Research shows that Hispanic second language students are not as successful as their English-speaking peers in school. The problem is in part due to several factors: curriculum deliverance in a foreign language, cultural differences, and family/school disconnect. Current census reports reveal that Hispanic populations in the United States, and…

Research studies have demonstrated that effective parental involvement correlates with positive academic success. This study sought to gain more insight into the perceptions of parents and caregivers of Navajo children enrolled in a K-12 tribally controlled, public, charter, or Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) operated schools. By completing a…

Family-professional partnership has been considered a recommended practice in Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education (EI/ECSE) programs for young children with disabilities and their families for the past two decades. The importance of establishing successful partnerships between families and professionals in educational planning has…

Teacher absenteeism is a persistent problem in Pakistani government schools. Under a new policy, teachers hired in Pakistani schools after 2002 are hired on fixed term contracts that are renewed, in part, based on low absenteeism. This study uses qualitative analysis techniques to assess the impact of contractual hiring on teacher absenteeism…

The author brings her counseling expertise, personal experience, and compassionate perspective to this practical resource that cultivates "cultural competence"--essential for work with diverse populations. Expanding the definition of culture, this book addresses how biases have evolved in new and challenging ways, and provides strategies to help…

This user-friendly book presents research-based best practices for serving families of children with special needs from birth to age 6. Expert contributors demonstrate how early intervention and early childhood special education can effectively address a wide range of family concerns, which in turn optimizes children's development and learning.…

Thousands of educators have turned to "You're Going to Love this Kid!" for fresh ways to welcome and teach students with autism--and now the book teachers trust is fully revised and more practical than ever! Gathering feedback from teachers across the country during her popular workshops, autism expert Paula Kluth targeted this second edition to…

School-ready children are children who are prepared to learn successfully in school. These children show growth over time in their physical, social and emotional, language, and cognitive development. They also show increasing interests in new experiences and in mastering new skills. Getting "school-ready" starts long before the weeks or…

Helping relationships bloom authentically between staff, parents, and children is a core mission for early childhood professionals. Because program staff accept responsibility for creating bonds with families, they establish a variety of "family-friendly" outreach strategies. For instance, they plan gradual warm-up visits, hold family…

With the implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, the educational community has the opportunity to ensure that underserved populations, such as students of color and poor students, receive the necessary educational support to achieve academic success. Relevant data from the Education Trust (1999, 2003, 2006) suggest a growing…

Working is now a fundamental responsibility for many undergraduates. But understanding how employment affects students' educational experiences is complicated by why students work. Many students must work to pay the costs of attending college. Some traditional-age students may use employment as a way to explore career options or earn spending…

This article presents the author's talk, entitled "Engaging with Parents," which was delivered as the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) Distinguished Lecture at the NASP 2010 Annual Convention on March 4, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. At the time of this talk, the author believes education and psychology are involved in three…

In this article, we describe a model of teacher learning which is grounded in an apprenticeship approach to developing both practical knowledge and a critical understanding of the everyday practices that result in marginalisation. Beginning with an exploration of self and the lenses that teachers use to understand, assess and predict the…

This article discusses the findings of a study examining the challenges and opportunities of supporting Muslim students in secular public schools. Education is explored as a multifaceted interplay between home and family life, community resources, school programs and policies, and classroom lessons to investigate the curricular experiences of…

Culture and systemic change are paramount to achieving significant and long-lasting gains in child and youth wellbeing and, in time, securing the future of our nation. This brief, based on a high-level synthesis of eight years of experience and research in place-based family strengthening, makes the case for a national transformation to a society…