The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "State Education Policy Impact." Contents include: (1) Texas Legislature Fails…

This study investigated the impact of professional development support structures for enhancing teacher mastery of Response to Intervention (RTI) in an urban elementary school setting. With a focus on effective implementation strategies, the research explored the role of tailored professional development initiatives in equipping educators with the…

The purpose of this research study was to explore secondary education teachers' perceptions of why they may be underprepared to support English language learners (ELLs) in the mainstream classroom. With the increasing number of ELLs in public schools across the United States, teachers with the background, training, and/or knowledge of how to…

Since at least 2001, an emphasis has been placed on the use of evidence-based practices in schools to close achievement gaps. Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) emerged during this time as a framework of evidence-based practices adopted by nearly all U.S. states including Georgia. When implemented with fidelity, MTSS has the potential to close…

This qualitative phenomenological research study aimed to explore the experiences and perceptions middle school English Language Arts educators held concerning the implementation of one-to-one portable Chromebooks. Additionally, this research study sought to provide insight into how one-to-one portable Chromebooks are integrated into teaching and…

The research problem explored elementary administrators in a southern school district in Georgia who experienced challenges supporting teachers' implementation of inclusion strategies to support the academic needs of students with disabilities (SWDs) in general education classrooms. The purpose of this basic qualitative study examined…

This qualitative instrumental case study explores the self-efficacy and preparedness of Title-I high school counselors in Georgia, focusing on their experiences and efficacy in providing postsecondary counseling to Black students. It illuminates these dynamics through a comprehensive qualitative case study methodology rooted in a theoretical…

Objective: Examine how student demographics and perception of on-campus counseling service availability, accessibility, acceptability, and quality is related to utilization. Participants: A total of 262 students from 49 Georgia (U.S.) higher education institutions. Methods: A logistic regression examined student perception of on-campus counseling…

Since at least 2001, an emphasis has been placed on the use of evidence-based practices in schools to close achievement gaps. Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) emerged during this time as a framework of evidence-based practices adopted by nearly all U.S. states including Georgia. When implemented with fidelity, MTSS has the potential to close…

The National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) conducted a national report which indicated a disproportionate percentage of music education and performance graduates according to race, with black students graduating at 6.6% (McKoy, 2012). HBCUs are vital to improving the representation of Blacks, especially in high-need schools and…

The purpose of the study was to explore the use of visuals as it applied to English Language Arts instruction for teachers in suburban and urban middle and high schools in a metropolitan area in the state of Georgia. This study was implemented to address the reading needs of students in response to the changing context of literacy in an age of…

Universities often overlook prospective graduate students--significant contributors to research productivity--as an audience requiring strategic recruitment communication. Uses and gratifications theory posits audiences intentionally select specific communication channels to fulfill self-actualization needs. Therefore, the purpose of this study…

The referral process of early elementary grade level students can be long and complex. National statistics show that most of the referrals are done during or after fourth grade. This study worked around the decreasing number of students referred to the Special Education Program during the early grade level stages. The purpose of this qualitative…

Rural student diversity in North Georgia is increasing, while the cultural identity of rural teachers remains stagnant (Showalter et al., 2019; US Census Bureau, 2022). Teachers can become culturally responsive by building cultural awareness, creating learning partnerships, affirming and valuing cultural identity, and strengthening the home-school…

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study was to explore secondary general education teachers' lived experiences that gave meaning to or defined the nature/essence of providing individualized instructions to SWDs in the classroom. The conceptual framework that guided this study was based on Fishbein's (1967) theory of response action.…