This paper examines the restorative justice system and the importance of integrating students back into the regular classroom following a disciplinary action. Through preventative measures, resolving conflict, and transforming the behavior, students can be reintegrated back into the classroom environment without much loss of learning time.

Scholars Leonard & Woodland (2022) suggest schools and districts face a crucial challenge. Are schools and districts ensuring their personnel are prepared to engage in critical practices to affirm, include, and support all students, families, peers, and communities? Or are schools and districts just haphazardly committing to diversity, equity,…

The American preK-12 education system is struggling. Challenges resulting from navigating the global pandemic, the growing consciousness of the education system's role in perpetuating cycles of inequity for students furthest from justice, and the continual inability to scale innovation across a wide breadth of student profiles, are all evidence…

This phenomenological research study explores how districts in Massachusetts support and hinder the work of professionals in the inaugural role of Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I). Through a qualitative approach, the study engaged six Directors of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion from suburban and urban school settings in…

Schools for specific purposes (SSP) are and have been a significant feature of the education ecosystem since the roll out of mass schooling in Australia and elsewhere. SSPs serve some of the most vulnerable and disadvantaged communities. While their social and emotional worth to their communities (students, educators, families) is rarely…

In 2005, the Texas Education Agency implemented a new accountability measure for school districts that penalized those that had more than 8.5% special education enrollment. The policy that lasted for over a decade and its implications, which continue to this day, created inequitable access to services for students with disabilities of all…

School leaders are constantly challenged to be everything for everyone as student populations become more diverse and the needs of students become more complex. The classroom environments and instructional practices that have been utilized in public school settings are no longer rendering growth for all students. Principals are challenged with…

The Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum has been implemented in numerous school districts to cultivate positive behaviors and diminish inappropriate conduct and behavioral issues. Beyond enhancing students' interpersonal relationships, essential skills such as relationship-building, responsible decision-making, and empathy enable…

The purpose of this action research study is to understand how public school district administrators' leadership styles impact the success of high school Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. I used the action research model which included a literature review, Cycle 1 interviews and data analysis, and Cycle 2 action step…

The Learning 2025: National Commission on Student-Centered, Equity-Focused Education--a collective of thought leaders in education, business, community, and philanthropy as convened by AASA, The School Superintendents Association--calls for holistic redesign of the public school system by 2025. The COVID-19 pandemic has served as a forcing…

GPE works with governments to include refugee children and youth in national education systems and helps strengthen capacity and resources to meet the education needs of refugee children. Refugees have access to public schools in 20 of GPE's partner countries, where GPE is supporting governments to build more inclusive and equitable education…

This research addressed the complex challenge faced by public school districts in ensuring equitable academic and social-emotional opportunities for all students, considering the pervasive influence of bias and discrimination. The study focused on an initiative within a suburban school district, where various stakeholders collaborated to identify…

Marcia Gentry personified a life well-lived. In this tribute to her work and legacy, her early ideas are highlighted. The author describes her professional experiences with Marcia during the years when Marcia was a doctoral student at the University of Connecticut. Recalling her initial motivation for a more inclusive form of identification of…

This study explores the efficacy of the Math Workshop Model in enhancing the capacity of secondary mathematics teachers to differentiate instruction, implement equitable teaching practices, and meet the diverse needs of students in mixed-ability classrooms. Through a mixed methods approach, including classroom observations, interviews, and surveys…

Culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) students who are English learners (ELs) represent over 10% of the overall student population in U.S. public schools. Nevertheless, this population is highly underserved in schools and has some of the lowest graduation rates. This phenomenological research interviewed eight principals to examine how they…