Negative health outcomes caused by adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and the COVID-19 pandemic, such as depression and anxiety, have increased exponentially in children and adolescents, resulting in students languishing rather than flourishing in the classroom due to poor mental health. Engaging in trauma-informed pedagogy provides a pathway to…

Overwhelming events such as neglect, abuse, and violence impact students in a number of ways. Typically, students who have experienced trauma demonstrate significant deficits in skills that promote emotional and behavioral regulation. When these deficits are displayed in the classroom, learning can be significantly disrupted for the survivor and…

Anti-blackness precludes Black people from being viewed as rights-bearing individuals and justifies the degradation of Black people, Black history, and Black culture. In this conceptual article, we suggest that (1) anti-blackness is trauma-inducing, (2) schools are often the first sites where Black students encounter anti-blackness and subsequent…

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,…

Student absenteeism is a prevailing issue for schools, impacting academic performance and social-emotional development. This article explores the definitions, rates, and causes of absenteeism. Through analysis of existing literature, it proposes a comprehensive approach to address the problem. Drawing on concepts of trauma-informed education and…

Background: Because traumatic life experiences are common, teaching and learning can be difficult without recognizing how trauma can make people feel psychologically unsafe. Safety can be restored through healthy relationships. Contributions to Theory: We present a framework for how relational health--the capacity to develop and maintain safe,…

Student absenteeism profoundly impacts academic achievement, emotional well-being, and social development. The root causes of absenteeism are diverse, encompassing personal struggles, family responsibilities, social pressures, and unengaging or unsupportive school environments. Addressing these challenges requires a multifaceted approach,…

The Paradigm Point of Safety, Security, Freedom highlights the importance of school communities that work to provide an emotionally compassionate and personally validating environment for learning. One pathway for doing this is implementing trauma-informed practices. Educators rely on trauma-informed practices to cultivate conducive learning…

Recovery is one of the five National Preparedness System mission areas and is a critical component of an education agency's preparedness. In the context of school emergency management planning, recovery refers to the capabilities necessary to assist schools affected by an event or emergency in restoring the learning environment. Recovery is also…

Aim: Educational practitioners are increasingly aware of trauma experiences in students as a factor in child disturbance and schooling problems. This discussion paper aims to clarify definitions of trauma and differentiate them from other adverse childhood experiences (ACE), describe trauma impact in terms of clinical outcomes (PTSD, emotional and…

The 2022 Legislature required OSPI to promote survivor-centered and trauma-informed responses to sexual assault and to support survivors of sexual assault in Washington's K-12 public schools. OSPI partnered with a contractor to research best practices, review mandatory reporting laws, conduct listening sessions, update model protocols, and develop…

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a framework for designing lessons that is grounded in data and recognized as best practice under IDEA and ESSA. The use of the method allows for greater intervention with students socially, emotionally, and academically. UDL allows intentional and purposeful work with populations that are normally…

"Our Bodies Tell the Story: Using Feminist Research and Friendship to Reimagine Education and Our Lives" asks (and answers) a number of critical questions that are key to improving our educational system. How can we use our embodied stories to navigate and disrupt how schools and society reproduce the patriarchy and heteronormativity…

Trauma is just a word. It doesn't have to be a life sentence, argue education experts Kristin Souers and Pete Hall. They also explain what a "culture of safety" is in schools and how educators can create one for students living with trauma.

This article provides teacher educators practical strategies and guidelines to help utilize trauma-informed practices in teaching to develop and foster self-regulation among preservice teachers impacted by trauma, and through this intentional and purposeful process prepare future teachers to be trauma-informed. Additionally, the importance of…