Although school psychologists often comment on examinee motivation in their reports, systematic evaluation of effort is not common practice. Empirical assessment of performance effort provides critical evidence for the validity of evaluations and will likely lead to more valid assessments, recommendations, and placements. This article focuses on…

Currently more than 400,000 youth are placed in foster care across the United States. Between 33% and 50% of these children receive special education services. Nearly half of foster care youth with disabilities are identified as having emotional and behavioral disorders, in part due to their exposure to maltreatment including neglect, substance…

Behavior is a form of communication. For many young children, they may engage in certain behaviors to consciously or subconsciously communicate a need to access something, such as a desired adult or peer, sensory stimulation, or a tangible item. Other times, children may engage in a behavior to escape or avoid something, such as a particular…

Use of high-probability request sequences is a low-intensity intervention for increasing student compliance. There are several subtleties in implementing high-probability request sequences that make the process more complex. Review of supporting research raises concerns about how well the intervention translates into practice. This article…

The Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) and its effects are described in this article. The effects of MTSS are associated with improved academic outcomes across various domains, reduced behavioral issues, and enhanced social and emotional development. MTSS also promotes equity by addressing the diverse needs of all students from various…

A simple act of motivation priming can significantly impact the validity of test results, which is crucial for institutional accountability. The progression of the studies discussed in this article illustrates a clear trajectory of building upon previous findings to refine and expand the understanding of motivation priming when gathering…

Learning loss is a phenomenon that, due to COVID-19, created shifts across postsecondary instruction, engagement, and support (Salazar, 2023a). As highlighted in a report by Salazar (2023b), learning loss is a "drastic shift in preparedness and learning behaviors that come with entering the classroom post-pandemic" (p. 1), potentially…

As outlined in the 2024 National Educational Technology Plan; digital health, safety, and citizenship skills reflect the full set of knowledge and habits students can adopt to protect themselves and others in online spaces. For schools and districts, protecting student health and safety while those skills develop means taking an approach that can…

Implementation of a culturally responsive positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) framework is associated with positive outcomes for secondary students when implemented schoolwide. Yet, educators often report more implementation challenges in secondary school as compared to elementary school settings. Difficulties obtaining student…

The notable increase in student misbehavior reported in recent years poses significant challenges for educators, and underscored the critical need for effective interventions to address social-emotional learning (SEL) in educational settings. There has been growing interest in integrating SEL programs into school curricula to mitigate behavior…

Students with specific learning disabilities (SLDs) sometimes experience anger, which can negatively affect their academic performance and social relationships if not managed properly. Prevention and intervention programs are beneficial in addressing this issue. Bibliotherapy is an effective method for anger management and is categorized into…

Some students with disabilities, particularly those with emotional and behavioral disorders, may struggle with transitions, demonstrating inappropriate behaviors during them. Visual supports, previously determined to be an evidence-based practice for students with autism, is a proactive classroom management strategy addressing transitioning. In…

This protocol guides the What Works Clearinghouse's (WWC) systematic reviews of evidence on behavioral interventions designed to improve outcomes of students in kindergarten to grade 12. The protocol is used in conjunction with version 4.1 of the "WWC Standards and Procedures Handbooks" and version 4.1 of the "Study Review…

Although the multitiered system of supports for behavior (MTSS-B) framework has emerged as a proactive, systemic framework to promote students' social, emotional, and academic outcomes, its implementation may not benefit all youth equitably without explicit considerations related to culturally and racially equitable practice. In this article, we…

Missouri Schoolwide Positive Behavior Support (MO SW-PBS), with support from the Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), has provided training and support to build local capacity and positively impact student outcomes. Numerous years of descriptive data and a recent peer-reviewed research article both show the effects of…