For 25 years, the Gardner Center has worked in close partnership with school districts in the San Francisco Bay Area to develop research-informed policies, programs, and practices that support positive and equitable youth development. Several of these partnerships involve districts that are not part of a unified school district, meaning that…

In recent years, multiple physics education research studies were conducted with a goal of understanding and improving graduate education in physics. Using a variety of frameworks and methodologies, these studies have documented policies and practices in graduate programs and the results of these studies have influenced policies and practices…

As students enter the middle grades, many lose academic momentum and thus reach ninth grade unprepared. This lack of preparedness snowballs: It leads students to disengage from their studies, causing them to miss opportunities to get back on track in high school and thrive in the years beyond. Sixth grade is a particularly critical juncture.…

University enabling programs provide historically underrepresented students with aspirational gateways and the academic skills and knowledges essential for success at university. Measurement of the efficacy of such programs has been typically neoliberal and quantitative in nature. This article argues for a nuanced measurement of success, exploring…

Background: Various studies have established that the transition from high school to university for first-year students is problematic. Research confirms that most students experience challenges with reading for meaning due to underdeveloped reading abilities. Objectives: This article investigates the first-year students' transition from high…

A persistent challenge for Australian higher education policymakers and researchers has been to understand why policies and practices have met with limited success in widening the participation and attainment of non-traditional students. This paper explores theorising Narrative Identity as a constructive methodological framework for understanding…

The transition to university can be challenging, and while universities provide orientation support, many students still struggle. Extending orientation through embedded supports and skill building in first-year curricula provides students opportunities to develop the academic skills required for university while growing confidence. This study…

First-Year Experience (FYE) courses are found in colleges across the United States to support students' transition to college (McBride et al., 2021, "Journal of the First-Year Experience & Students in Transition" 33:99-119, Young & Keup, 2016, "New Directions for Community Colleges" 2016:57-69). This study explored how…

Background: To address complex challenges of modern society, engineering education needs to help students develop sociotechnical perspectives of engineering. Research has documented efforts to incorporate sociotechnical thinking into undergraduate engineering education, but those perspectives must often compete with more dominant technocentric…

A sense of agency is crucial for self-directed career development, particularly during the postsecondary transition, a period shaping career trajectories. This study examined autonomy and self-efficacy as pillars of agency, using longitudinal data from a sample of 637 French-Canadian adolescents (54% girls, M[subscript age] = 16) before and after…

Transitioning across different schooling sectors presents various challenges for young people. This is evident in the transition from primary to secondary schooling, when factors such as student belonging and positive connections are vital. Students with learning support needs or living in isolated localities may experience additional challenges.…

First year nursing students at a small public university participated in a longitudinal study following a bridge course to prepare them for the transition to college and rigorous nursing curriculum. The bridge course included activities to identify challenges and strategies for success, develop belonging with peers and faculty, and explore…

Background: Parents play a key role in the transition process of their children. After high school students with intellectual disabilities leave the school system, they need the cooperation of schools and families to ensure successful employment and independent living. Methods: A case study was conducted in a Taiwanese high school special…

Background/purpose: This study addresses the challenge of engaging students in meaningful assessment processes within mathematics education, particularly in pre-university preparatory courses. Peer assessment, a growing pedagogical practice, can enhance learning outcomes, promote critical thinking, and improve collaborative skills. However,…

Background: Low-income students face cultural and social challenges navigating college environments that privilege middle- and upper-class norms, knowledge, and values; these challenges lead to difficulty transitioning to college and disparities in student success for low-income students relative to their higher-income counterparts. Peer…