We outline a multidimensional ecological systems policy framework to better understand how the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and patterns of racial disproportionality in special education relate. The framework engages with ideology, power, privilege, and context across the multiple layers of the policy-implementation process…

The central school district obligation for disciplinary changes in placement under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is to answer the question of whether the conduct at issue is a manifestation of the individual student's disability. School psychologists often play a key role in this team-based manifestation determination…

The Education Policy Innovation Collaborative (EPIC) has been working closely with the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) and the Center for Educational Performance and Information (CEPI) to study the implementation and outcomes of Michigan's Read by Grade Three Law in real-time as the policy takes effect. Between 2021 and 2023, the Law…

This qualitative case study examines the impact of the Alabama Teacher Excellence and Accountability for Mathematics and Science (TEAMS) Act on collective efficacy in a rural school district. The study focuses on the perceptions of non-math and science teachers and administrators to understand how the pay disparities introduced by the TEAMS Act…

This study investigates the impact of states' adoption of Response to Interventions (RTI) on the identification and placement of students in special education. RTI, adopted by the reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act in 2004, is designed to improve the identification and support of children with learning disabilities…

In October 2021, California passed Assembly Bill No. 101, making it the first state in the nation to add ethnic studies as a high school graduation requirement. Ethnic studies programs provide students with a comprehensive understanding of diverse cultures, histories, and perspectives, while fostering inclusive learning environments and empowering…

Teacher burnout in Title I schools has a detrimental effect on attrition and attrition behavior of staff as well as the educational outcomes of students. This study investigated causes and mitigating factors of educator burnout in a Title I district. Participants in Cycle 1 consisted of teachers in this district who were interviewed and surveyed…

There has never been a more urgent moment to invest in educator preparation, success, and retention in Oregon. The 2024 Educator Equity Report is the ninth report published by Oregon's state education agencies since 2015 on educator workforce diversification efforts in Oregon. This report is produced by the Educator Advancement Council (EAC) in…

Long before the Dobbs decision, abortion was a fraught topic in communication classes. Post-Dobbs, the disincentives to discussing abortion intensified as a slew of state legislative actions-imposed restrictions not only on abortion access, but also on anything that might be construed as support for abortion. The purpose with this essay is to…

The surest way to improve the quality of education for the greatest number of students is through general education, as all students must complete their institution's general education requirements. Unfortunately, the general education programs at too many institutions are poorly designed and fail to give students a coherent grounding in essential…

Intercollegiate athletics are undergoing a transformative phase. Over the last few decades, student-athletes have valiantly fought for and successfully secured more rights, benefits, and freedoms, including the right to compensation for their name, image, and likeness (NIL). This progress, however, is just the beginning. Many student-athletes and…

The fourth edition of "A Principal's Guide to Special Education," is an indispensable resource for educators navigating the complexities of special education in the 21st century, it is crucial to continue evolving the guide to address the ever-changing landscape of educational needs, legal requirements, and best practices. This new…

This paper presents a critical policy analysis of how anti-political education reforms impact arts education. I consider examples of educational policies--both within arts education and outside the arts--to analyze how arts education may be impacted by anti-politics. I argue that many arts education policy outcomes can be understood as indirectly…

In this essay, I argue that our recent pivot toward digital learning, in addition to the social discontent and economic turbulence exacerbated by the pandemic, requires a re-imagining of how we "do" adult and workforce education (AWE) policy. First, I briefly describe the 2014 Workforce Innovation and Opportunities Act (WIOA) policy.…

This brief report summarizes some of the family engagement services provided by Austin Independent School District's parent support specialists to families during the 2020 calendar year. There is a separately published report that summarizes services during the 2019-2020 school year.