Trauma-informed care is a relatively new construct in K-12 education, and districts across the United States are seeking avenues to meet the needs of their students. The COVID-19 pandemic elevated the need for districts to develop appropriate supports to address student and adult trauma. Traumatic events can affect a child's mental, physical,…

Awareness of trauma and the impact it has on children is a growing concern for schools in the United States. Exposure to trauma has been linked to challenges with learning, social/emotional health, and behaviors, all of which can negatively impact school experience and lead to issues with engagement and high school completion. We discuss…

Restorative practices and trauma-informed practices are being implemented in schools to improve the learning environment and reduce discipline referrals. This study aimed to determine how educators' level of understanding regarding restorative practices and trauma could affect how they interact with students that have experienced trauma. This…

High school students need Social Emotional learning integrated into classrooms, but what that looks like is not well defined for art educators. When one tries to look, most research points to art therapy strategies which leave art educators feeling ill-equipped to implement in their classrooms. This study explored the implementation of visual…

The EdResearch for "Action Overview Series" summarizes the research on key topics to provide K-12 education decision makers and advocates with an evidence base to ground discussions about how to best serve students. Authors -- leading experts from across the field of education research -- are charged with highlighting key findings from…

This mixed methods study was conducted in an urban school district with 172 schools. In schools, students who require mental health support are treated by school psychologists, school social workers, and school counselors. This study examines these clinicians' differing training, knowledge of, and clinical practice related to trauma, to determine…

The purpose of this interpretive phenomenological analysis (IPA) study was to understand the lived experiences and demonstrated resilience of nontraditional, two-year college students from underrepresented populations who have exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and injustice. The intent of this research study was to investigate…

Classroom teachers play many roles throughout the school day, but mental health professional is not a hat that should be tried on without serious training. The goal of this research is to build teachers skills and confidence in supporting students. The number of children facing adversity and trauma is on the rise and these factors have a serious…

Public schools in the United States have become more diverse over the past two decades, and there is an emerging push for equity considerations in instruction in public schools across the country. However, there is a lack of clarity around the types of messages that teachers receive about teaching with an equity lens and how teachers enact…

Research Connections developed this document in collaboration with the Tribal Child Care Capacity Building Center for use during the OCC National Tribal Conference 2024 on April 9-11, 2024. This resource list highlights sample resources from the Research Connections library on the Conference topic areas. It also includes links to additional…

Responding to a growing call for culturally sustaining pedagogy, this article describes a Community of Practice (CoP) project in Minnesota. Guided by two Indigenous mentors, a cohort of 15 Indigenous and Non-Indigenous educators engaged in collective inquiry regarding how Indigenous histories, worldviews, and learning approaches can become part of…

The use of multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) in schools has implications for social and cultural development. It provides the opportunity for empowerment and inclusion of students who are often overlooked or struggling to adapt, such as multilingual, neurodiverse, and sexually exploited students. Increased competency in understanding and…

This comprehensive resource equips emerging and experienced sexuality educators with contemporary frameworks for trauma-informed, equitable, and anti-oppressive education. It provides foundational principles for development and delivery, emphasizing inclusivity, accessibility, and intersectionality. Editors Malone, Gilbert, Dukes, and Fonte curate…

Students with emotional and behavioral disabilities (EBD) endure adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and other traumatic experiences at higher rates than their non-disabled peers. Staff who work with these students can experience compassion fatigue, contributing to staff attrition and burnout. Trauma-informed care practices show promise in…

Early childhood teachers are tasked with the responsibility of providing appropriate educational services to children from birth through eight years old while utilizing best practices. Early childhood trauma negatively impacts various developmental areas, and these are manifested in children's behaviors in the classroom. Furthermore, early…