This paper utilizes a conceptual framework uniting neoliberalism, neoconservatism, and poststructuralism to examine four education bills from the Kansas state legislature proposed in 2023. Utilizing critical discourse analysis to frame policy documents as forms of text and discourse, this paper unpacks language-in-use, structures of power, and…

"Discriminatory censorship laws" regulate classroom conversations about racism, gender identity, and other topics targeted in the backlash against efforts toward inclusive classrooms and curricula. This policy brief examines the proliferation of these laws and their impact on K-12 schools, including the creation of hostile learning…

Ohio's commitment to student success is stronger than ever. Earlier this year, Governor Mike DeWine and Lt. Governor Jon Husted, with the support of the general assembly, signed into law historic investments for Ohio's students. These investments expand on the Ohio Department of Education's priorities outlined in Future Forward Ohio to strengthen…

This study analyzed the vision, operations, and governance structure of state legislature on the College and Career Readiness (CCR) education policy to identify the decision-making process and opportunities and gaps for an equitable K-12 education pathway that challenges a more inclusive implementation of readiness at the state level. I endeavored…

Purpose: Education policy implementation is as important as policy design. This study applies a literature-based, multi-dimensional framework for success factors and barriers to vocational education and training (VET) reform implementation in the case of a new dual VET law in Serbia. We use the framework to assess factors related to…

Counselors play a critical role in U.S. schools and provide a range of services to students, from academic guidance to mental health supports. Yet, the profession remains vastly understudied. This three-paper dissertation aims to contribute to the existing literature on school counselors, particularly on the experiences of Black school counselors,…

School counselors are advocates for all students, which includes supporting students who are eligible for accommodations under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. This study examined school counselors' roles in regards to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. As advocates, school counselors often have opportunities for…

This article reports although much has been communicated about the history of school segregation in Southern states, less is described about the prevailing attempts to establish school segregation in Northern cities and towns. Black-owned and operated newspapers serve as primary sources for the communication of counternarratives that bear witness…

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 paper examines the potential impact of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) upon national-level disability policy in Saudi Arabia. As an initial step, this study provides a document analysis of the provisions of the CRPD and its implementation into Saudi disability policy by highlighting the amendments made to meet…

In response to concerns about the additional costs and time-to-degree associated with traditional developmental education programs, several states and postsecondary systems have implemented corequisite reform where academically underprepared students take both a developmental education course and college-level course in the same subject area…

Parent advocacy is an essential component to help children with disabilities receive appropriate school services. However, there are limited studies about parent advocacy for children with disabilities living in rural areas. To address this issue, semistructured interviews were conducted with 12 parents of children with disabilities. The purpose…

In this literature review, I explore poverty, the barriers to participation that exist for students in poverty, and why this issue should matter to music educators. Research findings about students and poverty generally fall into three categories: logistics, teacher attitudes, and policy. I identify participation barriers in each of these…

This paper focuses on the relationship between policy creation and policy enactment through the use of an innovative qualitative research methodology, photo elicitation. Teachers applying Common Core State Standards were studied in two states through indepth interviews, photographs captured by the participants, and other artifacts. Findings…

Federal school finance policy over the past 30 years has focused on resource allocation within school districts. Regulations require equal staffing across schools, particularly Title I schools, which are designated based on the percent of low-income students enrolled. The requirement to equalize staffing levels creates a loophole where, even with…