The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of participation in the LifeSkills Training (LST) program on student outcomes regarding attendance, discipline, and mental health referrals. Four middle schools located in Western and Central Pennsylvania participated in the study. A total number of 231 participants from three schools…

This quasi-experimental study explored the effects of sensorimotor strategies on improving attention and in-seat behavior of preschoolers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Using a single subject, B-A-B-A design with a sensorimotor phase (B) and non-sensorimotor phase (A), duration of attention and in-seat behavior were recorded and analyzed…

A leadership academy is a formal professional learning opportunity for current school leaders, focused on augmenting knowledge and skills, increasing specialization, and refreshing leadership practices. States interested in supporting leadership academies through federal or other funding sources can look to current models of leadership academies…

Microcredentials are a promising means for expanding teacher access to high quality professional development. This study examined the effectiveness of online, self-paced microcredential courses designed for teachers working in underserved rural communities. The content of these competency-based microcredentials centered on recommended…

Postsecondary instructors routinely face novel and complex challenges in physical classrooms and informal learning spaces. Instructors often bring these challenges, along with creative and aspirational solutions, to the attention of centers for teaching and learning (CFTLs). Issues span a wide range of topics including blogs, clickers, immersive…

Were those gunshots I just heard? Between 1990 and 2014 school shootings more than tripled when compared the prior 30-year span of 1960 to 1990. FBI data from 2000-2013 shows active violent incidents were resolved or ended due to citizen engagement of the perpetrator in 16.2% of the total incidents. Common police response times to an active…

As the demand for workers with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) skills grows ever higher, employers face stiff competition for qualified employees--and with retirements, the pool of employees grows ever smaller. Meanwhile, U.S. education and workforce systems could be failing to keep pace with the needs of the STEM economy,…

As early career elementary teachers (ECETs) teachers have a direct impact on student achievement, it is necessary for universities and school districts to implement programs that support the first years of teaching. ECETs express frustration with the significant demands of teaching. Further, ECETs are severely disadvantaged by the lack of…

Much of the public does not realize that incarcerated individuals have the opportunity, and at times are mandated, to participate in adult education programming. Thus, teaching in the corrections setting is something that many people never consider as a career option. There are no undergraduate or graduate majors that can prepare someone to teach…

The COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented economic and policy challenges to the United States and other countries. Navigating out of the pandemic slowdown is another novel experience, which makes it more difficult to answer the question addressed each year in the "State of Working Pennsylvania": How is the Pennsylvania economy…

It is not known how ninth-grade regular education teachers perceive the unique stressors and challenges for students with autism spectrum disorders transitioning from middle school to high school. In addition, it is not understood how ninth-grade regular education teachers perceive their role integrated in the overall support system from parents…

Purpose: A growing trend in instructional improvement efforts is the use of formative assessment informed by research-based developmental trajectories of how students gain deeper understanding of subject matter content over time. This article reports the findings of a large-scale experimental study of an innovative mathematics professional…

Objective: This study examined the role of dispositional mindfulness in impacting the relational benefits of yoga in novice practitioners in an undergraduate academic yoga course. Participants: 21 college students enrolled in a yoga course throughout a 15-week academic semester (January-April 2016). Methods: Participants attended lab assessments…

Tom Wilson, the chair of the executive committee of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce published an op-ed titled "Save Capitalism by Paying People More." Wilson acknowledges in blunt terms that ordinary working Americans are not flourishing economically. This year's annual "The State of Working Pennsylvania" documents the accuracy of…

Despite legal mandates and evidence of predictors of success in transition, there continue to be poor outcomes for students with disabilities as compared to students without disabilities. This article describes the first steps of a quality improvement project, including a needs assessment and description of the current constraints of transition…