The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "Students Are Speaking." Contents include: (1) Books Are for Learning, Not…

Well-designed academic interventions can give students the targeted support they need to build confidence, improve specific skills, and reach their full academic potential. This Spotlight will help you measure the connection between tutoring, attendance, and better test scores; identify effective practices for tutoring; learn how to simultaneously…

The "Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report" ("MMWR") series of publications is published by the Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Articles included in this supplement are: (1) Overview and Methodology of the Adolescent Behaviors and…

The pandemic has exacerbated existing learning gaps and created new challenges for students. This Spotlight explores effective strategies to address these gaps, accelerate learning, and support students' overall well-being. From identifying which students have been disproportionately affected to implementing in-school tutoring, these articles…

In the United States, there are significant disparities in the oral health of children from families with high and low socioeconomic status and between majority and minority children. Extant research on these health differences has focused predominately on caregiver knowledge, beliefs, and practices as well as structural barriers such as Medicaid…

Trauma-informed instruction helps create a safe and supportive environment where students can heal, learn, and thrive. This Spotlight will help readers implement teacher-approved trauma-informed strategies; learn about the role schools play in helping students heal from racial trauma; examine five tips to support students' mental health; assess…

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "Culturally Sustaining Leadership." Contents include: (1) Why Emergent Bilingual…

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "Student Voice for the New School Year." Contents include: (1) LGBTQ+ Inclusive…

The intersection of technology and social and emotional issues for kids is getting much busier. Students are now using social media sites like TikTok to diagnose themselves with anxiety and other mental health challenges. Counselors and teachers see more kids spend countless hours on social media--and then hear them complain they feel exhausted…

Prioritizing digital well-being for teens helps them develop healthy relationships with technology and navigate the digital world safely. This Spotlight will help one learn how social media is affecting many teen girls' sleep and mental health; explore tips to support students' mental health; investigate how social media habits can influence…

The "Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report" ("MMWR") series of publications is published by the Office of Science, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Articles included in this supplement are: (1) Overview and Methods for the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System --…

Challenging, unprecedented, and extraordinary in almost every way, 2021 even surpassed the previous "annus horribilis," 2020. Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic continued to ripple humanity-wide, ceaselessly rebounding off, and cruelly amplifying, almost every kind of inequity and social challenge. A long overdue reckoning with the…

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "Education Policy." Contents include: (1) Exciting Advances for Emergent…

Schools have faced increasing challenges related to safety and security. This Spotlight explores strategies to create safe and supportive learning environments that promote student well-being and academic success. From responding to school threats and building strong school-community relationships to fostering positive school climates, these…

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "Student Engagement." Contents include: (1) Mental Health Implications of…