While many researchers have addressed the topic of academic resilience, studies on the individual protective factors in high-risk middle school students from urban settings are limited. In this qualitative interpretive study, we interviewed and obtained academic records from 20 eligible students in grades 7-8 to delve into the perceptions and…

In response to budget problems, many urban school systems reduced resources for getting students to come to school, like truancy officers. Chicago, for instance, went from 150 truancy officers down to, in 1991, a total of zero. Is that a good idea? We explore here the effects of increased support by a pro-social adult, or "social…

Introduction: Adolescents may experience and engage in many risky consequences and behaviors after drinking. It is important to consider the consequences of substance use as these consequences can be helpful in developing feasible and effective school-based prevention programs. Methods: This paper capitalizes on the use of a nationally…

This brief is one in a series aimed at providing K-12 education decision makers and advocates with an evidence base to ground discussions about how to best serve students during and following the novel coronavirus pandemic. The brief breaks down the issue into three points: (1) Missing school negatively affects academic and socioemotional outcomes…

Background: Little is known about how school breakfast programs are associated with school attendance and academic performance. This study evaluated Dallas Independent School District's (DISD) breakfast after the bell (BATB) program that provides breakfast for both habitually tardy and non-tardy students on (1) academic performance and (2) student…

In Namibia, natural science (NS) is one of the priority subjects in upper primary phases (Grades 4 to 7). However, in the Omusati Region of Namibia, there are increasing public concerns that many learners are not performing well in NS. This study surveyed the views of NS teachers on the challenges affecting upper primary learners' performance in…

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to assess the effect of implementing the restorative practices framework (RPF) on chronic absenteeism and the overall culture at a diverse, suburban middle school in New Jersey from 2017 through 2020. Chronic absenteeism and its impact on students' achievement, success, and sense of belonging are visible…

In striving to define the key ingredients that encompass students' sense of belonging and its impact on student success, a quantitative, correlational research study was conducted to help better understand the relationship between students' sense of belonging and student GPA, attendance rate, and discipline in four high schools in one district in…

School learning starts with school attendance. Students need to be in school to receive instruction and learn from their teachers and peers. When schools have high rates of poor attendance, their academic achievement levels suffer. Ninth grade is a critical juncture that comes with increased student autonomy -- and new pitfalls, including the…

The COVID-19 pandemic initially resulted in an unanticipated and near-universal shift from in-person to virtual instruction in spring 2020. During the 2020-21 school year, schools began to re-open and families were faced with decisions regarding the instructional mode for their children. We leverage administrative, survey, and virtual-learning…

This study analyzes the impact attendance rates of middle school teachers have on academic achievement of students in South Carolina. The factors included are teacher attendance and student performance. The research will give an in-depth look into the affect's teacher absenteeism has on middle school students. And determined whether increased…

Many school districts in the United States are facing growing concerns regarding the shortage of qualified candidates for teaching positions. This problem has existed for some time, and its deleterious effects are exacerbated in school districts that have significant teacher turnover. School districts with higher teacher retention can mitigate…

Background: Prevention of both school dropout and teen pregnancy represent clear public health priorities for South Africa, yet their complex and potentially cyclical relationship has not been fully explored. Objective: To further understand how this relationship operates, we analyzed data from a randomized trial of young women aged 13 to 20 years…

Indigenous students, a subgroup of the Australian student population, produce poorer educational outcomes and continue to produce persistently lower attendance rates than non-Indigenous peers. Currently, governments collect and monitor student attendance as an indicator of students' educational achievement and a key performance measure of schools…

This study focuses on the implementation of an early warning indicator and intervention system in 20 southern high schools. This model included a team of teachers, counselors, and student support services personnel who analyzed ninth-grade student-level data and implemented and monitored interventions. The team was led by a half-time coach who…