This study examined the unique and interactive effects of teacher-child relationships and classroom quality on PreK to Grade 1 children's reading and math achievement, social skills, and problem behaviors, as well as whether these relationships differed by children's race and ethnicity. Based on data from 192 children (18.23% Black, 8.33% Latine…

Although behavioral threat assessment and management (often shortened to "threat assessment") has become widely used in US schools, no studies have systematically examined how frequently schools conduct threat assessments and how threat assessment rates vary as a function of student and school demographics. Of particular concern is that…

School-based mental health professionals consistently report that they are either not prepared to support grieving students, or do not have time to integrate crisis intervention support into their hectic schedule. Given that inadequate school mental health services can increase a bereaved student's risk of developing emotional problems, it is…

Gay-Straight Alliances or Gender and Sexuality Alliances (GSAs) are school clubs that address LGBTQ issues. Although little is known about potential benefits of participation in GSAs, there is some evidence that they may generally benefit LGBTQ student well-being and academic achievement. However, some literature suggests GSAs may not meet the…

Universal screening has emerged as one strategy within schools for identifying students who demonstrate social emotional and behavioral (SEB) concerns to provide appropriate support. However, research has demonstrated little evidence of equity around diagnostic accuracy; that is, how students might be differentially identified as at-risk for SEB…

As schools are increasingly tasked with improving student outcomes related to both academic and social and emotional wellbeing, digital interventions are becoming utilized as viable tools for successful outcomes. This study aimed to measure the effectiveness of a culturally responsive, art-based mindfulness intervention called L.A.U.G.H.® (Let Art…

Racially and ethnically minoritized (REM) youth have been historically underrepresented in the field of school psychology due, in part, to poor program climate. Numerous strategies to increase the recruitment and retention of REM school psychology students have been put forth. Despite this, concerns regarding program climate remain and calls for…

The present study investigated the psychometric properties of the "Scales for Assessing Emotional Disturbance -- Third Edition: Rating Scale" (SAED-3 RS), which is designed for use in identifying students with emotional disturbance for special education services. The purposes of this study were to evaluate (a) the measurement invariance…

Although the trajectories of children's social skills have been examined across biological sexes, less research has examined these patterns for racially and ethnically diverse children in the United States. The purpose of this study was to estimate the longitudinal growth trajectories of social skills, while examining the influence of biological…

This exploratory study occurred in 10 title 1 schools located within a Midwestern state. The sample included 23 general educators and 551 students in second through fifth grade. Fifty-seven students identified as at risk for an emotional or behavioral disorder represented the targeted sample. The purpose of this study was to determine if teachers'…

Universal screening is an essential practice in any multi-tiered system of support, but without understanding the demographic makeup of students in studies that inform current practices, the effectiveness in which instruments and screening approaches work best for students of demographically diverse backgrounds cannot be assessed. In this…

This study examined the relationships between school-level school climate and race differences in student grades, accounting for school sociodemographic composition. We found that schools with more positive school climates had smaller race differences in student self-reported grades. The moderating effect of school climate remained after…

Rates of expulsion from early care and education settings (e.g., childcare and preschool programs) exceed those in K-12, and relatively little is known of how to prevent such disciplinary decisions. In addition, expulsion disproportionately affects children of color, especially boys. The present study explores a potential protective strategy…

Teachers' classroom management practices are an essential aspect of supporting student engagement, yet they often vary in response to changing conditions in the classroom. This study explored the variability within middle school teachers' observed practice and their students' engagement as a function of contextual factors. Observers visited…

In contrast to the focus on short-term, extrinsic goals in our society (e.g., wealth, prestige), positive youth development scholars have highlighted the need for parents and schools to help youths cultivate and plan for long-term, intrinsic, and meaningful goals (i.e., envisioning a meaningful future), arguing that envisioning a meaningful future…