Learning to read is essential, especially for our youngest learners, as the foundational skills for learning to read can determine the future success of our students. The disruptions to learning from the COVID-19 pandemic have affected education. Researchers are still working to understand the depth of learning loss students have experienced.…

This embedded case study sought to answer the question of what obstacles and opportunities presented when a reading initiative aimed at increasing the amount of time students spent reading independently was implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. Four embedded grade level cases from a small rural elementary school were explored over the course…

The importance of access to quality physical education (PE) among children is well-documented. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, however, resulted in significant shifts in PE curriculum delivery alongside a rapid uptake by PE teachers of new technologies. Although some research about integrating technology into teaching does exist, there is very…

Future Forward is an early elementary literacy program which, through a family-school-community partnership approach, integrates one-on-one tutoring and family engagement to support literacy development at school and at home. In the 2020-21 school year, as part of an Education Innovation and Research (EIR) Mid-Phase grant, the impact of a modified…

Early childhood education leaders were challenged to assist K-3 teachers with transitioning to online teaching due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this basic qualitative study was to explore early childhood education leaders' challenges to assist K-3 teachers with transitioning to online teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic. The…

During the COVID-19 pandemic, K-5 teachers and students rapidly transitioned to an online learning modality. Both the swift conversion and lack of preexisting research left educators and families underprepared for fostering virtual interaction and learning. The purpose of this study was to examine the nature of K-5 online student collaboration,…

This qualitative research study explored how families and the school system navigated distance learning during the pandemic, using technology to gain insights on factors of effective family-school relationships. In addition, the study examined the strategies used and lessons learned from the pandemic in adapting practices in school and home…

In the midst of the pandemic, we implemented and investigated short-term interventions to support K-3 reading. Specifically, we studied a text messaging program that provided caregivers with tips on supporting K-3 reading. Additionally, we studied combining the text messaging program for caregivers with one-on-one remote tutoring for their…

COVID-19 affected many aspects of life, especially in education. The quick shift to emergency remote teaching (ERT) caused stress among teachers and students as teachers moved to emergency remote teaching instead of the traditional setting. Teachers faced challenges with changing roles, readiness, and support while students, particularly those…

The ongoing cycle of educational reform in America has led policymakers and educational leaders to prioritize test-based results and de-prioritize noncognitive skills, equitable outcomes, and crucial socio-emotional aspects of schooling (Lynch et al., 2009). Despite the equitable goals outlined in previous education policy reforms, intended…

This report provides an overview of kindergarten readiness of six Baltimore City Public Schools (City Schools) kindergarten cohorts from the 2016-17 to the 2021-22 school year. This report is accompanied by the Annual Digest of City Schools Kindergarten Statistics, 2022 Edition (Baltimore Education Research Consortium [BERC], 2022), which provides…

The current study explored the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on perceived work-related stress and coping strategies among K-5 public school teachers in the state of California. A phenomenological approach was used to examine the unique experience of public-school teachers during the 2020-2021 pandemic school year. Criterion sampling included…

Although research related to the Science of Reading has documented the positive effects of explicit, systematic reading instruction for all students, students from historically marginalized groups often experience differential opportunities to learn and are likely to perform lower than their peers on large scale measures of reading achievement.…

The purpose of this collective case study was to examine elementary music teachers' mental health and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research questions were: 1) What factors influenced music teachers' mental health and well-being during COVID-19; 2) How did music teachers support their own mental health and well-being during…

Purpose: Understanding students' home literacy environments can help speech-language pathologists, teachers, and other educators partner with families to promote language and literacy learning. This study focused on gaining insight into the views of parents of elementary-age students with intellectual and developmental disabilities who had complex…