There are foundational universal design for learning (UDL) principles that support accessibility and inclusivity that can be incorporated into instructional materials. Creating instructional materials that are accessible and inclusive is a comparatively new challenge that is gaining awareness. A problem is that most professors do not know how to…

Despite the critical role that faculty play in the success of students with disabilities in higher education, professional development for promoting the understanding of these students' needs and the employment of inclusive instructional strategies to enhance their success has been limited. To better assess the potential of the online environment…

The purpose of this study was to determine 1:1 iPad implementation's impact on students' reading achievement from 2013-2017 and student efficacy in using the technology to learn at one independent middle school in Grades 5-8. To determine the impact of the 1:1 iPad initiative on reading achievement, this mixed methods study examined five years of…

The purpose of this study was to determine 1:1 iPad implementation's impact on students' reading achievement from 2013-2017 and student efficacy in using the technology to learn at one independent middle school in Grades 5-8. To determine the impact of the 1:1 iPad initiative on reading achievement, this mixed methods study examined five years of…

Many rural communities have a pool of mature-aged local people seeking a career change or better lifestyle, which inevitably involves reskilling or upskilling. These people have strong local ties and are committed to their community. University enabling programs provide a bridge to higher education. This longitudinal study explores the impact on…

Federal disabilities legislation (the "Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act," or IDEIA of 2004) continued the movement of disabled ("differently-abled") persons from segregated public educational institutions to fully integrated general education classrooms, with appropriate accommodations for the…

In 2012, Australia introduced a new "National Quality Framework" (NQF), comprising enhanced quality expectations for early childhood education and care services, two national learning frameworks and a new assessment and rating system spanning childcare centres, kindergartens and preschools, family day care and outside school hours care.…

This evaluation reviews efforts made by Illinois Action for Children (IAFC), with guidance from the Illinois Governor's Office for Early Childhood Development, to spur experimentation with new systemic change strategies to increase the number of children from priority populations--those considered to be the most vulnerable, with multiple risk…

This report is an evaluation of efforts made by Illinois Action for Children (IAFC), with oversight from the Illinois Governor's Office for Early Childhood Development (OECD), to test, support, and facilitate innovations in the early childhood system in 11 communities across the state. The Early Childhood Innovation Zones (IZ) initiative, funded…

The Early Childhood Innovation Zones initiative was established by Illinois Action for Children (IAFC), with guidance from the Illinois Governor's Office for Early Childhood Development. Funded by a Race to the Top--Early Learning Challenge grant, this initiative supported capacity building efforts for organizations working with young children in…

The purpose of this non-experimental, descriptive, quantitative study was to describe the impact high school dual enrollment coursework has had on initial enrollment of women with STEM majors in Montana two-year colleges. The study was designed to find whether or not differences existed for access (initial enrollment), persistence (to third…

Using both quantitative and qualitative analyses, we examine the role of a college access intervention in the enrollment and persistence outcomes of low-income students in Chile modeled partially after a Texas admissions program. We find that, although students from the program have a mean cumulative GPA significantly lower than that of their…

CAST created "Strategic Reader," a technology-based system blending Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and Curriculum-Based Measurement (CBM) in a digital learning environment to improve reading comprehension instruction. This experimental study evaluates the effectiveness of Strategic Reader using two treatment conditions for measuring…

This study examined the effective strategies, resources, and programs urban superintendents utilize to improve the academic achievement for African-American males. This study employed a mixed-methods approach to answer the following research questions regarding urban superintendents and the academic achievement for African-American males: What…

The purpose of this sequential mixed methods case study was to explore the role of a teacher's attitude towards Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocols (SIOP) and how those attitudes affect the program's effectiveness. SIOP is a program designed to mitigate the effects of limited English proficiency and promote equal access to the curriculum…