed to be delivered by teachers, but technologies are emerging that can provide an alternative medium to delivering…

To promote and enhance self-determination, the Self-Determined Learning Model of Instruction (SDLMI) was developed for teachers to teach students the skills needed to engage in goal-directed actions. The SDLMI was originally designed to be delivered by teachers, but technologies are emerging that can provide an alternative medium to delivering…

This study explored teacher perceptions of their ability to implement the Self-Determined Learning Model of Instruction (SDLMI) with fidelity and the impact of these perceptions on student self-determination outcomes on the Self-Determination Inventory: Student Report (SDI:SR). Using a piece-wise growth model, we found stability in teacher…

Many colleges are pursuing innovative alternative approaches for the development of education that aims to accelerate students' progress in gaining important academic competencies. Summer bridge programs are one such approach. These bridge programs offer underprepared and at-risk students the opportunity to advance toward college-level coursework…

Transition from secondary school to postschool life, education, and employment can be difficult for young people who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH). This population's postschool outcomes, particularly in employment, continue to lag behind those of the general population. The transition education, planning, and practices that these students…

The transition from high school to college is challenging under normal circumstances. But this year--with students ending high school remotely and potentially starting college virtually--this transition may seem nearly impossible for too many students. Young people will need to navigate complex systems of registration, enrollment, and financial…

Graduating from high school and moving to the next phase of life can be difficult for any student but is particularly so for those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Social and communication difficulties, sensory concerns, and narrow interests can negatively affect these students' opportunity for postsecondary education and employment. Preparing…