None of the most well-established indices within curriculum-based measurement of writing (CBM-W) assess students' use of vocabulary within writing. Yet vocabulary knowledge is fundamental to writing, as well as the other three domains of English language proficiency (reading, speaking, listening), and it is particularly crucial for English…

Learning disabilities are the most common eligibility category in which children qualify for special education services. Despite this, there is surprisingly little current information on the prevalence and needs of children with math disabilities, and even less information on interventions to support children in schools. This dissertation aimed to…

This dissertation focuses on teacher and staff perceptions of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) implementation at the middle school level. MTSS implementation at the secondary level proves to be a daunting task which includes many complex facets. Ensuring that teacher and staff insights are sought out and taken into account when implementing…

Anyone who works in a school setting keenly feels the impact of COVID-19 on youth and families. They can remember the exhaustion and dysfunction that rippled out during the pandemic, and they can still see it today. The School Behavioral Health Academy (SBHA) responded to the youth mental health crisis by creating an online learning management…

Suicide is a complex, multifaceted crisis affecting children and adolescents, and has become a major public health concern. While there is a plethora of research on this topic among neurotypically developing youth, much less is known about the nature of suicidality in autistic individuals. Autistic youth show an increased vulnerability for…

Purpose: A comparison of parents' experiences of getting a diagnosis for their child with autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and both diagnoses can inform our understanding of common and unique themes across these neurodevelopmental conditions. Method: A quantitative and qualitative online anonymous survey of 288 New Zealand…

The purpose of this document is to provide the reader with a general understanding regarding the roles and responsibilities of professional student support personnel in West Virginia schools and how, through a collaborative partnership, they can work together to provide a safe and supportive learning environment for WV students. Research confirms…

One of the phenomena that predicts poorer educational outcomes for young people, as well as poorer outcomes in other areas, is certainly the phenomenon of complex needs, i.e., challenges that cut across different domains, often combining psychosocial wellbeing, physical and mental health, socioeconomic background, the burden of different…

In this article, we present findings from our first iterative design study for Project ENHANCE to share our findings as well as provide an exemplar for others engaged in design inquiry. In particular, we explain how we used a data-informed design process with district partners to determine content and features of three foundational professional…

Attainment of grade-level reading proficiency by fourth grade is pivotal to student academic success. In fourth grade, students shift from learning to read to reading to learn where they gain the ability to use their reading skills to access knowledge. Despite the connection between fourth grade reading proficiency and future academic success,…

Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) is a useful framework designed to address diverse needs of students and has great potential for twice-exceptional (2e) students, or gifted students with disabilities. By integrating academic, behavioral, social-emotional, and collaborative components, MTSS provides targeted interventions through its tiered…

Integrating gifted education into a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) provides a systemic approach to addressing the academic and social-emotional needs of high-ability learners (HAL) and twice-exceptional (2E) students. This article examines one state's initiative to align gifted services with the existing MTSS framework through shared…

Uganda currently hosts approximately 1.7 million refugees (93% fully registered refugees, 3% asylum seekers and 4% stateless persons), the most in sub-Saharan Africa. Most refugees come from South Sudan (57%), Democratic Republic of Congo (32%), Burundi (3%), and Somalia (3%). Refugees largely live in rural based settlements within 12 districts…

Positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) Tier 2 interventions are deemed an evidence-based practice that influences student academic and behavioral success. The problem addressed in this study was that there exists an academic and disciplinary disparity between African American students and peers of other races. The purpose of this…

Iredell-Statesville Schools was awarded an early-phase Education Innovation Research grant. RIPPLE: Reducing disparities and Implementing strategies to Promote Proactive Learning Environments was an innovative approach to improving behavioral outcomes for the district's highest risk students by reshaping the schools' culture, staff, and systems…