Using Gold Standard Science to Prevent Violence & Shootings:  Not Smart-Watch Profiling:  Read about how to prevent violence and school shootings using science.

Note that the informal guidance in the letter isn't legally binding; it's an "interpretation by the U.S. Department of Education of the requirements of IDEA in the context of specific facts provided."  The letter states that "if an SEA's complaint resolution decision has ordered relief (e.g., compensatory education) that can reasonably be implemented in a new State and the parent does not reject the remaining compensatory services, the SEA must ensure the decision is implemented in the new State." The end notes give references for how that might be done based on two lawsuits regarding out-of-district moves and claims for compensatory education.  Read the letter.

Preserving Culture, Rights and Sovereignty of American Indians and Alaska Natives:  On December 27, 2019, President Trump signed three bills that help advance the preservation of culture, rights, and sovereignty for American Indians and Alaska Natives.  Most notable of the three bills is the passage and signing of the National Defense Authorization Act that granted federal recognition to the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana, making the Tribe the 574th federally recognized tribal nation in the United States.  "Signing these bills into law, the President affirmatively acknowledges the existing government-to-government relationship between the United States and the tribal nations, and the responsibility of Congress and the Administration both have in ensuring the lives of American Indians and Alaska Natives across the country are improved," said NCAI's CEO Kevin Allis.  "We only ask for what has been promised to us in Indian Country, through treaties and past legislation, and the President's actions recognize the debt owed to the first people of this country," Allis states.  Read more.

How Parent Involvement Leads to Student Success:  What's the most accurate predictor of  academic achievement ? It's not socioeconomic status, nor how prestigious the school is that a child attends. The best predictor of student success is the extent to which families encourage learning at home and involve themselves in their child's education.  When parents are  engaged  in their children's school lives, students have the home support and knowledge they need to not only finish their assignments, but also develop a lifelong love of learning.  Teachers who focus on parent engagement often see a profound change in their classrooms. The more parents involved in their children's education, the better their entire class's motivation, behavior, and grades become.  Encouraging parent engagement is more than common courtesy. It's one of the best ways to create a positive learning environment for every student. To create a community built on  parent-teacher relationships  in your school, find out what parent engagement is and how to nurture it.

Adverse Childhood Experiences Are Different Than Child Trauma, and It's Critical to Understand Why:  Legislators, caregivers, and the media increasingly recognize that childhood adversity poses risks to individual health and wellbeing.  The original Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Study has helped raise public awareness about this critical public health issue.  However, as the use of ACEs questionnaires for identifying potentially harmful childhood experiences has gained popularity, it is important to understand how ACEs differ from other commonly used terms, including childhood adversity, trauma, and toxic stress.  Read more.

Are We Trauma-Informed? Tools to Measure Progress in a Program, School, or Organization:  The Child Health Development Institute is out with a new Issue Brief focusing on child trauma.  Interest in addressing child trauma has surged in the past two decades, sparked by research on the effects of trauma exposure.  As a result, child-serving organizations are increasingly integrating trauma-informed approaches; however, there is a limited research on how to measure the effectiveness of these approaches.  This Issue Brief reviews 49 surveys (or measure) of trauma-informed approaches and identifies promising examples that can be used by programs, organizations, and broader service systems to help evaluate how they are supporting the health of children affected by trauma.