Native students thrive when supported by a proactive network that nurtures positive identity development, affirms Indigenous heritage, and recognizes their diverse strengths. Active family engagement is crucial for fostering a sense of belonging in school, which evidence shows is foundational to academic success. This resource is intended to help…

This dissertation is concentrated on transgender students with recognition of LGBTQIA+ students across the board. There is a deficiency of information in education on how to assist high school students who are transgender. This literature review encompasses the transgender experiences and addresses major depression, gender dysphoria, minority…

Distance and program characteristics drive parental pre-kindergarten (pre-k) choice. This study reflects the third in a series of briefs examining pre-k enrollment and access for students in the Houston Independent School District (HISD). The aims of this study are to identify characteristics that drive enrollment, understand where parents receive…

Parental stress increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Families with children with an intellectual or developmental disability (IDD) and extensive support needs--such as complex communication needs--experienced additional challenges, including service loss and difficulties accessing virtual learning. The purpose of this study was to understand…

This study examines the digital divide and socioeconomic disparities that hinder equitable access to quality education in modern schools. This study highlights how unequal access to technology and the internet disproportionately affects students from low-income families, exacerbating existing educational inequalities. This paper defines the…

The incarceration rate in the United States has increased dramatically in the past half century. In 1970, about 100 out of every 100,000 individuals in the United States were confined in prison. Today, that number is five times as large, with nearly 500 out of every 100,000 individuals confined in prison. Currently, an estimated 2.7 million…

Schools have faced increasing challenges related to safety and security. This Spotlight explores strategies to create safe and supportive learning environments that promote student well-being and academic success. From responding to school threats and building strong school-community relationships to fostering positive school climates, these…

This US-based study examined the experiences of school counselors and social workers implementing a systems-oriented, programmatic student support practice model, City Connects, within high-need urban contexts. The City Connects model represents current best practices in student support, positioning school counselors and social workers primarily…

This article draws out the implications for school and classroom practices of an emerging consensus about the science of learning and development, outlined in a recent synthesis of the research. Situating the review in a developmental systems framework, we synthesize evidence from the learning sciences and several branches of educational research…

Higher education institutions have implemented many initiatives to support first-generation college students' (FGCS) persistence to degree completion; however, many FGCS fail to persist beyond their freshman year (Forrest Cataldi et al., 2018). Many FGCS are able to benefit from secondary and postsecondary supports as they move from kindergarten…

Current research suggests that students fare better in school, especially in areas of engagement and attendance, when they have supportive adult-student relationships. As many educators learned during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, extra efforts are needed to build these supportive relationships when teaching and learning in online environments. Full…

It is clear that the COVID-19 pandemic will have a devastating effect on students in need. Barnett Berry calls for greater cross-sector collaboration among schools, universities, nonprofits, and other organizations that serve children to help meet the needs that already exist and that will arise as the pandemic continues. He describes the work of…

This report evaluates the impact of intensive student support services provided by Communities in Schools of Kalamazoo (CISK) to elementary students of Kalamazoo Public Schools (KPS). These intensive services typically follow a case-management format and include activities related to academic assistance, basic needs, enrichment/motivation, and…

Nurture Groups (NGs) and Learning Support Zones (LSZs) started to operate as a pilot project in state schools in Malta in 2008. There are more than 60 NGs and LSZs in primary, middle and secondary schools in Malta, out of a total of 89 state schools, with more than a hundred educators supporting children and young people through the nurture…

Supportive school services are a primary service modality for youth with autism spectrum disorder. Autism spectrum disorder, as well as co-occurring psychiatric symptoms and low intellectual abilities, interfere with academic achievement and therefore influence decisions about school services. Therefore, we examined the association of parent,…