The CARES (customer-focused, action-oriented, responsive, empathetic, and service-driven) initiative was launched in AISD in 2018-2019 to bring about a culture of respect and inclusiveness throughout the district. The initiative puts an emphasis on positive customer experiences for families, students and staff members. In the spring of 2020, the…

Although varying among and within the states, the percentage of students with 504 plans is steadily and significantly increasing as a national average. Although the professional literature addresses the legal standards for eligibility for 504 plans, it has not provided up-to-date information to practitioners as to the legal standard for the…

Educators can employ a variety of classroom management strategies in their efforts to foster a classroom environment in which all students can learn. "Class-Wide Function-Related Intervention Teams (CW-FIT)" is one such strategy. As part of "CW-FIT," teachers establish classroom rules, provide instruction on target skills,…

Educators can employ a variety of classroom management strategies in their efforts to foster a classroom environment in which all students can learn. "Class-Wide Function-Related Intervention Teams (CW-FIT)" is one such strategy. As part of "CW-FIT," teachers establish classroom rules, provide instruction on target skills,…

This paper explores the dynamics of teamwork in a team-based Massive Open Online Course. The purpose of the study is to discover patterns and characteristics of the students in teams that completed the course. Many studies have revealed that a very small percentage of students complete Massive Open Online Courses. The percentage is even smaller in…

Innovative classroom-tested approaches to cross-cultural communication--diversity, equity, and inclusion--and personal and professional development are featured. Readers can explore 10 teaching creations debuted at the 2023 "My Favorite Assignment" sessions at the Association for Business Communication Annual International Conference…

The Individualized Education Program (IEP) is the heart of providing special education services to students with disabilities. It is a complex document that is supposed to include several required components. IEP teams are required to be composed of certain individuals, including "a representative of the district who is qualified to provide…

This article addresses the inclusion of English learners with disabilities, including those with significant cognitive disabilities, in state and district assessments. The authors provide background information on who these students are and the relationship between academic English language development, content learning, and assessment. The…

The purpose of this study was to identify barriers and facilitators to family engagement in schools implementing schoolwide positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS). Participants consisted of 1 representative member each from 204 school PBIS teams across 3 states. Qualitative analysis guided examination of responses to 1 question…

Nebraska is committed to pursuing a new vision for science education based on "A Framework for K-12 Science Education" (NRC, 2012), that advocates for rigorous, high-quality science education for all students. Following an ambitious four year timeline, Nebraska is working to develop new assessments aligned to and designed for these…

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA's) research on historical flood risk, 98 percent of U.S. counties have been impacted by a flooding event. Not only do flood event occur in and impact all regions of the United States, but they are also costly, and so it is in the interest of communities for state education agencies…

Teachers play a significant role in their students' lives. To support this important work, "A Teacher's Guide to Excellence in Every Classroom" details how K-12 educators can use the Hierarchy of Instructional Excellence and the Student Excellence Support System to maximize their impact and increase student success. Discover how to build…

The time is now for integrating discussions of inclusive practice with professional development and school leadership, moving away from the normative view of inclusion as situated within special education and teacher preparation programmes. This study describes a triad professional development model that included an integrated professional…

The International Technology and Engineering Educators Association's (ITEEA's) "Standards for Technological and Engineering Literacy" ("STEL") describes design thinking as an approach that allows students and educators to integrate other content areas by considering relevant contextual information to guide design and making…

The school counselor and principal have vital roles within a school which have a significant impact upon the way a school functions. One area of pressing conflict within principal-counselor relationships is disagreement over the appropriate role and function of the counselor. In order to investigate perceptions of the counselor role, as well as…