The National Center on Accessible Educational Materials for Learning (National AEM Center) at CAST is a technical assistance (TA) center funded by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). The purpose of the Center is to improve educational and employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities through…

Implementation is making, and acting on, evidence-informed decisions. Yet awareness of evidence does not necessarily result in improved outcomes: implementation is critical for turning engagement with research into tangible changes in school practices and pupil outcomes, including, crucially, for pupils experiencing socio-economic disadvantage.…

In an effort to meet the needs of adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) while hospitalized, a team of experts and providers from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), MGH for Children as well as parents of individuals with ASD was sparked in 2013. This became a multidisciplinary collaborative, the MGH Autism Care Collaborative, to improve…

Improving school climate takes time and commitment from a variety of people in a variety of roles. This document outlines key action steps that noninstructional staff--including guidance counselors, social workers, school psychologists, office staff, bus drivers, maintenance and facility staff, and food service staff--can take to support school…

To provide quality services to the hard of hearing student population, vocational rehabilitation (VR) and postsecondary staff must understand the diverse and significant needs of these consumers and assist them in making appropriate "informed choices" to become successfully employed in careers commensurate with their capabilities and interests.…

Ongoing, strategic family-school partnering (FSP) is an essential component of every educational community. FSP is a multi-dimensional process in which schools, families, and communities engage in shared actions to ensure a child's academic, social, and emotional success. With this text, the authors intend to offer a practical guide that…

This guide is designed as a reference for District and School personnel working with English learners (ELs). The content of the guide represents a compilation of information, examples, and resources. This guide is a living document and subject to frequent updates. It is recommended to review the document online rather than printing a hard copy.

"Building Institutional Capacity for Data-Informed Decision Making" is the third installment of the Cutting Edge series, which aims to help colleges engage faculty, scale successful interventions, and create a strong culture of evidence through use of data to strengthen their institutional change and student success efforts. Though the…

A school construction guide offers key personnel in school development projects information on the complex task of master planning and construction of schools in Australia. This chapter presents the appendix for the complete guide and contains summary statements of important procedures outlined in the earlier chapters. Included are outlines of…

High school improvement initiatives often focus on specific intervention strategies, programs, or priority topics (e.g., dropout intervention). However, research shows that systemic and sustainable improvement can only be achieved when initiatives are implemented with consideration for the broader education contexts in which they operate. The…

Schools increasingly are recognizing that leaving no student behind requires a comprehensive, multifaceted, and integrated system of learning supports. To establish such a system, initiatives to improve schools must evolve current student supports into a full-fledged component dedicated to addressing barriers to learning. This calls for new…

Across the country, groups of people who often haven't worked together previously are combining their talents and resources to improve outcomes for children and youth. They often form groups called collaboratives. This packet provides some guidance for what makes such collaborative efforts successful and what gets in the way. It is designed as an…

This handbook is designed to acquaint instructional aides in Indiana's elementary schools with the various aspects of their job. Included are helpful hints and a variety of resource materials considered likely to be useful. Contents focus on the following: (1) qualifications; (2) instructional, clerical, and auxiliary duties; (3) working…

This reference guide presents the basic accounting concepts, terminology, and definitions used by colleges and universities. The guide, a companion to the National Association of College and University Business Officers' (NACUBO's) online self-study course of the same name or a standalone reference, compares college and university accounting…

A checklist of 10 ways to use computers in a college or university public relations office is presented including: storing information, streamlining tasks, distributing news, handling hometown releases, maintaining mailing lists, communicating, producing publications, coordinating calendars, getting organized, and troubleshooting. (MLW)