The field of integrated language arts is an ideal forum for sharing stories, discussing perspectives, expressing emotions in a healthy way, and challenging the systems that govern and shape our lives. Accomplishing this goal in a traditional classroom can sometimes be difficult, but for a moment, consider the physical space of a classroom within a…

Since the release of the Missouri Model for Trauma-Informed Schools approved by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) in 2019, school leaders were given the opportunity to start the process of meeting the emotional and fundamental needs of students. With the effects of trauma reaching all diverse groups of race, gender,…

Trauma-informed care (TIC) is the practice of consciousness and awareness of trauma that guides educators in developing academic and behavioral support for students with exceptionalities who have experienced trauma. TIC can support students from the lens of Positive Behavioral Intervention Supports (PBIS) and Social Emotional Learning (SEL) within…

Despite the plethora of skills special educators obtain throughout their preservice and in-service training, many special educators feel ill-prepared to work effectively with students with disabilities who have experienced trauma. This instrumental case study was conducted at a low-income public school where over 85% of enrolled students came from…

This dissertation examines the lived experiences of six early-career educators as they confront their district-assigned duties and the profound effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) within public elementary classrooms. Through an integrated analysis of teacher experiences and social-emotional learning (SEL), this research employs a…

Trauma-informed schools are deeply responsive to the trauma experiences of students and address their primary need for safety and connection as a foundation for emotional, social, and cognitive wellbeing. Trauma-informed schools have systems in place that provide trauma awareness, knowledge, and skills as part of their school culture, practices,…

Our students have always needed our support, but recent events have brought to the forefront the challenges K-12 schools face in supporting their mental health. Now is the time to transform schools into safe and healthy places that enable students not only to learn but also thrive. Based on decades of research and proven examples from education…

Background: More and more children are experiencing what have been termed adverse childhood experiences. An individual's response to these stressful events determines whether or not they are considered traumatic -- whereby the experience is so overwhelming that it engulfs their coping mechanisms leading to lasting negative effects on wellbeing.…

The Charter Schools Program (CSP) is the nation's only source of dedicated federal funding to support the creation, expansion, and replication of public charter schools. At its fiscal year 2022 funding level of $440 million, the CSP amounts to less than 1% of federal spending on K-12 education but has a significant impact on the communities that…

The Juvenile Justice System was established on the premise of rehabilitative action for behaviors that have led youth to the criminal justice system. However, the system has increasingly moved away from this original concept toward a punitive model. The authors present how this movement resulted in the devolution of human rights for the youth…

Trauma informed educational practice emerges as a result of contemporary advances in medical science, technology and national forms of mental, behavioral health, and social service advocacy. It is not known how special education teachers working in the non-public special education setting view the implementation of trauma informed educational…

This study explores the transformation of the modern teacher's profile in Ukraine and Israel in the context of ongoing military conflicts. It focuses on the evolving role of educators and the essential skills required to ensure the continuity of education in times of crisis. Through surveys of teachers from both countries, the research identifies…

As global challenges such as armed conflicts, forced migration, climate-related crises, pandemics, and widespread socioeconomic instability increasingly affect children and adolescents, schools must evolve beyond conventional academic mandates to promote both cognitive growth and psychosocial well-being. This special topic offers a global,…

Improving student achievement in marginalized communities requires an approach that goes beyond traditional academic strategies. In these communities, students often face multiple challenges, including economic instability, social inequality, and limited access to resources, which can impact their learning and development. One approach to…

Building on comprehensive research conducted in US schools, this accessible volume offers an effective model of school leadership to develop and implement school-wide, trauma-responsive approaches to student discipline. Recognizing that challenging student behaviours are often rooted in early experiences of trauma, the volume builds on a model…