This book offers a foundational guide for pre- and in-service teachers, examining the evolving, multifaceted role of educators in today's classrooms. Organized into three parts--Children, Teachers, and Parents--it explores child development, the emotional and social complexity of learners, and the vital influence of family dynamics on school…

Most states require prospective teachers to pass basic skills and subject-matter tests to become licensed. The COVID-19 pandemic created an unexpected opportunity to explore whether licensure exams uphold standards that improve teaching quality, or risk limiting prospective teacher supply and excluding capable candidates. This brief describes how…

Students' interfering behaviour is a common concern among educators working in special and general education classrooms. Interfering behaviour can significantly compromise students' educational experiences and educators' ability to create a conducive learning environment. Evidence-based assessments and interventions for interfering behaviour in…

Learning to teach is challenging as preservice teachers apply a multitude of knowledge and skills in complex situations. Preservice and student teachers struggle to effectively use metacognition and lack the ability to address numerous motivational factors in their learning. We do not know how student teachers utilize these ideas while lesson…

Mobile health (mHealth; online phone or tablet-based) screening tools for autism are being increasingly used by parents, health care, and educational providers. However, it is unclear whether mHealth autism screening will improve the inequalities in autism or further help individuals already advantaged in autism care. To try to improve equity in…

A three-week IEPWriter project was added to an undergraduate special education course offered at a mid-sized public university in Southeastern Pennsylvania to help Pre-Service Teachers (PSTs) learn how to manage and write Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). The PSTs completed a 10-item survey regarding their experience using IEPWriter to…

During summer, children's activities are dependent on their families' and communities' resources, raising concerns about inequalities in access to summer enrichment experiences. In this research brief, we use nationally representative data from the 1999 and 2011 ECLS-K cohorts to examine trends in kindergarten children's summer enrichment…

Every year, millions of children are bereaved due to death of loved ones, with some children being orphaned. Bereavement can have a significant impact on children's psychosocial functioning and academic performance. However, studies on school-based psychosocial interventions for bereaved children are limited. The current scoping review aimed to…

In many higher education institutions (HEIs), English often serves as the primary language within internationalized academic circles and an important medium of instruction with varying implications for international students and instructors who rely on English-medium instruction (EMI). Effective language policy and planning (LPP) is essential to…

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic changed the landscape for out-of-school-time STEM programs. The LEAH Knox Scholars (LKS) program is a five-week, in-person molecular biology research experience for low-income high school youth of color who are underrepresented in the sciences. The program is organized and implemented by Health Resources in Action, a…

Low persistence in science majors and limited participation in high-impact research experiences contribute to the nationwide underrepresentation of minorities in the science workforce, particularly jobs requiring a graduate degree. The Program for Excellence in Education and Research in the Sciences (PEERS) is an academic support program at the…

After school programs provide low income students and students of color with learning opportunities across both academic and non-academic domains that such students would otherwise not get. In this study, we examined the intersection of school characteristics (e.g., enrollment size, percent minority enrolled, and percent eligible for FARM) and the…

The extent of how mobile devices, such as smartphones and tablets, are seamlessly incorporated into the personal day-to-day life is not often considered by University instructors. Unfocused incorporation of mobile technologies into the classroom can de-emphasize intended learning objectives if students struggle to use the technology itself or by…

Studies have documented widespread academic disengagement in middle and high school students. This disengagement has been tied to a myriad of negative outcomes, including failure to graduate from high school and transition into college and meaningful vocations. Supporting adolescents in cultivating a sense of beyond-the-self purpose is one factor…

In this investigation, we surveyed 51 faculty members who were involved in teacher preparation programs in the area of extensive support needs (ESN) across a range of institutions of higher education. We asked participants to respond to questions related to the quality and quantity of program content focused on communication instruction and…