English language learners (ELLs) experience higher barriers to education than non-ELLs. School counselors are uniquely positioned to identify and respond to the needs of these students. This phenomenological study explored the advocacy efforts of 14 school counselors working with ELLs. Major themes included creating space for culture and context,…

Expectant and parenting youth involved in systems of care represent a unique intersection of developmental needs as adolescents, emerging adults, parents, and young people who come into contact with child welfare, juvenile justice, and/or other human services systems. Addressing these parallel roles and respective developmental needs is necessary…

Data on enrollment in healthcare occupational training in programs such as the Health Profession Opportunity Grants (HPOG) Program are available at both the local program level and nationally. Summarizing "which" trainings participants choose is straightforward, but why they make those choices is not well understood. This second brief in…

Mastery learning is an instructional approach that empowers every student to progress with confidence. Using flexible pacing and targeted supports, teachers guide students through a cyclic process of preparation, demonstration, and formative feedback until there is a mutual agreement between teacher and student that the student is ready to…

This brief describes how educators use a function-based approach to (a) prevent contextually inappropriate behaviors and (b) teach and encourage social, emotional, and behavioral skills throughout the PBIS continuum of support. In addition, this brief highlights critical features of effective functional behavioral assessment (FBA) and behavior…

Public health is a profession that focuses on preventing disease, disability and death, and promotes health policies and programs at a population level (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] Foundation, 2019). The field has experienced a decades-long workforce shortage where on average 250,000 more trained workers are needed in the…

This report outlines the approaches that state education agencies (SEAs) have taken in defining and using formative assessment practices, including practices to explicitly support students with disabilities. At the state level, there have been efforts to develop or adopt formal definitions of formative assessment practices that guide how these…

College students are unable to meet their basic needs (food, housing, utilities, etc.) at greater rates than the general adult population of the United States. When students lack enough to eat and/or are unable to secure safe, stable housing, they often face tolls to their psychological and physical health. Additionally, compared to peers who are…

This practice brief outlines a series of recommendations for improving the timely provision and use of high-quality braille -- both embossed and electronic -- and tactile graphics for state-mandated assessment. The primary target audience for these recommendations is State Education Agency (SEA) assessment leaders and others at the state-and…

A Single Point of Contact (SPOC) is an individual designated by a college or university to support a student "in need." The SPOC serves as a navigator to help answer questions and connect the student to services. This role can include support of a student related to academic coursework, registration, housing, financial aid, health and/or…

This study examined the initial impact of the 2021 amendment to the Student Excellence Equals Degree (SEED) legislation on adult student program recipients at Delaware Technical Community College (Delaware Tech) in the state of Delaware. Additionally, the study explored the characteristics of adult student program recipients. The researcher used a…

Nontraditional students in Nebraska colleges have lower graduation rates than traditional students. Approximately 40% of nontraditional students at a private college withdraw before completing a degree. The purpose of this qualitative study was to discover barriers preventing nontraditional students from completing a degree. The conceptual…

According to the federal government, intellectually gifted students should be provided the opportunity to experience a challenging curriculum. School districts have the responsibility of identifying talented students and providing them with learning experiences at or above their grade level as well as implementing professional development…

The current study is an evaluation of the ways academic policies and athletic procedures can impact learning for student athletes as inconsistent practices regarding athletic travel and make-up work can have negative effects on learning for student athletes. A total of 11 participants (i.e., 8 student athletes, 3 faculty members) participated in…

Purpose: To fill a gap in literature, this phenomenological study explored the experience of teaching the arts online in Title I schools. Theoretical Framework: The theoretical framework for this study was based on the Studio Habits of Mind (SHoMs). For the purposes of this study, the researcher focused on three of the SHoMs: (a) stretch and…