Culturally Responsive Restorative Practices, an innovative framework intended to counteract discipline disparities and improve school climate and culture, entered year 3 of implementation in 2020-2021. Highlights from ten participating schools included improved perceptions of school climate by students and staff and consistent participation in…

Since the COVID-19 pandemic shut down public school buildings across the United States in early 2020, research on academic indicators has documented disproportionate--and potentially long-lasting--impacts on Latino students. This report examines several strategies and practices that have tremendous promise for accelerating Latino students'…

Social, emotional, and academic development (SEAD) is a holistic approach to supporting students' development and learning that is integral to ensuring positive outcomes in school and beyond. Schools must ensure students experience healthy development and rigorous learning. Unfortunately, students of color, students from low-income backgrounds,…

This study examines the COVID-19 shift to online instruction and its impact on a charter school system (CSS) 3rd-10th grade students' academic achievement through the lens of noncognitive factors. We recruited 693 students and utilized qualitative and quantitative analyses. We found that students' NWEA math and ELA scores continued to increase…

The purpose of this study was to determine how agricultural science teachers in central Texas balance family and a successful career as a secondary agricultural science teacher. This study identified the supports that agricultural science teachers need in order to maintain a career and a family to remain teachers in the profession. Research…

This report examines the influence of social and emotional learning (SEL) implementation and longevity on selected staff and student outcomes. Results indicate that the degree to which schools implement SEL with fidelity is more related to student and staff outcomes than years of participation in SEL. This research brief outlines key takeaways…

The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. The focus of this issue is "School District Health." Contents include: (1) Habits of a Healthy School…

The Afterschool Centers on Education (ACE) program managed by Foundations Communities provided academic assistance, enrichment, college and career readiness, and family engagement activities at community learning centers to students from three AISD elementary schools, using Cycle 9 funding through the Texas Education Agency. This report compares…

The AISD Afterschool Centers on Education (ACE Austin) program provided academic assistance, enrichment, college and career readiness, and family engagement activities at six elementary and four middle school campuses through Cycle 9 funding through the Texas Education Agency. ACE Austin was found to have a positive impact on students' academic…

The Afterschool Centers on Education of the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Austin Area (ACE BGCA) provided academic assistance, enrichment, college and career readiness, and family engagement activities at four elementary, three middle, and two high schools through Cycle 10 funding through the Texas Education Agency. ACE BGCA was found to have a…

The paper begins with a challenge, namely: How do we work with families and communities to co-create the next generation of family and community engagement, providing equitable learning pathways--both in and out of school and from birth to young adulthood--that will enable all children to be successful in the 21st century? Exploring what it takes…

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the Literacy-Infused Science Using Technology Innovation Opportunity (LISTO) validation project (Valid 45). LISTO was funded by the Investing in Innovation (i3) Fund and involved a multi-year intervention that provided virtual professional development and coaching, and literacy-infused science curricula to…

The AISD Afterschool Centers on Education (ACE Austin) program provided academic assistance, enrichment, college and career readiness, and family engagement activities at seven elementary, one middle, and two high schools through Cycle 10 funding through the Texas Education Agency. ACE Austin was found to have a positive impact on students'…

This report analyzes the psychometric properties of the revised school-level SEL implementation rubric and the SEL specialists' activity log.

In Texas, Title I schools that have reached achievement levels well above what was expected given their levels of poverty, receive official designations as Reward Schools for demonstrating high academic performance, high academic progress, or both. In 2014, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) partnered with the Texas Comprehensive Center (TXCC) at…