Examining self-reported problems of students receiving school mental health (SMH) services holds promise for informing strategies across all tiers of school support. However, no prior research has investigated students' self-reported needs. The current study coded open-ended youth problem statements (N = 1212) from a diverse sample of 455 students…

Understanding achievement and discipline trajectories of Latinx students is critical given disproportionate dropout/pushout rates of Latinx students from schools across the U.S. Using a Critical Race Theory framework, the current study examined longitudinal associations amongst a sample of (N = 1672) Latinx youths' school readiness at kindergarten…

Previous research identifies the negative outcomes associated with behavioral and emotional risk (BER) and experiences of trauma in childhood. Studies have shown that elevated BER and experiences of trauma are connected to poor academic performance, as well as other maladaptive behavioral outcomes (Martinez et al., 2014; Perfect et al., 2016; Ray…

Students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) characteristically experience academic difficulties. There is growing evidence that the continuum from academic competence to underachievement is partially explained by executive function (EF; neurocognitive attention-regulation processes) and stress. Yet, there is scarce research…

The management of problematic behaviors in schools is a growing challenge. Bullying and disruption negatively impact the educational community. In response, positive discipline methods are being implemented to improve the school environment. The aim of this study is to review and summarize the findings from recent research on this topic. To…

Students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) characteristically experience academic difficulties. There is growing evidence that the continuum from academic competence to underachievement is partially explained by executive function (EF; neurocognitive attention-regulation processes) and stress. Yet, there is scarce research…

Unaddressed social, emotional, and behavioral (SEB) needs and academic challenges may lead to negative youth outcomes. Universal behavioral risk screeners, like the student self-report Social, Academic, and Emotional Behavior Risk Screener (SAEBRS-SRS), identify at-risk students. To improve screening tool use, research is needed to identify the…

This study examined the effect of attending Pre-K 4 SA on students' educational achievement in third and fourth grades. Pre-K 4 SA is a high-quality pre-kindergarten (pre-K) program in San Antonio that meets all quality standards defined by the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER). The results showed that distance to Pre-K 4 SA…

The urban classroom environment presents unique challenges related to student behavior and classroom management. This dissertation investigates the effectiveness of Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) as a proactive approach to addressing these challenges. The study examines the impact of PBIS implementation in urban schools,…

There has been an increasing number of students being referred to mental health services due to behavioral problems they exhibit at school. Behavioral and social concerns impede academic success for the individual child as well as their classroom peers. Many factors can contribute to challenging behaviors in early childhood students within rural…

Motivation to learn is a necessary factor to benefit education. However, only some students are motivated to learn. Some students are extrinsically motivated through physical rewards or prizes, which are temporary. Other students are intrinsically motivated through different factors such as curiosity, recognition, competence, and relatedness,…

Involvement with the juvenile justice system carries immense consequences both to detained youth and to society more broadly. Extant research on the "school-to-prison pipeline" has often focused on school disciplinary practices such as suspension with less attention on understanding the impact of school referrals to the juvenile justice…

Approximately 20% of students repeatedly display challenging classroom behaviors (e.g., off-task, disruptive behavior). Students exhibiting challenging classroom behaviors have difficulties achieving academic success and may indirectly harm the learning of classroom peers. Self-management interventions targeted a range of classroom behaviors…

Over the last 25 years, researchers, practitioners, and policymakers have consistently recognized the need for a comprehensive approach to school safety. However, identifying the key components of a comprehensive approach and the ideal way to balance and implement those components has proved challenging. To address this challenge, the National…

The Good Behavior Game (GBG) is a team-based classroom management intervention developed to mitigate disruptive behaviors and promote prosocial behaviors of school-aged children. While the short-term benefits of the GBG are well documented in meta-analyses and systematic reviews, it is less clear for what long-term outcomes the GBG may reduce…