In this article, we describe a large-scale data collection effort about the environmental learning field in Maine. This approach utilized a stakeholder engagement process which included over 600 project managers, educators, and school administrators from both formal and informal education settings. Our focus on collecting data about specific…

New America has been running a learning cohort known as the Early Care and Education (ECE) Implementation Working Group, a set of 18 city and county birth-to-five and preschool programs that began meeting in 2022 to help one another expand services quickly and equitably. This brief summarizes the findings and best practices from the working group…

This chapter examines specific Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles, guidelines, and checkpoints that support the removal of barriers to reading to learn efforts. The chapter will also offer practical examples of relevant curricular moves to support student learning from texts.

Institutions of higher learning are are returning to test-required admissions policies after finding that standardized tests help them better assess the academic preparedness of all applicants. This brief presents evidence that: (1) The objective standard set by standardized tests makes the college admissions process fairer for students; (2) ACT…

Carefully constructed professional development supports learning. Integration of Universal Design for Learning and Social-Emotional Learning into professional development supports comprehension and encourages generalization. This study sought to understand educators' perceptions following a five-part webinar series on the connections between…

This case study was conducted to develop a proposal comprised of best practices for institution-wide implementation of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in higher education. The analysis of data collected from interviews with individuals from institutions endorsed by the Center for Special Technology (CAST), the founding organization of UDL,…

Purpose: The paper enriches the understanding of the principal challenges faced in future lawyers' education in Mexico considering global trends, particularly from the perspective of skills creation in diverse areas of legal practice. Design/methodology/approach: The framework used draws on trends identified within an international collaborative…

Background: The US Individuals with Disabilities Education Act requires that children with disabilities receive a free appropriate public education. However, it does not specifically include the subject of health education. Currently, 30 US states require public schools to teach sexuality education as a part of the health education curriculum, but…

The goal of gifted education is to serve the needs of individuals with high potential and advanced ability. However, the term "gifted" can create barriers in the minds of the public and policymakers, effectively framing these advanced learning opportunities as inequitable and inaccessible. Excellence gaps, or differences in advanced…

At Virginia's public institutions of higher education, the process of determining eligibility for accommodations occurs in two main steps: (1) establish that a student has a disability; and (2) determine the appropriate accommodations for the individual student. Given students' varied experiences at different Virginia public institutions of higher…

Access to apprenticeships for young people and those from disadvantaged backgrounds is an ongoing problem, particularly among the most sought-after apprenticeship opportunities. Since the apprenticeship reforms in 2017 there have been a number of main trends. A decline in the number of apprenticeships overall (a trend further exacerbated by the…

Nigeria's educational system is riddled with issues and challenges, leading it to have the highestnumber of out-of-school children in the world. Not only have these issues and challenges led to ahigh number of out-of-school children, but it has also led to an increase in national poverty andilliteracy rates. Research points to the fact that these…

The present paper investigated how inclusive vocational excellence (IVE) practices specific to vocational education and training (VET) can be described in an effective and transparent manner. A framework for the description of such practices was proposed, and then 44 descriptions of practices were collected with this framework from an…

This study considers the experience of education abroad alumni through a social justice lens. We leverage literature that places systemic change at the fore, underscoring the importance of addressing deeply ingrained attitudes, behaviors, and perceptions that perpetuate systemic inequalities or hinder progress. Practitioners and scholars have…

As institutes of higher education (HE) strive to meaningfully address diversity, equity, and inclusion in practice, Universal Design for Learning (UDL) provides a relevant and timely framework for course design to support all learners. Using UDL as an instructional design framework, educators can proactively address learner variability and reduce…