Identifying family strengths is central to early childhood practices. Moving beyond identification to exploring and explicitly applying those strengths can evolve strengths-based and family capacity-building practices. Assessment and planning processes that focus on the strategies families use to help their child learn can give agency to families…

Families are the experts on their children. They often have the most knowledge about their children's strengths, support needs, and preferences. Furthermore, the family plays a critical role in their child's development, partnering with professionals in early intervention to identify child and family needs and to develop and implement strategies…

Families of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often utilize a variety of services. Relatively few studies have examined the relationship between family empowerment and service utilization for this population. The present study investigated the relationship between family empowerment and service utilization in families of children with…

Students with disabilities face many difficulties in their transition to adulthood and are therefore supported by various individuals or organisations. Hence, a collaboration between family, school, health, and social services as well as other services is needed throughout this process. This narrative review aims to highlight important components…

Many school districts provide one-time transition events to help students prepare for the rigors of kindergarten; yet, research shows families desire additional information and opportunities to help their children thrive once school begins. Researchers for this study interviewed 39 parents whose children participated in a three-week structured…

This brief summarizes themes from interviews with seven district- and school-level leaders who were asked to share experiences and lessons learned while implementing PBIS [Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports] in their rural school(s). The results offer a starting place for discussion on what is important to consider when implementing…

Children's literacy development begins long before formal schooling, with parents and the home environment exerting important influences on the development of their children's language skills. A focus on the early years and the home learning environment of children is therefore crucial to ensure that they get the best possible foundation for their…

This study was a companion study, modeled after a 2013 study that explored the relationship between secondary teachers' self-efficacy beliefs, their family involvement self-efficacy beliefs, and the frequency and type of parental involvement practices. This study explored the same relationship between elementary school teachers and parental…

It has been demonstrated that obtaining a postsecondary degree has a variety of financial and social advantages. This quantitative study sought to explore the impact of Pell Grant receipt on retention and completion in a community college. Pell status and rurality, as well as Pell status and race, were examined in further detail. The findings…

Family involvement has been shown to have positive effects on the academic and socio-emotional and behavioral outcomes of school-aged children across all age ranges, but most especially among elementary-aged students. The Family Involvement Questionnaire-Elementary (FIQ-E) has been validated for use with students in grades 1-6 across public and…

This brief is the third in a series of three that report the findings of a study examining promising practices for college and career access providers working in North Carolina (NC) high schools. This brief focuses on how these providers can positively impact student and family engagement following the COVID-19 pandemic. The research team…

Family-school engagement is integral to the success of students with autism. However, limited research has examined the conceptualization of family-school engagement from the perspective of parents of children with autism. With this in mind, we conducted focus groups with 22 parents of school-age children (ages 3-21) with autism from a…

This study aimed to explore the perspectives of special education pre-service teachers on the education of Syrian students with special needs under temporary protection status in Turkey. A qualitative descriptive research model was employed. Participants were 14 fourth-grade students from two universities in a province in Turkey's Southeastern…

Unless children attend school, learning is impossible but chronic absenteeism is an issue confronting school leaders, principals and teachers everyday in schools all across America. This Spotlight showcases how educators have confronted this problem, with innovative and cost effective solutions, building family engagement, and learning about their…

Choosing a college is one of the most important decisions families face, and today's landscape makes that choice more complex than ever. Families juggle various priorities, from affordability and academic fit to campus culture and financial aid, to find the right path for their students. This report derives fresh insights from nearly 10,000…