Data-based decision-making (DBDM) is an important, evidence-based framework that schools and teachers can utilize to elicit positive student outcomes. However, much of the research on DBDM has occurred at the elementary level. Crone and colleagues wrote a compelling article on how 25 middle school teams were functioning in terms of DBDM essentials…

School absences have long-term impacts on student outcomes. Chronic absenteeism rates in California remain stubbornly high, despite recent improvements. Chronic absenteeism varies widely across student demographic groups. Chronic absenteeism can affect district resources and students' access to school services. Addressing absenteeism will require…

This article provides clear and practical guidelines for researchers seeking to use national secondary datasets to conduct evidence-based research. Drawing from our own experiences, we discuss a six-step research process model (Bryan et al., 2010, 2017) to help researchers navigate the use of these datasets. We present examples from the school…

In recent years, Zyromski and Dimmitt (2022) proposed a revised definition of evidence-based school counseling, with a greater emphasis on antiracism, anti-oppression, and a grounding in culture, context, and systemic change. Similarly, qualitative research can be used as a tool for advocacy and systemic change, eliciting a thick, rich, contextual…

Notwithstanding advances in pedagogical research, college professors have used few evidence-based (EB) practices to enhance student learning. Concurrently, healthcare professionals have been incorporating EB research into practice for years. The key to successful adoption of EB practices in real world settings is effective implementation.…

Socioeconomic inequities divert underrepresented talent from the physician pipeline. Integrating Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT), leaky-pipeline diagnostics, and 14 years of mixed-methods research on Florida International University's pathway program, we present a logic model aligning Goals, Needs, Objectives, Methods, and Evaluation…

Excellence in research is essential for advancing knowledge, fostering innovation, and addressing societal challenges. This article proposes the INDEX Strategy Framework as a structured, evidence-based guide to optimize the research process. The framework encompasses five critical phases: Identify Focus Areas, Network and Collaborate, Design…

Prevention science has now encompassed decades of research exploring risk and protective factors and effective programs for the prevention and treatment of childhood behavioral, emotional, and developmental concerns. This paper shares our experience over the last 40 years as program developers and researchers in responding to contemporary needs…

Extremism in special education has been an endemic feature for decades but its most recent iteration, the full inclusion movement (FIM), is pushing special education toward a radical ideology in which placement in mainstream schools, rather than providing effective instruction, is becoming the main focus of efforts to meet the needs of students…

Promoting self-determination has been shown to enhance outcomes for students with and without disabilities. The Self-Determined Learning Model of Instruction (SDLMI) is an evidence-based instructional model designed to promote self-determination in diverse contexts, including inclusive general education classrooms. SDLMI delivery requires training…

The issue of students dropping out before completing secondary education is a global concern with significant individual and societal consequences. Various terms, such as Early School Leaving (ESL), Early Leaving from Education and Training (ELET), and school dropout, reflect different policy perspectives on this phenomenon. Despite international…

In professional learning, just as in architecture, form follows function. Although professional learning designs are vitally important, they cannot be where we begin in our planning. Purpose -- our why -- must be our starting point in designing any professional learning experience. Educators who begin by attending to the questions, "What do…

The recommendations outlined in this article focus on research-based approaches to (a) establishing a healthy teacher-paraeducator relationship and (b) planning for and providing feedback on behavior intervention plans (BIP) implementation, both of which have been found to support teacher-paraeducator collaboration and implementation of effective…

Group design studies in education include groups such as students, teachers, caregivers, schools, or districts assigned to conditions, typically treatment and control, to compare outcomes between the groups. Although the use of group designs in education has become more frequent and robust, the use of group designs in rural education lags far…

This brief introduces the Global Research Agenda for Children with Disabilities that sets out critical challenges: widespread data gaps, research underfunding, and limited visibility of children with disabilities in research. It sets out not only what needs to be studied, but how--emphasising ethical, participatory approaches and cross-cutting…