The importance of strong family partnerships has long been considered essential to supporting the success of student with exceptionalities. Research indicates that building school-wide relationships with culturally and linguistically diverse families continues to prove challenges for administrators and other school personnel (Fowler, Coleman,…

Providing foundational academic support to Indiana's culturally and linguistically diverse students is a cornerstone of the state's educational goals. Over 139,000 Indiana students speak a language other than English at home, and there are over 295 different languages represented in Indiana schools. Of these, over 83,000 students have been…

It is important to acknowledge the role of community participation in the efforts on the prevention of school-based bullying and harassment. There is an extensive body of research on the importance of school-family partnerships (e.g., Montemayor & Chavkin, 2016; Henderson, et al., 2007; Cohen & Freiberg, 2013; Bradshaw, 2015) and…

Over 129,000 Indiana students speak a language other than English at home, and there are over 295 different languages represented in Indiana schools. Of these, over 77,000 students have been formally identified as ELs due to limited proficiency in speaking, listening, reading, and writing academic English. ELs comprise roughly 6% of Indiana's…

Building on comprehensive research conducted in US schools, this accessible volume offers an effective model of school leadership to develop and implement school-wide, trauma-responsive approaches to student discipline. Recognizing that challenging student behaviours are often rooted in early experiences of trauma, the volume builds on a model…

Meeting the unique educational and social needs of newcomer students (students who were born outside of the United States and have arrived in the country within the past three years) is an ongoing challenge for educators and community stakeholders across the country. This resource toolkit is intended to help educators and other stakeholders…

Parents of young children who are in an early intervention (EI) or early childhood special education (ECSE) program, want to be sure these services are helping their child develop and learn. These services are designed to make the most of each child's potential, as well as to strengthen the family's ability to help their child. However, in what…

If a child has been identified as needing early intervention services, parents may have questions about what that means for their child and for the family. This guide will help them understand the Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) and how it will help their child's development. The IFSP is a document that is used when providing early…

This practical guide has been developed to help facilitate collaboration and build effective partnerships at the local level between local educational agency (LEA) and vocational rehabilitation (VR) personnel. Unfortunately, there is no magic formula that will instantly create these partnerships; however, there are proven strategies and processes…

Families are their children's first educators. From birth, families nurture their children to be healthy and successful in school and in life. Head Start and Early Head Start program staff share these goals and partner with families as they work to meet these goals. There are unique ways in which these partnerships matter for children who speak…

This slide deck is a toolkit to help districts adapt existing school performance frameworks to the current moment or create new ones. These slides identify and walk through the fundamental questions districts need to consider in designing school performance frameworks that acknowledge the challenges that schools and students are facing, as well as…

When K-12 schools in California closed for in-person instruction in response to COVID-19 in March 2020, few would have predicted that most schools would remain physically closed for more than one year. Throughout this period, California's educators and students have continued teaching and learning remotely for the most part, demonstrating…

The sudden closure of educational facilities due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has brought about many trials and struggles. For families and students, it means the loss of structure, connection, and valuable instructional time. For administrators, educators, and support staff, it means a sudden shift in the way teaching and learning…

The guidebook is divided into seven parts. Part I provides an overview of the Enabling Component and places the concept in the context of current restructuring initiatives. Part II offers an overview of the process for introducing and adapting the Component at a site using a formal diffusion model. A diffusion model is a tool for organizational…

This comprehensive new book is designed to assist schools, districts, administrators, policy makers, community members and professionals interested in education, as well as parents and youth, to assess, develop, and implement inclusive services for students with disabilities. It identifies 15 evidence-based best practices, and presents a checklist…