The Conversation Series is a grassroots initiative consisting of monthly discussion events ("Conversations") on topics of equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), organized by and for the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology (CCB) at McMaster University. The initiative originated in June 2020 with the #ShutDownSTEM strike, which…

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act has undergone revisions roughly every 5 years since inception. Despite these modifications, the academic and social outcomes for students with disabilities lag behind those of their regular education peers. Results-Driven Accountability (RDA) was initiated to improve special education outcomes and…

The United States has a growing population of English learners (ELs) and a shortage of trained English as Second Language (ESL) teachers, leaving many teachers unprepared to work with ELs. As teachers turn frequently to online resources for guidance, we reviewed the available resources and professional development on departments of education…

The ability to flourish during a crisis requires a unique skill set focused on emotional, psychological, and social well-being. As COVID-19 swept the nation, academic administrators faced many difficult decisions surrounding emergency remote learning as well as the health and safety of students and faculty. While some leaders found themselves able…

When going through an internal reorganization, how do you kick-start new collaborations in a healthy manner? "Revolutionary City: A Portal to the Nation's Founding" digital project provided the newly reorganized American Philosophical Society's (APS) Library and Museum the means to do just that. Leveraging the resources of a grant, two…

This research addresses the challenges of rebuilding a political science department from the ground up. By looking at student needs, departmental resources, and assessment of recent graduates and seniors, this research helps faculty by providing tools and information about building and strengthening a department. By describing what is unique to…

Purpose: This study investigated how state education agencies (SEAs) articulated their roles and responsibilities with respect to improving underperforming schools and districts after the passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015. Research Approach: Using a conceptual framework rooted in incrementalism--a theory suggesting that…

Department chairs in higher education are leaders charged with the daily administrative functions, visioning, and managing academic units and programs. The purpose of this study was to assess the moderating role of transformational leadership in predicting the relationship between department chairs' personal and positional power on faculty job…

This report outlines the approaches that state education agencies (SEAs) have taken in defining and using formative assessment practices, including practices to explicitly support students with disabilities. At the state level, there have been efforts to develop or adopt formal definitions of formative assessment practices that guide how these…

This practice brief outlines a series of recommendations for improving the timely provision and use of high-quality braille -- both embossed and electronic -- and tactile graphics for state-mandated assessment. The primary target audience for these recommendations is State Education Agency (SEA) assessment leaders and others at the state-and…

STEM leaders, deans and chairs who oversee three or more academic disciplines, tend to leave their posts at a fast pace. This can cause disruptions within an academic unit for both students and faculty. The purpose of this action research study was to investigate the rate of attrition among community college Science, Technology, Engineering and…

Doctoral programmes worldwide are facing numerous challenges. Among these challenges is the diversification of the student body in aspects such as age, socioeconomic background, motivation, and career aspirations. However, these programmes often struggle to respond adequately and promptly to these changes. In this article, we employ the concept of…

Technology Mandatory (Tech Mandatory) is a compulsory subject for New South Wales (NSW) Stage 4 students and aims to engage students in production and design activities applicable to Agriculture and Food Technologies (AFT), Digital Technologies (DT), Engineered Systems and Material Technologies. The GPS Cows Module, an agricultural education…

Teacher workload is a growing problem internationally. In this article, we analyse an attempt by the state education bureaucracy of New South Wales (NSW), Australia, to address this through the 'Quality Time Program'. Drawing on labour process theory and Carol Bacchi's framework of 'What's the problem represented to be?', we analyse how the…

This study discusses the change and challenges of ICT use in secondary schools in Bole Sub City, Addis Ababa. The use of ICT in today's teaching and learning process is essential. Six secondary schools, eighty-seven teachers, six principals, and six department heads served as respondents for the investigation of the study, and information was…