Purpose: This study aims to understand how to develop, support and utilize professional learning community (PLCs) to build organizational capacity to support teacher learning and collaboration. Although literature highlights the importance of leadership in creating a PLC, there is little research on specific actions leaders can take to create an…

This qualitative case study explored the perceptions of instructional coaches in order to understand the ways in which context influenced their view of their roles and how they supported teacher growth. The theoretical and conceptual foundations for this study include a distributed perspective, a phenomenologically informed lens, and a pragmatic…

The purpose of this participatory action research (PAR) project was to support teachers to integrate play as a primary pedagogy in the math program. The theory of action was: If teachers develop a mathematical program integrating play pedagogy, then teacher capacity will expand to support the implementation of play in math instruction. I conducted…

The third in a series of three evaluation briefs, this brief describes how a district in receivership (state takeover) invested in Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) to: (1) enhance their systems to support staff; (2) implement evidence-based practices to support students; (3) use data to guide their implementation; and (4)…

Prior to 2020, schools across the nation undertook school discipline reform. Then, the COVID-19 pandemic struck. Unknown is whether schools remained steadfast in their commitment to restorative practice (RP). The current case study examined student (n = 53-86) and staff surveys (n = 49-62) before and during the pandemic. It also examined the…

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of iCoaching during reading intervention. An interventionist received mentoring support to implement iCoaching. The goal of the study was to increase teacher-delivered, behavior-specific praise (BSP). Design/methodology/approach: Using a single-case multiple-probe design…

The local problem is that literacy in the target school district continues to rank below the state average and the fidelity of implementation (FOI) of balanced literacy (BL) has not been addressed since BL was initiated in 2014 to address student literacy achievement. Teachers reported limited professional development (PD) and lack of motivation…

The purpose of this Action Research study was to investigate and improve the student learning experience by understanding how Grades 4 & 5 educators in a Title 1 suburban-urban school district perceive, comprehend, and apply the CASEL framework for Social Emotional Learning (SEL) to improve learner motivation and academic achievement. Using…

In 2020 the New Hampshire Bureau of Special Education Services (BSES) decided to change the focus of its State Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP) and State Identified Measurable Result (SIMR) from preschool social and emotional outcomes to literacy, as data from the previous three years showed that there were many elementary schools in New Hampshire…

Background: Formative assessment has been reported to improve learners' learning in affluent contexts. However, very few studies have reported the impact of formative assessment on teachers' knowledge and understanding in no-fee public schools located in a low socioeconomic context. Aim: This article investigates the impact of the Assessment for…

This study explored the dynamics and key factors influencing the development of computer science education (CSEd) pathways in teacher preparation at 10 higher education institutions in the United States. Through cross-case analysis, the findings highlighted that personal commitment and leadership from CSEd champions played a key role in initiating…

Schools are critical settings in our nation's public health response to the youth mental health crisis. There is strong empirical support that comprehensive, universal programs promote students' social and emotional development and academic success. However, schools, particularly Title I schools, often lack the capacity to implement entire…

Background: People with disability have the same sexual and reproductive health needs and rights as people without disability, yet experience considerable barriers in accessing information and services. The Reproductive and Family Health Association of Fiji, Family Planning Australia, and disability stakeholders implemented a comprehensive…

As the nation transitions from responding to the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to navigating its ongoing impact on youth and their communities, K-12 students continue to experience mental health and wellbeing challenges. In the fall of 2021, Redwood City School District (RCSD) placed a full-time, district-employed mental health counselor in each…

Quality partnerships are imperative for successful project implementation. The partnership between project personnel and independent evaluators is often overlooked. In effective partnerships, both the evaluators and the education project management team collectively ensure that educational initiatives are well-planned, executed, and assessed. This…