Traditional definitions of literacy, often limited to reading and writing, overlook the complexity of literacy practices across cultures and contexts. This paper argues that literacy is not a technical skill but a socially situated practice that varies in meaning and function depending on cultural, political, and historical factors. Drawing on…

State school finance systems can play an essential role in directing additional resources to schools serving economically disadvantaged students, and research suggests that these resources can make a measurable difference in student outcomes. The vast majority of states (45) allocate some funding to districts based on their enrollment of…

In the face of systemic neglect of low-income urban neighborhoods, Hip Hop was much more than entertainment: it was a countercultural revolution embodied as a way of life bound to community action and social change. Hip Hop represents resilience, resistance, and redemption for those living on the margins; to this day, it is an art form for the…

Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) in schools have become increasingly popular, as these practices can be integrated into classrooms by teachers, adapted to fit the individual needs of students or groups of students, and implemented as a schoolwide commitment to improve well-being. Research shows that MBIs are broadly effective for improving a…

Decolonial research helps us move away from extractive research methodologies that maintain the "wounded subject position" and legitimize oppressive practices. Additionally, decolonial research challenges dominant Eurocentric paradigms that have historically shaped the counseling profession. Thus, we offer this article to demonstrate an…

While the importance of early childhood education is well documented, a struggle continues around the world to adequately fund early childhood programs and provide access for all children, especially those living in precarious contexts. In this article, the author has constructed a posthumous interview with Katie-Jay Scott (1981-2021), a…

In this paper, we have a quick look at the profile of developmental research in terms of its study samples, and then turn our attention to the findings of research on the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change, suggesting a notable increase in the number of people experiencing significant economic difficulties and a widening gap between the wealthy…

Play Africa, with over 40 innovative exhibits and/or programs since inception, was created as a means to address the inequalities and lack of high-quality experiences that affect the early development of children from birth to age 10 in South Africa. The results from the 2021 Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) paint a dire…

Applied linguistic designs are too seldom acknowledged for being inspired by care and concern for the language needs of the vulnerable. Yet in them love and compassion, rather than self-interest and malice, are easily identifiable as motivations. Normatively, applied linguistic interventions aiming to alleviate pernicious language difficulties are…

Giving quizzes to get students to read may continue to be misunderstood, even grossly undervalued. Using a quiz to encourage (enforce) reading plays a significant role not only in students learning content of their chosen field, but also as the critical first step toward an awakening of the mind--or, at the very least, the mind being more…

In this paper, I examine the tensions that a school principal experienced in reconciling performative priorities with equitable practices in a government secondary school in a low Socio-Economic Status suburb in Victoria, Australia. I use the notion of paradox to explore how the principal navigated contradictions and tensions. I aim to provide a…

The "2025 Pro-Kid Policy Agenda for California" is the comprehensive state-level roadmap to ensure that all children have the necessary services and supports to reach their full potential. California has an obligation to end systemic injustices that create barriers to kids of color, as well as kids living in poverty, kids living in…

While high school students still reported alarming levels of suicide-related feelings, thoughts, and behaviors in 2023, rates were slightly lower than in 2021. However, youth from minoritized backgrounds remain disproportionately likely to experience suicidal ideation and behavior. School psychologists must advocate for continued access to data to…

Inequities continue to weaken Michigan's capacity to respond quickly and effectively to crises, both natural and human-made. Minority and low-income populations, already disadvantaged, suffer the burden of the inequitable social, environmental, and economic injustices that have culminated in previously unacknowledged levels. Since 2011, the…

Health behavior models are widely used in prevention research with children and adolescents; yet, many of these models were developed based on adult experiences and fail to consider the development of health constructs. The concept of health capacity development is a theoretical model of how health capacities, the health-related developmental…