Aggression and violence against educators and school personnel have raised public health concerns that require attention from researchers, policymakers, and training providers in U.S. schools. School aggression and violence have negative effects on school personnel health and retention and on student achievement and development. In partnership with several national organizations, the American Psychological Association (APA) Task Force on Violence Against Educators and School Personnel administered two national, multi-informant, cross-sectional surveys. Time 1 data were collected in 2020-2021 from 14,966 respondents; participants reflected on their experiences of violence and aggression before COVID-19 and during COVID-19 restrictions in this survey. One year later, in 2022, 11,814 respondents completed the Time 2 survey after COVID-19 restrictions ended. Participants included teachers, school psychologists, social workers, counselors, staff members, and administrators from all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Rates of violence and aggression directed against educators by students, parents, colleagues, and administrators were substantial before COVID-19, were lower during COVID-19 restrictions, and returned to prepandemic levels or higher after COVID-19 restrictions. After COVID-19 restrictions, 22%-80% of respondents reported verbal or threatening aggression, and 2%-56% of respondents reported physical violence at least once during the year, varying by stakeholder role and aggressor. Rates of intentions to quit the profession ranged from 21% to 43% during COVID-19 restrictions (2020-2021) and from 23% to 57% after COVID-19 restrictions (2021-2022), varying by stakeholder role. Participants across roles reported substantial rates of anxiety and stress, especially during and after COVID-19 restrictions, and identified specific training needs. Implications for theory, research, training, and policy are presented. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

This article presents the Classroom Strategies Coaching (CSC) Model, a data-driven coaching approach that uses teacher formative assessment data to drive improvements in universal practices. The classroom strategies assessment system (CSAS), a formative assessment of evidence-based instructional and behavioral management practices was used to facilitate the coaching process. Results from 32 elementary school teachers who received brief coaching after participating as waitlist controls in a randomized controlled trial are presented. Teachers’ practices remained stable across baseline periods. Following coaching, teachers displayed improvements toward their behavioral management goals (e.g., ds = .50–.83). Results also showed meaningful reductions in the overall need for change in instruction (d = .88) and in behavior management practices (d = .68) at postintervention. Findings illustrate the benefits of integrating teacher formative assessment in coaching to improve teaching practices. Implications for practice and future directions are outlined.

The present study is an initial investigation of the concurrent validity of a new assessment, the Classroom Strategies Scale (CSS version 2.0) for Elementary School—Observer Form. The CSS assesses teachers’ use of instructional and behavioral management strategies. In the present study, the CSS is compared to the Classroom Assessment Scoring System (CLASS), a widely researched measure of global classroom quality. In a sample of 125 general education K-5 grade teachers, correlations were computed to assess the relationship between the CSS scales and conceptually similar and dissimilar domains and dimensions on the CLASS. In comparison to the CLASS, the CSS classroom observations and strategy rating scale scores demonstrated correspondence with conceptually similar scales, providing initial evidence for the concurrent and discriminant validity of the CSS. Results highlight the unique features of the CSS for assessing teacher classroom practices.

This is the first systematic review of the school outcome literature for behavior interventions used with middle school students exhibiting disruptive behaviors. A total of 51 investigations (published between 2000 and 2020) including 6,498 students and 264 implementers were coded on four dimensions (i.e., sample, interventions, methodology, and outcomes). This review examined intervention effects on implementer and student outcomes, yielding small to large positive effects. Strengths of the reviewed studies included the specification of student characteristics, operationalization of implementers’ professional development, and assessment of intervention fidelity. Most studies used single-case designs or randomized controlled trial experimental designs to evaluate the effectiveness of the interventions. Weaknesses included an absence of student diagnostic information; lack of data on implementers, attrition, and follow-up; and inadequate use of parent involvement. School practitioners should be mindful of developmental challenges and consider targets and barriers to implementation. Additional large-scale, rigorous experimental designs are warranted. Supplemental data for this article is available online at http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/2372966X.2021.1883996. This is the first study to review the school outcome literature for behavior interventions and supports used with middle school students with or at risk of disruptive behavior disorders (DBDs). Research-based behavior interventions are essential to ameliorating the negative outcomes associated with student disruptive behavior in middle school, which is a significant transitional period.