The Student Affairs Departments have seen immense growth over the years, from a discourse which had no academic relevance in higher education, to that which is expected to add value to the attraction, retention, and graduation of students. However, the latest developments have seen the role of Student Affairs Departments grow from "in-loco…

The authors of this article each bring a different theoretical background to their evaluation practice. The first author has a background of attention to culturally responsive evaluation (CRE), while the second author has a background of attention to systems theories and their application to evaluation. Both have had their own evolution of…

Improving the health care transition process for youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is critically important. This study was designed to examine the overall national transition core outcome among youth with ASD and each of the component measures of health care transition planning. Fewer than 10% of youth with ASD meet the national transition…

Educating a diverse student population is a core principle of international school education. Historically, many international schools have had admissions policies that excluded students with special learning needs. However, admission policies have changed to require more inclusiveness and school support for a wider range of students and for…

Improving school climate takes time and commitment from a variety of people in a variety of roles. This document outlines key action steps that district leaders--including superintendents, assistant superintendents, directors of student support services, or others--can take to support school climate improvements. Key action steps are provided for…

School-based practicum is a critical component of teacher education programmes. Recent studies show that high-performing programmes evidence well-developed school university partnerships. In Ireland, recent policy changes mean pre-service teachers complete practicum placements of up to ten weeks in duration. Programme providers must design these…

Learning environments in higher education are changing rapidly, with increased attention surrounding active learning, educational technologies, and their impact on teaching and learning. Companies are creating and introducing innovative technologies at breakneck speeds, often overwhelming academic leaders charged with meeting the needs of the…

Over the years, most states and districts have focused professional development on teachers rather than principals. However, evidence suggests that principals can play an important role in reaching our national goals of high achievement for all students. School leaders are powerful levers for change--when given the right training and support. But…

This edition of "Equity Dispatch" welcomes subscribers to the Midwest and Plains Equity Assistance Center (MAP Center). This newsletter introduces readers to the characteristics and benefits of equity-focused technical assistance. It also provides a broad overview of the MAP Center and the center services.

Incremental approaches to introducing change in Canada's health systems have not sufficiently improved the quality of services and outcomes. Further progress requires 'large system transformation', considered to be the systematic effort to generate coordinated change across organisations sharing a common vision and goal. This essay draws on…

Contemporary professional development efforts have shifted away from a deficit model toward the acknowledgment of the agency and ability of teachers to evaluate and direct their own professional learning. This article describes how middle school science teachers can take charge of their own learning by initiating and participating in…

Purpose: This study examined an urban district's capacity to diffuse instructional innovations. Social network analysis (SNA) was used to examine the relationship between "informal" teacher support networks and "formal" teacher support networks engineered by administrators through required membership on a team. This study also…

While physical activity provides ample social-emotional, behavioral, and academic benefits, many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) youth experience bullying, discomfort, and feelings of exclusion in school athletic settings. Authors conceptualize a professional development model entitled School Athletics for Everyone (SAFE).…

Outcomes for students with disabilities are historically concerning. As states have leveraged the "Every Student Succeeds Act" (ESSA) to refine accountability and support systems, schools across the country have been identified as needing "Targeted School Improvement" (TSI) or "Comprehensive School Improvement" (CSI).…

Leaders in the healthcare sector, frequently find themselves attempting to improve service provision by adopting evidence based-best practices, as requested by policy. Notwithstanding, change implementation is often not straight forward. As an insider-turned-researcher I initiated a Maltese National Healthcare Service-wide doctoral inquiry into…