Welcome to this week’s recap! This week, we highlight interesting community updates, share some new research, and spotlight faculty engagement!

Community Updates

• BU Wheelock Leaders Showcase District Innovation at 70th CGCS Conference: Fellows and faculty connected to BU Wheelock’s Dr. Carol Johnson District Leadership Fellowship co-presented key urban education strategies at the 70th Annual Council of the Great City Schools (CGCS) Fall Conference

  1. Michelle Simon (Cohort I Fellow) co-presented “Ensuring Fair Access: Strategic Service Delivery for All Students,” detailing frameworks for equitable service delivery across district schools.

  2. Katy Cen (Cohort I Fellow & BU Wheelock Adjunct) co-presented “Language Skills as an Asset: District Initiatives to Empower Student-Led Language Advocacy,” highlighting the data-driven expansion of the Seal of Biliteracy and student-led World Languages Week.

  3. Monica Hall (Adjunct Faculty) presented “The First Two Years: Aligning New Leader Capacity with District Priorities,” focusing on strategic leadership programming designed to support Year 1 and Year 2 administrators.

  4. Colin Rose (Adjunct Faculty) co-presented “Co-Designing the Future of BPS Through Cross-Functional Teams,” sharing models for cross-departmental collaboration and district improvement.

Read more on the fellowship here.

• BPS Launches New AP Cybersecurity Course: Boston Public Schools announced the launch of a new Advanced Placement (AP) Cybersecurity curriculum at high schools like the Edward M. Kennedy Academy for Health Careers and the John D. O’Bryant School of Math and Science. As part of the College Board’s AP Career Kickstart initiative, the hands-on course equips students with technical skills, network safety strategies, and career-ready digital credentials. Read more about BPS’s AP Cybersecurity course rollout here.

• Student Journalism Spotlight at State of the Schools: BPS highlighted Grade 12 Horace Mann School for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing student Carlos Rodriguez, who served as an official student journalist covering the 2026 State of the Schools address, showcasing student leadership across district media and communications. Read the full profile on Carlos Rodriguez here.

In the News

• Special ed diaries: Teachers tell NPR about their most joyous, most difficult moments, NPR, (BU Wheelock Assoc. Prof. Elizabeth Bettini quoted), October 26, 2026. Assoc. Prof. Elizabeth Bettini was featured in NPR’s special education series, addressing the root causes behind the nationwide special education teacher shortage. Bettini highlights that persistent turnover in the field is driven primarily by challenging working conditions—such as heavy administrative paperwork, isolation, and demanding caseloads—rather than the students themselves.

  

Research that matters

• Evaluating Dual Language Impact on Early Learners: The Effects of Dual Language Education on Young Bilingual Children’s Learning: A Systematic Review of Research, (co-authored by Dir., Ctr. for Early Childhood Well-Being & Prof. Dina C. Castro).This systematic review evaluates the developmental, linguistic, and academic impacts of dual language education (DLE) on young bilingual students. The study reveals that incorporating a child’s native language alongside English instruction yields significant improvements in literacy, language acquisition, and cognitive flexibility, highlighting the importance of culturally sustaining dual-language frameworks in early childhood settings. Read the study in full here.

  

• Embedding Career Readiness into K–12 Curricula: Designing and Implementing Career Education in Schools, (co-authored by Prof. V. Scott H. Solberg). This study examines strategies for integrating structured career development and life-skills training directly into primary and secondary education systems. The research provides framework models for educators and guidance practitioners to foster student self-efficacy, social-emotional learning, and future readiness, creating clearer and more equitable transitions from education to the workforce. Read more here.

  

Important Updates in US Higher Education

• New Student Success & Retention Coalition Launched (Oct 23, 2026): Higher education leaders announced a collaborative initiative aimed at reversing post-pandemic enrollment drop-offs by restructuring student support systems, integrating career readiness into core curricula, and scaling high-impact proactive advising across public universities. Read more about the student success framework here.

Welcome to this week’s recap! This week, we celebrate faculty achievements and conference participation, dive into new research on childhood learning, and share upcoming events!

Community Updates

• BPS Proposes Bell-to-Bell Cellphone Policy: BPS leadership presented a comprehensive proposal to the Boston School Committee to restrict personal electronic devices—including cellphones, smartwatches, and tablets—during school hours across all PreK–12 classrooms to reduce digital distractions and support student mental health. Read more on the proposal here.

Boston University Updates

• Classrooms Where Every Student Can Thrive: In a feature published October 20, BU Wheelock highlighted emerging frameworks for inclusive and liberatory education. The piece focuses on removing invisible barriers for neurodivergent students, fostering student agency, and creating collaborative learning environments through initiatives like the SPACE framework. Read more on the initiative here.

Out and About

• Mayor Wu’s Second Annual State of the Schools Address: Dr. Mary L. Churchill (Assoc. Dean, SPACE) and Irene Dennison (Assoc. Dir., SPACE) attended Mayor Michelle Wu’s second annual State of the Schools address at the UMass Boston Campus Center Ballroom. Organized in partnership with Boston Public Schools Superintendent Mary Skipper, the convening brought together city officials, district leaders, educators, and community partners to celebrate BPS student progress, showcase district-wide community hub initiatives, and outline ongoing priorities for public education in Boston. Read Mayor Wu’s full address and event summary here.

  

• 70th Annual Council of the Great City Schools Fall Conference: Irene Dennison (Assoc. Dir., SPACE) attended the Council of the Great City Schools (CGCS) 70th Annual Fall Conference, hosted locally by Boston Public Schools. Held under the theme “Revolutionizing What’s Possible in Urban Education,” the national conference convened big-city superintendents, school board members, senior administrators, and college deans of education to share best practices, discuss policy and equity, and advance innovative practice-based strategies across urban school districts. Learn more about the conference agenda here.

  

Faculty Awards

• Gitner Family Award for Innovation in Teaching with Technology: Congratulations to Thomas J. McKenna (Clinical Asst. Professor & Program Director for AI & Education, BU Wheelock) on receiving the 2026 Gerald and Deanne Gitner Family Award for Innovation in Teaching with Technology. The annual university-wide award recognizes faculty who best exemplify innovation in teaching by leveraging technology to expand access and enhance the student experience. McKenna was honored for his pioneering work, including creating Phenomena for NGSS—a free, open-access library for science educators with over 5.3 million views globally—and developing interactive “virtual notebooks” that foster long-term student sensemaking and reflective learning. Read more here.

  

Research that matters

• Valuing Effort Over Inherited Advantage: Young Children Prefer to Learn From and Befriend Strivers Rather Than Endowed Individuals, (co-authored by Assoc. Dean for Faculty Affairs & Prof. Kathleen H. Corriveau). A new study co-authored by Assoc. Dean for Faculty Affairs & Prof. Kathleen H. Corriveau alongside Nina N. Ye explores how 5- to 9-year-old children reason about unequal pathways to success—specifically comparing individuals who achieve success through hard work (”strivers”) versus those who receive success through inherited or external advantages (”endowed”). Published in Communications Psychology, the article finds that children consistently assign epistemic value to effort, preferring to seek information from, learn from, and befriend strivers over endowed peers. Children attributed higher competency to strivers and explicitly cited hard work as a key indicator of future reliability, demonstrating that early learning decisions and interpersonal choices are guided by the process through which success is attained rather than the outcome alone. Read the full study here.

  

Upcoming Events

• Early Childhood Research, Policy, & Practice Talk: Let’s Play! with Donna Traynham: BU Wheelock’s Center on the Ecology of Early Development (CEED) is hosting guest speaker Donna Traynham for a virtual presentation titled “Let’s Play!: Bringing Joy to Preschool through 3rd Grade Classrooms to Increase Sense of Belonging, Engagement and Authentic Learning.” The session will explore play-based strategies designed to boost student engagement, foster a sense of belonging, and support authentic learning in early childhood education. Registration is required. Use the link here to register for the event.

  📅 Date: Tuesday, October 27, 2026

  🕒 Time: 10:00 AM EST

  📍 Location: Virtual via Zoom (https://bit.ly/4ieQCXD )

This post explores how Boston Public Schools is expanding dual-language and early college programs for multilingual learners, with insights from BU Wheelock Professor Yasuko Kanno on why multilingualism should be treated as an asset.

Boston Public Schools is expanding students’ access to multilingual and dual-language programs, having more than 19,000 current Multilingual Learners students and about 13% former English Learners.

While going through the traditional school experience at BPS, students need to have access to learning additional languages and keeping their bilingual background supported.

To provide more opportunities to multilingual learners and students whose native language is English, BPS now implements more multilingual opportunities and dual-language programs in the educational system.

One of the recently created programs is an Early College Consortium, launched for the 2026-2027 school year by Roxbury Community College and BPS, which is designed for multilingual learners in high school as an opportunity for an early college experience. According to the Roxbury Community College official website, the Early College Consortium will enroll 200 students from approximately seven BPS partners, allowing students to earn more than 12 college credits. Massachusetts Early College programs help underrepresented students in higher education to blend high school and college education coursework, preparing themselves early for a career.

Another newly formed project is the Cabo Verdean Creole Program, which is a dual-language program launched Sep. 26 by BPS at the Lilla G. Frederick Elementary School in Dorchester. The event was honored with a visit by Prime Minister Francisco Carvalho of Cabo Verde. The main goal of this program is to teach students literacy and writing in both English and Cabo Verdean Creole and revive an underrepresented culture. With the first part of K1 students experiencing the program last month, it is planned to expand further by grades.

The creation of the Kriolu dual-language program brought together BPS leaders, educators and students to celebrate the importance of language, culture and belonging, BPS officials said.

With the first part of K1 students experiencing the program last month, it is planned to expand further by grade levels next year.

Yasuko Kanno, a professor of Language Education at Boston University Wheelock College of Education & Human Development, said there are barriers that hold multilingual students and English learners back from succeeding in their studies.

In her book, “English Learners’ Access to Postsecondary Education: Neither College nor Career Ready,” Kanno examined how public schools underestimated the needs of ELs, students who are learning in English, and how this issue impacted the learning progress of the students.

“The students for whom English is not their first language, [in the school system] they are classified as needing support services while they’re learning English, ” Kanno said. “And yet, there is something about the system that essentially discriminates against EL’s, and it’s much more of a sort of ideological issue than the individual teachers being short-sighted or not paying enough attention.”

She noted while school districts are required to provide all support services for this category of students, the high school and middle school experiences become a double-edged sword for EL’s, as there are assumptions about what these students are capable of.

“There is this very strong assumption that students need to get to a certain level of English proficiency before they can actually learn challenging academic content,” Kanno said. “And if you are placed at the bottom in middle school or the beginning of high school, it’s really hard to climb up to the advanced level courses by the end.”

Dual-language programs help BPS to address the challenges English learners and multilingual students have while learning English and allow students to keep speaking their native language as a part of their education process.

“For that reason, I’m excited about new dual language programs being implemented in the Greater Boston area and across Massachusetts, and in my opinion, if you’re a parent and live in an area where a dual language program is available, you should seriously consider sending your children to a dual language program because it’s such an enormous opportunity to develop both bilingualism and biliteracy,” Kanno said.

Kanno said dual-language programs are a priority for BPS, as a large part of the population in schools is multilingual.

“For BPS it is a particularly important priority because more than 50% of BPS students speak multiple languages. About 30-33% of them are English learners, but more than 50% of BPS students are multilingual students. They speak multiple languages, so for an urban school district with a substantial student population that’s already multilingual, I think it sends a very important message that linguistic knowledge matters, and we think of multilingualism as an asset,” she said.

Written by Yaroslava Oleksiuk, a graduate journalism student at Boston University and a graduate assistant at the SPACE Office.

Welcome to this week’s recap! This week we share some faculty updates, give details on upcoming events, and highlight importance research!

Community Updates

• Celebrating BPS Educator & Author Yolanda Depalo: As Boston Public Schools celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month, BPS is highlighting Albert Holland School of Technology ESL and Spanish teacher Yolanda Depalo (writing under the pen name Yolanda Montás), whose bilingual children’s book Nuestro Árbol de Tamarindo / Our Tamarind Tree is inspiring students across the district. Published in May 2026, the heartfelt story draws on her childhood memories in the Dominican Republic to foster meaningful connections through language, culture, and shared heritage. Students across BPS have welcomed the book with enthusiastic reactions during classroom visits and readings. Read more about Yolanda and Nuestro Árbol de Tamarindo / Our Tamarind Tree here.

  

Faculty Engagement

• Fernandez Examines Educational Justice in All Deliberate Speed: Sr. Lecturer Raul Fernandez publishes All Deliberate Speed, a weekly public scholarship newsletter focused on educational equity, school desegregation, and systemic policy reform. Through critical commentary and research-grounded analysis, the newsletter bridges academic research with grassroots advocacy to examine how schools and communities can build more equitable educational pathways for all students. Subscribe to the substack here.

• Churchill Co-Hosts Joint French Substack Éducation, égalité, et liberté: Mary Churchill (Assoc. Dean, SPACE) contributes to Éducation, égalité, et liberté, a joint French-language Substack blog with Robinson Forges providing international perspectives on global education. The platform facilitates cross-cultural dialogue around educational access, social equity, academic freedom, and democratic futures across higher education systems. Learn more and subscribe here.

In the News

• ‘Toys are the tools of a child’, The Boston Globe, (BU Wheelock Clinical Assistant Professor Kyle DeMeo Cook quoted), October 11, 2026.

• ChatGPTeach?, Harvard Ed. Magazine, (BU Wheelock PhD Student Maya Bialik featured), October 8, 2026.

  

Research that matters

• Empowering Student Voice in Math Teacher Preparation: “I Feel Like I Have a Say”: Student Co‐Designer Experiences in Creating Digital Clinical Simulations to Support Ambitious and Equitable Mathematics Instruction, (co-authored by Sr. Lecturer Gregory Benoit).

  • A new study co-authored by Sr. Lecturer Gregory Benoit alongside Pelin Jackson, Erin Barno, Juliana Isabela Ayala, Arielle Vargas, and Cliff Freeman explores how student co-designers experience creating digital clinical simulations designed to foster ambitious and equitable mathematics instruction. Published in School Science and Mathematics, the article finds that engaging students as co-designers directly elevates youth voice and agency in shaping practice-based teacher education tools, offering key insights for teacher educators seeking to design responsive, equity-focused learning environments and simulation scenarios.

Upcoming Events

• Early Childhood Research, Policy, & Practice Talk: Let’s Play! with Donna Traynham: BU Wheelock’s Center on the Ecology of Early Development (CEED) is hosting guest speaker Donna Traynham for a virtual presentation titled “Let’s Play!: Bringing Joy to Preschool through 3rd Grade Classrooms to Increase Sense of Belonging, Engagement and Authentic Learning.” The session will explore play-based strategies designed to boost student engagement, foster a sense of belonging, and support authentic learning in early childhood education. Registration is required. Use the link here to register for the event.

  📅 Date: Tuesday, October 27, 2026

  🕒 Time: 10:00 AM EST

  📍 Location: Virtual via Zoom (https://bit.ly/4ieQCXD )

  

• Mayor Wu’s 2026 State of the Schools Address: Boston Mayor Michelle Wu and Boston Public Schools (BPS) Superintendent Mary Skipper are hosting the annual State of the Schools address to celebrate district achievements, highlight student progress, and outline strategic priorities for public education across the city. The event brings together educators, families, city leadership, and community partners to examine key district initiatives and share a vision for expanding educational equity and opportunity in Boston Public Schools. Learn more and reserve your tickets here.

  📅 Date: Monday, October 19, 2026

  🕒 Time: 6:00 - 8:00 PM EST

  📍 Location: Boston, MA (In-Person & Live Stream options available)

Welcome to this week’s recap! This week we share BU updates, provide details on upcoming events, some community updates and highlight recently published research!

Community Updates

• James Otis Elementary School in East Boston is officially the first school in the district to transition its entire facility to 100% clean energy through major building upgrades! Celebrated alongside Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, Mayor Michelle Wu, BPS Superintendent Mary Skipper, and community partners, the historic retrofit equips the school with new all-electric heating, cooling, ventilation, and air filtration systems to create healthier, more comfortable classrooms. Made possible through a $5.8 million investment from the City of Boston via Renew Boston Trust and a $1.5 million grant from the MassCEC Green School Works program, the project improves indoor air quality and reduces carbon emissions in an environmental justice community. Remarkably, thanks to an impressive “summer slam” coordination effort, the entire transformation was completed without losing a single day of school. Read more about Otis Elementary’s historic clean energy milestone and upgraded learning environment here.

  

Updates from Boston University

• BU President's State of the University Address: President Melissa L. Gilliam delivered Boston University’s State of the University Address, an event organized by BU leadership, outlining key institutional priorities, expanding interdisciplinary research initiatives, and advancing student affordability and community engagement. The address is an annual tradition held each fall semester to communicate the administration's strategic vision and governance goals to faculty, staff, students, and alumni. Learn more about the President's address here.

Research That Matters

• Reimagining Teacher Pipelines Through Youth Leadership: Learning to Teach, Teaching to Trouble: Youth Educators’ Pedagogical Development in a Grow-Your-Own Teacher Pipeline Program (co-authored by Prof. Katherine K. Frankel, Prof. Eli Tucker-Raymond, and Prof. Maria C. Olivares). A new study co-authored by Prof. Katherine K. Frankel, Prof. Eli Tucker-Raymond, and Prof. Maria C. Olivares alongside Perpetua Saintine and Jon Sibley explores how college-aged youth educators enact critical consciousness and liberatory education within an urban school district’s “Grow Your Own” teacher pipeline program. Published in AERA Open, the article finds that youth educators maneuvered within a structural “crawl space” to design critical curricula, step into positions of collective authority, and navigate systemic institutional hurdles, offering key insights for educational systems seeking to move beyond traditional pipeline models to support youth-led liberatory education. Read the full study here.

Important Updates in US Higher Education

• FAFSA 2027–2028 Administrative Briefing: U.S. Department of Education officials hosted a national higher education briefing organized by the Federal Student Aid office, detailing updated processing timelines and system enhancements for the upcoming 2027–2028 FAFSA cycle. The session provided institutional leaders with critical guidance on federal aid delivery, streamlined application features, and strategies to prevent processing delays for colleges nationwide. Read more about the federal aid update here.

Upcoming Events

• CGCS 70th Annual Fall Conference: The Council of the Great City Schools is hosting its 70th Annual Fall Conference in Boston, bringing together urban school superintendents, school board members, senior administrators, and national education leaders to examine strategies for improving urban student achievement, share innovative district practices, and address key policy issues facing public education nationwide. Learn more and register to attend here.

📅 Date: Wednesday, October 21 – Sunday, October 25, 2026

🕒 Time: All-day (various session times)

📍 Location: Boston Marriott Copley Place (110 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA)

• Global Language & Culture Study Abroad Info Session: BU’s Global Language & Culture program is hosting an information session on its upcoming two-week, 4-credit immersive study abroad experiences in Vichy, France, and Salamanca, Spain. Hosted by Assoc. Dean Mary Churchill, the session will cover faculty-led coursework, local cultural immersion, and educational partnerships with CAVILAM–Alliance Française and Enforex Spain. Attendees will receive an overview of program tracks, course structures, and application details.

📅 Date: Friday, October 16, 2026

🕒 Time: 10:30 - 11:00 am

📍Virtual via Zoom - Join here (Meeting ID: 964 7131 4613, Passcode: 284293)

• EdVestors’ 2026 School on the Move Prize Ceremony: EdVestors is hosting its annual School on the Move Prize Ceremony to celebrate three of Boston’s most improving public schools and award $100,000 to one outstanding school community. The flagship event shines a spotlight on the dedicated educators, leaders, and staff creating equitable, high-quality learning environments where all students can thrive. The ceremony is free and open to the public, with breakfast provided. Learn more and register here.

📅 Date: Tuesday, November 10, 2026

🕒 Time: 8:00 - 10:00 am

📍521 Overlook at Fenway Park (14 Lansdowne St, Boston, MA)

• PitchFest: Boston: The City of Boston and Pilot City are hosting PitchFest: Boston, an initiative where Boston city agency staff deliver two-minute pitches on short-term, high-impact projects seeking university expertise. Following the pitches, faculty and fellows (including PhD, postdoctoral, and Master’s students) can match with agency partners on six-month projects, which may be eligible for up to $20,000 in seed funding supported by the Barr Foundation and Coefficient Giving. Learn more and register to attend in-person or virtually here.

📅 Date: Wednesday, October 14, 2026

🕒 Time: 1:00 - 4:00 pm

📍Boston Public Library (700 Boylston St, Boston, MA) & Virtual

Welcome to this week’s recap! This week we share BU updates, provide details on recent events attended by faculty, some community updates and highlight recently published research!

Community Updates

• October is Boston Public Schools’ College & Career Month! This initiative that has grown over the last two decades is dedicated to students and families alike to support their planning for post-secondary success. Learn more about how BPS is preparing students for their next step here.

• October is also National Learning Disabilities Awareness Month. This month is also committed to raising awareness about learning disabilities, sharing different resources supporting students with disabilities, and reducing stigma. BPS highlighted how the Conley Elementary School led by Jen Eddington embodies this everyday here.

• October is also National Principals Month. Take a moment to share your gratitude for the many school leaders in our city and see what BPS Superintendent Mary Skipper had to say in celebration of them here.

Updates from Boston University

• BU Trustees Election: Boston University announced that the BU Board of Trustees elected five new members to provide strategic governance and academic leadership for the institution. The new members add key expertise to oversee university growth, institutional policy, and expanding research initiatives. Learn more about the newly elected trustees here.

Research That Matters

• Examining Equity in Early Elementary Classrooms: Variations in Equitable Sociocultural Interactions Across Learning Activities in Pre-K to Third-Grade Classrooms, (co-authored by Prof. Stephanie M. Curenton). A new study co-authored by Prof. Stephanie M. Curenton alongside Molly Goldberg, Dalhia Lloyd, and Gullnar Syed explores how equitable sociocultural interactions unfold across learning activities in Pre-K through third-grade classrooms. Published in Education Sciences, the article finds that interaction quality varies significantly depending on the activity setting (such as whole-group versus child-managed routines) offering key insights for educators seeking to design equity-focused instruction across daily schedules. Read the full study here

Out and About

• Pathways to Opportunity Convening: Irene Dennison (Assoc. Dir., SPACE) and Yaroslava Oleksiuk (Graduate Asst., SPACE) attended "Pathways to Opportunity: Boosting College Enrollment and Completion of Boston Public Schools Graduates," an in-person event organized by The Boston Foundation to examine postsecondary outcomes for local students. The convening featured keynote addresses from MA Secretary of Education Dr. Stephen Zrike and BPS Superintendent Mary Skipper, as well as a panel discussion moderated by Antoniya Marinova (Assoc. VP of Programs, The Boston Foundation) featuring Dr. Pam Eddinger (President, Bunker Hill Community College), Marsha Inniss-Mitchell (Exec. Dir. of Postsecondary Initiatives, BPS), Joseph McLaughlin (Dir. of Research, Strategy, and Operations, Boston Private Industry Council) and Elizabeth (Eli) Pimentel (Chief External Relations Officer at Duet). The session brought together state and local leaders to discuss strategic collaborations for improving college enrollment, persistence, and degree completion across Boston Public Schools. Learn more about the speakers and event agenda here.

  

Important Updates in US Higher Education

• Federal Rescissions Package Proposed: Federal administration officials submitted an $810 million rescissions proposal to Congress, seeking to cancel previously appropriated federal funds across various higher education and postsecondary training programs. The proposed cuts target federal grants designed to support community colleges, student aid, and workforce development programs nationwide. Learn more about the funding proposal here.

Upcoming Events

• Global Language & Culture Study Abroad Info Session: BU’s Global Language & Culture program is hosting an information session on its upcoming two-week, 4-credit immersive study abroad experiences in Vichy, France, and Salamanca, Spain. Hosted by Assoc. Dean Mary Churchill, the session will cover faculty-led coursework, local cultural immersion, and educational partnerships with CAVILAM–Alliance Française and Enforex Spain. Attendees will receive an overview of program tracks, course structures, and application details.

📅 Date: Wednesday, October 7, 2026

🕒 Time: 2:30 - 3:00 pm

📍Virtual via Zoom - Join here (Meeting ID: 981 0601 5101, Passcode: 176977)

• EdVestors’ 2026 School on the Move Prize Ceremony: EdVestors is hosting its annual School on the Move Prize Ceremony to celebrate three of Boston’s most improving public schools and award $100,000 to one outstanding school community. The flagship event shines a spotlight on the dedicated educators, leaders, and staff creating equitable, high-quality learning environments where all students can thrive. The ceremony is free and open to the public, with breakfast provided. Learn more and register here.

📅 Date: Tuesday, November 10, 2026

🕒 Time: 8:00 - 10:00 am

📍521 Overlook at Fenway Park (14 Lansdowne St, Boston, MA)

• PitchFest: Boston: The City of Boston and Pilot City are hosting PitchFest: Boston, an initiative where Boston city agency staff deliver two-minute pitches on short-term, high-impact projects seeking university expertise. Following the pitches, faculty and fellows (including PhD, postdoctoral, and Master’s students) can match with agency partners on six-month projects, which may be eligible for up to $20,000 in seed funding supported by the Barr Foundation and Coefficient Giving. Learn more and register to attend in-person or virtually here.

📅 Date: Wednesday, October 14, 2026

🕒 Time: 1:00 - 4:00 pm

📍Boston Public Library (700 Boylston St, Boston, MA) & Virtual

Welcome to this week’s recap! This week we share Boston University and community updates, provide details on recent faculty engagement, and highlight upcoming events.

Updates from Boston University

• BU Achieves Highest-Ever U.S. News & World Report Ranking: Boston University jumped eight spots to rank 34th among national universities in U.S. News & World Report's latest annual rankings. This is the institution's highest placement in the list’s 43-year history. The surge was largely driven by significant gains in social mobility as well as strong post-graduation career earnings. The recognition highlights BU's ongoing commitment to student success while maintaining research excellence, and expanding equitable access across its academic programs.

Community Updates

• Amy O’Leary Appointed to Foundation Budget Review Commission: Strategies for Children Executive Director Amy O’Leary was appointed by Governor Maura Healey to serve on the state’s Foundation Budget Review Commission, an initiative reconvened for fiscal year 2027 to review the Chapter 70 public school funding formula. Organized by state leaders to evaluate Pre-K–12 school financing, the commission reassesses state funding structures to ensure they meet the evolving needs of Massachusetts students, educators, and communities. O’Leary brings a vital early childhood lens and years of educational leadership to help guide equitable, long-term funding strategies. Learn more about her appointment and the commission’s mission here.

• Dr. Michelle Eisan-Smith Featured by Gallaudet University for Leadership at HMS: Horace Mann School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (HMS) Head of School Dr. Michelle Eisan-Smith was featured in a community spotlight organized by Gallaudet University celebrating her impact as she enters her fifth year leading the school. As the first Deaf Head of School in HMS history, Dr. Eisan-Smith has expanded dual-language ASL/English instruction while embedding antiracist and antiaudist practices into school operations and collaborating with Boston Public Schools to build local teacher-licensure pipelines. Read more about her background and vision for HMS here.

• Lafayette Fellowship Launched for Graduate Study in France: The French Embassy in the U.S. and Villa Albertine have launched the Lafayette Fellowship, fully funding one year of master’s-level study in France for up to 30 American students. Created to celebrate the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence, the program provides full tuition, travel, a €1,500 monthly stipend, and a transatlantic leadership development program across all academic fields. The fellowship is open to recent U.S. graduates under 27 with a 3.7+ GPA (with no French language requirement) and applications are due December 1, 2026. Learn more and apply here.

In the News

• Anthony Abraham Jack Quoted in The Boston Globe Magazine: BU Wheelock Assoc. Prof. of Higher Education Leadership and Newbury Ctr. Faculty Dir. Anthony Abraham Jack was featured and quoted in The Boston Globe Magazine article, "Why Powerful People Yielded to Trump." In the piece, Jack provided insight into institutional leadership dynamics and the social and organizational pressures that influence high-profile leaders to conform to political authority. Read the full article here.

Important Updates in US Higher Education

• Federal Court Strikes Down Directive Halting Higher Ed Grants: A federal judge in Massachusetts struck down a U.S. Department of Education directive that had canceled federal educator preparation and higher education grants. The ruling invalidates nationwide grant terminations tied to diversity and inclusion initiatives, restoring critical funding for university teacher preparation pipelines and higher ed programs.

Upcoming Events

• Pathways to Opportunity: Join The Boston Foundation and the Boston Private Industry Council for an in-person event focused on strengthening postsecondary outcomes for Boston students. Following up on their June 2026 report, Persisting Through the Pandemic and Beyond, this event brings together state and local education leaders, including MA Secretary of Education Dr. Stephen Zrike, BPS Superintendent Mary Skipper, Bunker Hill Community College President Dr. Pam Eddinger, and BPS Executive Director of Postsecondary Initiatives Marsha Inniss-Mitchell, to examine key challenges and collaborative strategies for supporting student success. Learn more and register here.

  • 📅 Date: Wednesday, September 30, 2026

  • 🕒 Time: 9:00 - 10:30 am

  • 📍Edgerley Center for Civic Leadership at the Boston Foundation (75 Arlington St., 3rd Floor)

• EdVestors’ 2026 School on the Move Prize Ceremony: EdVestors is hosting its annual School on the Move Prize Ceremony to celebrate three of Boston’s most improving public schools and award $100,000 to one outstanding school community. The flagship event shines a spotlight on the dedicated educators, leaders, and staff creating equitable, high-quality learning environments where all students can thrive. The ceremony is free and open to the public, with breakfast provided. Learn more and register here.

  • 📅 Date: Tuesday, November 10, 2026

  • 🕒 Time: 8:00 - 10:00 am

  • 📍521 Overlook at Fenway Park (14 Lansdowne St, Boston, MA)

• Global Language & Culture Study Abroad Info Session: BU’s Global Language & Culture program is hosting an information session on its upcoming two-week, 4-credit immersive study abroad experiences in Vichy, France, and Salamanca, Spain. Hosted by Assoc. Dean Mary Churchill, the session will cover faculty-led coursework, local cultural immersion, and educational partnerships with CAVILAM–Alliance Française and Enforex Spain. Attendees will receive an overview of program tracks, course structures, and application details.

  • 📅 Date: Wednesday, September 30, 2026

  • 🕒 Time: 2:30 - 3:00 pm

  • 📍Virtual via Zoom - Join here (Meeting ID: 955 6737 6405, Passcode: 284227)

• PitchFest: Boston: The City of Boston and Pilot City are hosting PitchFest: Boston, an initiative where Boston city agency staff deliver two-minute pitches on short-term, high-impact projects seeking university expertise. Following the pitches, faculty and fellows (including PhD, postdoctoral, and Master’s students) can match with agency partners on six-month projects, which may be eligible for up to $20,000 in seed funding supported by the Barr Foundation and Coefficient Giving. Learn more and register to attend in-person or virtually here.

  • 📅 Date: Wednesday, October 14, 2026

  • 🕒 Time: 1:00 - 4:00 pm

  • 📍Boston Public Library (700 Boylston St, Boston, MA) & VirtualUpcoming Events

• Practicing Inclusion and Innovation in the Classroom: Join BU Wheelock for a conversation with Senior Lecturer D’Annette Mullen, Founder of Albus NeuroPolicy Solutions Brady Esham (Wheelock’26), and Dean Penny Bishop that will explore how to design inclusive learning environments that center student agency and restorative practices. This session will discuss how teaching can evolve to honor the identities and innovations of both students and teachers as they share perspectives from both sides of the classroom—reimagining what teaching and learning can look like.

  • 📅 Date: Thursday, September 24, 2026

  • 🕒 Time: 3:00 - 3:45 pm

  • 📍Virtual, Register here.

• Education Policy Seminar Series: Wheelock Educational Policy Center (WEPC) and BU’s Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies are hosting three prominent scholars this fall for a seminar series on education policy: Dominique J. Baker (University of Delaware), Seth Gershenson (American University), and Christina Weiland (University of Michigan). Each session features detailed discussion of research methods, policies, and their implications. Events are in person with a reception to follow, and the series is open to all.

  The upcoming session features Dr. Baker, Assoc. Professor of Education and Public Policy at the University of Delaware, who will present “Examining the Higher Education Policy Discourse through 75 Years of Congressional Hearing Testimony.” Learn more about the full series and register here.

  • 📅 Date: Tuesday, September 22, 2026

  • 🕒 Time: 3:00 - 4:30 pm

  • 📍Rajen Kilachand Center, Colloquium Room 101

Welcome to this week’s recap! This week we share community updates, provide details on recent faculty engagement, and highlight recently published research.

Updates from the SPACE Office

• Welcoming Our New SPACE Graduate Assistants: Meet Yaroslava (Yasia) Oleksiuk, incoming BU graduate student in Journalism, Annette Pinto, incoming BU graduate student in Social Work, and Zahra Sohail, incoming BU graduate student in Global Studies. They will join the SPACE Office as Graduate Assistants. Yasia and Zahra will support the office’s communications, including the Engaged SPACE weekly newsletter and our LinkedIn and Instagram channels. Annette will support the international travel programs associated with BU Wheelock’s Global Language & Culture courses. We are excited to welcome Yasia, Annette, and Zahra to the team!

• Bittersweet Farewell to Claudia: Claudia Ramos-Mercado (Communications Asst., SPACE) will be leaving the office after three years with us. She started as an undergraduate student at BU and has helped us grow our social media and communications work during her tenure. Check out the work she has done for us on her website, including our weekly newsletter, webinars, global programs, and more. We will miss her as an invaluable team member and wish her all the best in her next chapter!

Out and About

• The Chamber’s Government Affairs Forum: Irene Dennison (Assoc. Director, SPACE) attended the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce’s Government Affairs Forum alongside Philip Lindsay (Director of Strategy & Innovation, Office of the President) and members of the Boston University Government & Community Affairs team, including Jake Sullivan (Vice President), Ken Ryan (Asst. Vice President), Jim Curley (Director of State Relations), Stephanie Campos (Government Policy Program Administrator), and Fernando Fortin (Outreach & Program Director). During her annual address to the Chamber, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu shared her policy priorities with more than 600 business and community leaders and participated in a fireside chat with James Rooney (President & CEO, Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce).

• BU President Discusses the Future of Medicine and Higher Education: President Melissa Gilliam was part of a Fireside Chat moderated by Brian Bergstein (Senior Editor of Opinion, The Boston Globe) at this year’s Future of Medicine Summit, hosted by The Boston Globe. The annual summit brings together thought leaders exploring the future of healthcare. President Gilliam shared her vision for convergent research at Boston University and discussed the challenges and opportunities facing higher education.

Faculty Engagement

• Mary Named to Wallerstein Institute Board of Advisors: Mary Churchill (Assoc. Dean, SPACE) was recently named to the Board of Advisors of the Wallerstein Institute for World Futures in Paris. The Board of Advisors provides guidance on the Institute’s programs and initiatives. The Institute is a global non-profit network of scholars and creatives that builds on the intellectual legacy of sociologist Immanuel Wallerstein to explore democratic global futures through collaborative research and education. Learn more here.

In The News

• Helping Create Special Education Policies to Benefit Students and Teachers, The Brink, (Professor Marcus Winters, Professor Nathan Jones, Assoc. Professor Elizabeth Bettini, Professor Marcus Winters, Asst. Professor Jo R. King, and Executive Director Krystafer Redden featured), September 8, 2026.

Faculty Awards

• Career Development Professorship: Congratulations to Michael Chang (Asst. Professor, BU Wheelock) on being named one of four 2026 Boston University Career Development Professors. Each year, BU recognizes promising early-career faculty who are emerging as leaders in their fields through these professorships. Chang received the Margaret McGuire Earl Career Development Professorship for his research on using AI in the classroom, including designing tools that support “collaborative and equitable forms of learning.” Read more here.

Upcoming Events

• Practicing Inclusion and Innovation in the Classroom: Join BU Wheelock for a conversation with Senior Lecturer D’Annette Mullen, Founder of Albus NeuroPolicy Solutions Brady Esham (Wheelock’26), and Dean Penny Bishop that will explore how to design inclusive learning environments that center student agency and restorative practices. This session will discuss how teaching can evolve to honor the identities and innovations of both students and teachers as they share perspectives from both sides of the classroom—reimagining what teaching and learning can look like.

  • 📅 Date: Thursday, September 24, 2026

  • 🕒 Time: 3:00 - 3:45 pm

  • 📍Virtual, Register here.

• Education Policy Seminar Series: Wheelock Educational Policy Center (WEPC) and BU’s Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies are hosting three prominent scholars this fall for a seminar series on education policy: Dominique J. Baker (University of Delaware), Seth Gershenson (American University), and Christina Weiland (University of Michigan). Each session features detailed discussion of research methods, policies, and their implications. Events are in person with a reception to follow, and the series is open to all.

  The upcoming session features Dr. Baker, Assoc. Professor of Education and Public Policy at the University of Delaware, who will present “Examining the Higher Education Policy Discourse through 75 Years of Congressional Hearing Testimony.” Learn more about the full series and register here.

  • 📅 Date: Tuesday, September 22, 2026

  • 🕒 Time: 3:00 - 4:30 pm

  • 📍Rajen Kilachand Center, Colloquium Room 101

Welcome to this week’s recap! This week we share community updates, provide details on recent faculty engagement, and highlight recently published research.

Updates from the SPACE Office

• January 2027 Vichy, France Information Sessions: Applications are open for the BU Global Language & Culture program in Vichy, France (January 2027). Undergraduate and graduate students can participate in a two-week immersive academic experience that combines classroom learning with meaningful cultural and language immersion. Attend our upcoming information sessions to learn more:

  • 📅 Thursday, September 17 | 🕒12–1 pm (ET) | 📍Zoom

  • 📅 Wednesday, September 23 | 🕒11 AM–12:30 pm (ET) | 📍In Person — 2 Silber Way, Room 423

    • Pre-registration required; lunch will be provided. Register here.

In The News

• Private tutoring chains raise U.S. test scores but widen racial gaps, study finds, ETIH Magazine, (Assoc. Professor Joshua Goodman feautured), September 8, 2026.

• Rethinking What Online Learning Makes Possible, Boston University Virtual, (Professor Jay Halfond featured), September 6, 2026.

Research That Matters

• Expanding Access to Early Care and Education: Understanding ECE Workforce Needs in Massachusetts, (authored by Research Assoc. Professor Pia Caronongan)

  • Expanding access to early care and education (ECE) in Massachusetts will require both recruiting and retaining educators. This brief examines how many educators the state would need under different expansion scenarios, accounting for licensing ratios, program setting, and annual turnover. Produced through Wheelock Education Policy Center’s (WEPC) ongoing partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (EEC), it applies that framework to an illustrative scenario adding 20,000 licensed seats over four years. Researchers found that for every educator added to the workforce, four more must be recruited to replace those who leave. In 2024, roughly 17% of center-based teachers left their programs, while about 6% of family child care programs closed. The findings highlight the importance of addressing educator turnover alongside efforts to grow the early childhood workforce.

Upcoming Events

• Deaf World Lecture Series: The BU Wheelock Deaf Center will host Jonaz McMillan for the Deaf World Lecture Series. Jonaz is an award-winning writer and artist, and the co-author of Monster Hands, a Schneider Family Book Award honor book that centers a deaf child and ASL. This session will discuss how the book came to life, why deaf children deserve to see themselves on the page, and what he is working on next. A book signing will follow the talk. RSVP here.

  • 📅 Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026

  • 🕒 Time: 7:00 pm-9:00 pm

  • 📍Tsai Performance Center, 685 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215, USA

• How Culture Shapes Human Cognition: Join the Center on the Ecology of Early Development for a virtual early childhood research, policy, and practice talk with Dr. Barbara Rogoff from University of California Santa Cruz on “Learning to be Community Minded.” Hosted by Professor Stephanie Curenton, the talk will discuss Rogoff’s work that investigates cultural aspects of children’s learning and how communities arrange for learning, finding especially sophisticated collaboration, attention, and community-mindedness among children from some Mexican and Indigenous communities of the Americas.

  • 📅 Date: Tuesday, September 15, 2026

  • 🕒 Time: 10:00 am EST

  • 📍Virtual, Register here.

• September Early Childhood Well-Being Research in Progress: Join the BU Wheelock Institute for Early Childhood Well-Being‘s Research in Progress featuring Clinical Assoc. Professor Dr. Jacqueline Lauer and Fulbright Doctoral Student Researcher María Cruz López, who will share their ongoing research. Research in Progress brings together BU faculty, graduate students, and community partners during the academic year to share and discuss research centered on young children. This setting encourages all participants to think beyond their disciplinary frameworks, sparking lively conversations that lead to innovative and convergent research ideas.

  • 📅 Date: Thursday, September 17, 2026

  • 🕒 Time: 3:30 - 5:00 pm

  • 📍Zoom and Room 250, Wheelock College, 2 Silber Way

• Practicing Inclusion and Innovation in the Classroom: Join BU Wheelock for a conversation with Senior Lecturer D’Annette Mullen, Founder of Albus NeuroPolicy Solutions Brady Esham (Wheelock’26), and Dean Penny Bishop that will explore how to design inclusive learning environments that center student agency and restorative practices. This session will discuss how teaching can evolve to honor the identities and innovations of both students and teachers as they share perspectives from both sides of the classroom—reimagining what teaching and learning can look like.

  • 📅 Date: Thursday, September 24, 2026

  • 🕒 Time: 3:00 - 3:45 pm

  • 📍Virtual, Register here.

Welcome to this week’s recap! This week we share community updates, provide details on recent faculty engagement, and highlight recently published research.

Updates from Boston University

• BU Students Gain Hands-On Experience in Municipal Government: This summer, 2026 BU City Hall Summer Scholars worked for Mayor Michelle Wu’s administration, the Boston City Council, and other areas of city government, addressing issues ranging from public health and sustainability to tourism, transportation, neighborhood engagement, and constituent services. Funded by BU’s Office of Government & Community Affairs, the program provides rising juniors and seniors who are Thomas M. Menino Scholars or BU Community Leaders Scholars with opportunities to explore careers in municipal government. Learn more about the Scholars’ internships here.

  

Out and About

• President Gilliam Advocates BU Promise: Boston University President Melissa Gilliam met with Representatives Ayanna Pressley (MA), Jake Auchincloss (MA), Bill Keating (MA), Lois Frankel (FL), Bill Foster (IL), and Kelly Morrison (MN) at Capitol Hill to discuss BU Promise, the University’s financial aid program covering tuition for families earning less than $200,000, and BU's convergent research across fields including data science, sustainability, and the humanities. They engaged in thoughtful conversations about the importance of investing in science and expanding college affordability.

  

In The News

• Navigating artificial intelligence in school and at home, NBC10 Boston, (Clinical Asst. Professor T.J. McKenna featured), August 28, 2026.

• BU Wheelock Professor Reflects on Serving as Commissioner of the National Center for Special Education Research, The Brink, (Professor Nathan Jones featured), September 2, 2026.

• ‘We live in a global society’ – More public schools offering dual language programs, Boston 25 News, (Professor Yasuko Kanno featured), September 3, 2026.

Research That Matters

• Air Pollution Can Hinder Student Learning: Air Pollution and Learning, (co-authored by Assoc. Professor Joshua Goodman)

  • This study examines how air pollution affects student learning, using PSAT data from nearly 10 million U.S. high school students. Researchers find that a year of exposure to air pollution reduces learning by 14–19% of typical annual score growth, with the greatest effects occurring on moderately polluted days and during the school year. Effects are three times larger among students in disadvantaged schools and among Black and Hispanic students, suggesting that air pollution contribute to widening achievement gaps.

• Recognizing the Strengths of Multilingual Learners: Late-Arriving Multilingual Learners’ Transition from K–16 Education to the Workforce: Cultural Capital and Habitus Adaptation across Fields, (co-authored by Professor Yasuko Kanno)

  • This study follows four late-arriving multilingual learners (MLs), all of whom were classified as English Learners (ELs) in high school, over six years as they moved from high school through community college and into the workforce. Researchers found that in high school and community college, the MLs’ cultural capital, including their linguistic and cultural strengths, was often unrecognized but became more valued in the workplace. Sustained recognition in the workplace not only improved job fit but also reshaped how the MLs understood their multilingual and multicultural assets, the futures they considered attainable, and how they could strategically use their cultural capital. The findings highlight the importance of recognizing and developing multilingual learners’ cultural and linguistic assets earlier in their education to expand their academic and career opportunities.

Upcoming Events

• Deaf World Lecture Series: The BU Wheelock Deaf Center will hosts Jonaz McMillan for the Deaf World Lecture Series. Jonaz is an award-winning writer and artist, and the co-author of Monster Hands, a Schneider Family Book Award honor book that centers a deaf child and ASL. This session will discuss how the book came to life, why deaf children deserve to see themselves on the page, and what he is working on next. A book signing will follow the talk. RSVP here.

  • 📅 Date: Wednesday, September 16, 2026

  • 🕒 Time: 7:00 pm-9:00 pm

  • 📍Tsai Performance Center, 685 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215, USA

Welcome to this week’s recap! This week we share community updates, provide details on recent faculty engagement, and highlight recently published research.

We are back! We hope that you had a fantastic summer.

Updates from Boston University

• 2026 BU Summer Internship: This summer, we partnered with the Mayor’s Summer Youth Employment Program and the Boston Private Industry Council (PIC) for the 2026 BU Summer Internship Program. The program gave Boston public high school students the opportunity to explore careers in research, education, public health, medicine, sustainability, and clinical practice through hands-on learning experiences alongside faculty and staff from BU Wheelock, Boston University’s Medical Campus (BUMC), BU School of Public Health, BU Wheelock Center for Future Readiness, and BU Sargent College’s Academic Speech, Language, and Hearing Clinic.

• Back to School: Campus is alive again! Welcome back to Boston University students who are moving in this week in preparation for Fall semester classes beginning Wednesday, September 2nd. Boston Public Schools (BPS) will begin the school year on Tuesday, September 8, for grades 1 through 12, and Thursday, September 10, for Pre-K and Kindergarten.

• BU Welcomes a New Provost: Boston University recently appointed Colin S. Duckett as Provost and Chief Academic Officer in July. As the University’s second-ranking officer, he provides leadership for BU’s academic mission and planning and oversees the University’s deans and the Faculty of Computing & Data Sciences.

Updates from the SPACE Office

• A New Addition to the SPACE Office Team: This summer, Cara Mattaliano (Asst. Director, SPACE) welcomed baby girl Luisa Mattaliano to the world. We wish Cara and Luisa a restful and joyful maternity leave!

• Global Programs Applications Are Now Open: Applications are now open for BU Global Language & Culture programs in Vichy, France (January and June 2027) and Salamanca, Spain (July 2027). Undergraduate and graduate students can participate in a two-week immersive academic experience that combines classroom learning with meaningful cultural and language immersion. Find more information here.

Community Updates

• BPS Launches Postsecondary Transition Support Center: Boston Public Schools (BPS) has launched the Postsecondary Transition Support Center, a collaborative initiative designed to help members of the Class of 2026 successfully transition from high school to college, career training, or the workforce. The center is a partnership between the BPS Office of College, Career & Life Readiness, Boston University’s PATH Advising Program (Planning & Advising For Transitions to Higher Education), and the Boston Private Industry Council (PIC).

• BU Promise: Beginning this school year, Boston University will offer BU Promise, a new financial aid program covering tuition for students from families earning up to $200,000 annually, without requiring students to take out loans.

In The News

• Boston University becomes latest school to cover tuition for families with incomes under $200,000, Boston Globe, (Boston University featured), August 6, 2026.

• As small Mass. colleges close, a growing focus on saving the students rather than the schools, GBH, (Dean Emeritus and Professor David Chard featured), August 26, 2026.

• BU to pay city of Boston $104 million over five years in record deal with tax-exempt nonprofit, Boston Globe, (Boston University featured), July 21, 2026.

Welcome to this week’s recap! This week we share community updates, provide details on recent faculty engagement, and highlight recently published research.

We’re taking a summer break! We’ll be pausing our weekly Substack posts for a few weeks, but we’ll be back before the fall. We wish you a wonderful summer and look forward to returning to your inboxes soon!

Updates from Boston University

• Congratulations to the Graduates! Commencement is this evening, and we want to give a big shoutout to our BU Wheelock graduates and to the inaugural cohort of the Dr. Carol Johnson District Leadership Fellowship. We are so proud of all you’ve accomplished and can’t wait to see the impact you’ll make in the field of education and beyond!

Out and About

• Math Curriculum Design in Chile: Leslie Dietiker (Assoc. Dean, BU Wheelock) participated in the math curriculum design group at CMM (Center for Math Modeling) at the University of Chile.

Academic Conferences

• Presentation at BARI: Cara Mattaliano (Asst. Director, SPACE), presented at the Boston Area Research Initiative (BARI) 10th Annual Insight-to-Impact Summit. Her talk, “Integrating High School Interns into University Research: The Boston Youth Research Advisory Council (BYRAC),” highlighted a new SPACE Office initiative launching next summer. BYRAC is a structured, compensated program that embeds Boston Public Schools students in university research projects in partnership with the Boston Private Industry Council (PIC). The program aims to expand access to research opportunities for Boston youth while creating a scalable model for researchers to integrate youth voice throughout the research process. If you are interested in learning more or getting involved fill out this form.

In the News

• N.Y.C. Schools Could Lose 153,000 Students in Next Decade, Study Finds, The New York Times, (Assoc. Professor Joshua Goodman quoted), May 7, 2026

• Why is Community College Enrollment Declining?, Career Education Report with Dr. Jason Altmire, (featuring Assoc. Professor Joshua Goodman), May 12, 2026

Faculty Awards

• 2026 Gerald and Deanne Gitner Family Award for Innovation in Teaching with Technology: Congratulations to TJ McKenna (Clinical Asst. Professor, BU Wheelock) for being awarded this prestigious honor. TJ was recognized for his innovative use of technology to enhance teaching and learning, including the development of technology-rich learning environments, AI-supported instructional tools, and digital resources that support science educators around the world. The award celebrates faculty whose work advances student learning through impactful and widely adopted educational innovation.

Research That Matters

• Transitions to Kindergarten in the United States: Critical Review of Research and Policy on Transitions to School from 2000 to 2024 in the United States of America (co-authored by Clinical Asst. Professor Kyle DeMeo Cook)

  • Research on the transition to kindergarten in the United States of America during the first quarter of the twenty-first century has been largely influenced by a model that emphasizes the interrelated influence of relationships among children, families, schools, peers, and neighborhood contexts. This same time period has also been one of consequential shifts in the policy landscape of both pre-kindergarten and K-12 education in the USA. To illuminate how research, policy, and practice intersect, this chapter examines peer-reviewed literature about transitions to kindergarten in the USA to identify how policy- and practice-relevant strategies have been examined. It critiques the prevalent theoretical framing of the transition to kindergarten in the USA from 2000 to 2024, and identifies continuities and discontinuities in how research has investigated (or not) its multiple facets. It highlights practical implications from the literature and offers future directions for the next 25 years of research, policy, and practice for transitions to kindergarten in the USA.

• Improving the Special Education Workforce: Improving Working Conditions and Retaining a Diverse Special Education Workforce (co-authored by Assoc. Professor Elizabeth Bettini, doctoral student Alexandra Allen-Barrett, and doctoral student Ayanna Bass)

  • In this chapter, published in Transforming the Special Education Workforce: Research and Complex Systems Perspective, the authors examine the ongoing shortage and high turnover of special education teachers, with particular attention to the challenges faced by educators from racially and culturally diverse backgrounds. The chapter argues that recruitment efforts alone are insufficient unless schools also improve teachers’ day-to-day working conditions, including administrative support, manageable workloads, mentorship, professional respect, equitable compensation, and inclusive school cultures. The authors emphasize that many special educators — especially teachers of color — experience burnout, isolation, and systemic inequities that push them out of the profession. They advocate for policy and institutional reforms that prioritize teacher well-being, culturally responsive preparation programs, and supportive workplace environments in order to strengthen retention and build a more stable, effective, and diverse special education workforce capable of better serving students with disabilities.

Welcome to this week’s recap! This week we share BU Wheelock updates, provide details on recent faculty engagement, and highlight media mentions, research, and upcoming events.

Updates from the SPACE Office

• Student Blog From Vichy: Baylee Wheelock (Undergraduate Student, BU Wheelock) published a blog post reflecting on her experience participating in the January 2026 BU Wheelock Global Language & Culture program in Vichy, France. During a visit to the French school Groupe Scolaire Georges Méchin, Baylee and fellow BU Wheelock students connected with local students through language learning, games, and cultural exchange, including celebrating L’Épiphanie (Epiphany) with la galette des rois (King Cake). Read Baylee’s full reflection on how the experience deepened her passion for teaching and showed how connection and curiosity can bridge language differences here.

Out and About

• DABC Conference: Ayana Bass (Doctoral Student, BU Wheelock) joined the Dyslexia Alliance for Black Children (DABC) Annual Virtual Conference as a guest speaker. In her session, Leading and Learning Within MTSS-R Implementation: Aligning Data, Instruction, and Advocacy, she examined how educators can better align systems and practices to create more responsive and just learning environments. The conference featured more than a dozen sessions focused on adolescent language, literacy, and identity, and advances DABC’s mission to address inequities for Black children experiencing unaddressed dyslexia and related learning disabilities.

• Leading for the Future in Public Education: Mary Churchill (Assoc. Dean, SPACE) and Irene Dennison (Assoc. Director, SPACE) attended the BU Wheelock panel “Leading for the Future: Equity, Sustainability, and Innovation in Public Education,” a conversation with leaders working at the intersection of schools, systems, and communities. The discussion explored how to advance equity, support educators, and drive innovation while maintaining trust. Moderated by Dr. Jalene Tamerat (Senior Lecturer, BU Wheelock), the conversation featured insights from Dr. Carol Johnson (former Superintendent, Boston Public Schools), Monique Rodrigues DeBarros (Dr. Johnson Fellowship alumna), Antonelli Mejia (Principal, Boston Public Schools and Doctoral Student, BU Wheelock), and Dr. Ramon M. Gonzalez (Professor, BU Wheelock).

In the News

• Three Educators Find Their Common Roots in Head Start, BlackPress USA, (Assoc. Dean Mary Churchill, Professor Stephanie Curenton, and Assoc. Professor Anthony Abraham Jack featured), May 4, 2026

Research That Matters

• Health Barriers Behind Chronic Absenteeism: Health-Related School Absenteeism Among US Children (co-authored by Clinical Asst. Professor Kyle DeMeo Cook and Asst. Professor Genevieve Guyol)

  • Chronic school absenteeism, or missing at least 10% of the school year, is negatively associated with lifelong academic, health, and economic outcomes. This editorial, published in JAMA Pediatrics, highlights research demonstrating that children with chronic health needs or health-related social needs had higher rates of health-related school absenteeism, with the highest rates among children experiencing both. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to support school attendance among children with chronic health needs and/or health-related social needs.

Faculty Awards

• Detris Adelabu Receives BU Academic Advising Award: Congratulations to Detris Adelabu (Clinical Professor, BU Wheelock) who received this year’s BU Undergraduate Academic Advising Award in the Faculty Mentor Category. Adelabu, who teaches undergraduate and graduate courses on research, educational psychology, and African American school achievement, was recognized for her commitment to supporting students through mentorship and advising, particularly first-generation students through the Sankofa Scholars Undergraduate Research Program and Wheelock’s Conscious Educators of Color community. Read more about Adelabu’s recognition and impact here.

• SRCD Latinx Caucus Member Spotlight: Johana Chaparro Moreno (Postdoctoral Research Associate, BU Wheelock) was spotlighted by Society for Research in Childhood Development (SRCD) as this month’s SRCD Latinx Caucus member. Moreno’s interdisciplinary research explores how children learn in inclusive, multilingual early childhood classrooms and how these experiences shape their development.

• Grant Supports Research on Math Pathways and Opportunity: Joshua Goodman (Assoc. Professor, BU Wheelock) is part of a research team that recently received a grant from the Student Upward Mobility Initiative. Their study, The Math Skills That Predict Upward Mobility and the Paths That Cultivate Them, examines how specific math skills may influence long-term outcomes such as college success, career opportunities, and civic participation. Using student assessment data over time, researchers will explore which cognitive skills are more connected to upward mobility and how school math pathways can influence future success.

Welcome to this week’s recap! This week we share BU Wheelock updates, provide details on recent faculty engagement, and highlight media mentions, research, and upcoming events.

Updates from the SPACE Office

• BU/BPS Working Group at the Bolling Building: The SPACE Team (Mary, Irene, and Cara) was delighted to convene members of the BU/BPS Working Group for a community engagement lunch at the BPS Bolling Building. Established by SPACE in Fall 2025, the working group brings together BU colleagues engaged in partnership work with BPS to connect, share best practices, and strengthen collaboration in support of effective district partnerships. We are deeply grateful to our partners at the District Office for joining us and contributing to an energizing afternoon of community building.

Out and About

• 2026 Edvestors’ Annual Showcase: Penny Bishop (Dean, BU Wheelock), Mary Churchill (Assoc. Dean, SPACE), Cara Mattaliano (Asst. Director, SPACE), Irene Dennison (Assoc. Director, SPACE), Raul Fernandez (Senior Lecturer, BU Wheelock), and Heather Johnson (Asst. Dean, BU Wheelock) attended the EdVestors Annual Showcase. Hosted at the BU Center for Computing and Data Sciences (CDS) Boston, the event featured remarks from BPS Superintendent Mary Skipper and newly appointed MA Secretary of Education Stephen Zrike. It was an evening of community-building and celebration, with a thoughtfully planned program highlighting school and community-based education programs around Boston.

• MA Apprentice Network Marks Four Years of Growth: Cara Mattaliano (Asst. Director, SPACE) attended the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce’s 2026 MA Apprentice Network Annual Celebration. The event featured remarks from Massachusetts Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Lauren Jones and marked the release of the 2025 Impact Report, highlighting continued progress in expanding high-quality apprenticeship opportunities across the Commonwealth.

• Partnerships Driving Progress - Opportunity Boston Report Release: Cara also attended the launch event for Opportunity Boston’s Cradle to Career Outcomes Report, which shared new data and insights on student outcomes across Boston. Boston Public Schools Superintendent Mary Skipper offered remarks on the impact of community partners, emphasizing that it “takes a village” to support student success. The Opportunity Boston team presented key cradle-to-career data highlights from the report, followed by a panel of community education partners who reflected on the findings.

• Strategies for Children 9:30 call: Amanda Jenkins (Master’s Student, BU Wheelock), former research and policy intern at Strategies for Children (2025-2026), joined the Strategies for Children 9:30 Call to discuss her internship experience and the information brief she created, which emphasizes the impacts of policy on early childhood development and well-being.

In the News

• Episode 16: Strengthening the Future of School Mental Health, Boston School Psychs Podcast, (Professor Jennifer Greif Green featured), April 29, 2026.

Research That Matters

• Practice-Based Online Modules Strengthen Teacher Skill Development: Practice-Based, Online Modules for Expediting Teacher Skill Development (co-authored by Assoc. Professor Nathan Jones)

  • In this working paper published by the Annenberg Institute at Brown University, authors assert that teacher preparation programs must find innovative ways to develop teachers’ skills within limited timeframes. While online modules are commonly used, they often focus on learning about teaching practices skills rather than providing opportunities to actively practice them. In this study, researchers randomly assigned 149 teachers to one of two approaches to online modules: 1) the “business-as-usual” module of readings and reflection questions about skills, and 2) a “practice-based” module including simulated practice sessions with coaching. The findings show that teachers in the practice-based module more effectively developed skills across multiple measures, including in student teaching classrooms, suggesting that hands-on, interactive approaches can more effectively build teaching skills.

• Early Childhood Education Impact on Health and Wellbeing: How Does Early Childhood Education Impact Child, Family, and Community Health? (co-authored by Clinical Asst. Professor Kyle DeMeo Cook, Asst. Professor Genevieve Guyol, and Research Asst. Destiny Vasquez)

  • This research brief explores how early childhood education (ECE) influences health outcomes for children, families, and communities. Drawing on evidence across disciplines, the authors highlight early childhood as a critical period for development, learning, and long-term health. In this brief, the authors review how diverse literature and theory connects ECE to outcomes such as child development, family wellbeing, and community health, and propose a framework showing how access to high-quality, affordable ECE can support health across the life course.

• How Working Conditions Shape Special Education Teaching: Working Conditions and Instructional Decision-Making Among Special Educators Teaching Elementary Students with Emotional/Behavioral Disorders (co-authored by Assoc. Professor Elizabeth Bettini, Research Scientist Jennifer Lillis, Former Doctoral Student Ana Bianca Santos, and Former Research Asst. Alexi Themelis)

  • This study explores how working conditions influence the instructional quality and decisions of special education teachers (SETs). Researchers conducted a mixed methods study examining instructional decision-making among nine elementary SETs serving students with emotional/behavioral disorders. Researchers brought together quantitative data on the quality of SETs’ reading lessons with qualitative data on their working conditions and instructional decision-making. Findings highlight that teachers do not choose evidence-based practices based on student needs alone, but they balance (a) students’ complex academic and social-emotional strengths and support needs, (b) paraeducator availability and skill, and (c) available instructional resources in each instructional decision. The findings have implications that stronger support for teachers can improve instructional decisions and thereby improve instruction for student outcomes.

Upcoming Events

• Leading for the Future in Public Education: Join BU Wheelock for the panel “Leading for the Future: Equity, Sustainability, and Innovation in Public Education,” a conversation with leaders working at the intersection of schools, systems, and communities. The discussion will explore how to advance equity, support educators, and drive innovation while maintaining trust. Moderated by Dr. Jalene Tamerat (Senior Lecturer, BU Wheelock), the conversation with feature insights from Dr. Carol Johnson (former Superintendent, Boston Public Schools), Monique Rodrigues DeBarros (Dr. Johnson Fellowship alumna), and Antonelli Mejia (Principal, Boston Public Schools; Doctoral Student, BU Wheelock), and Dr. Ramon M. Gonzalez (Professor, BU Wheelock). Those interested in education, nonprofit leadership, or public policy are encouraged to register here.

  📅 Date: Thursday, May 7, 2026

  🕒 Time: 5:30 pm-7:30 pm

  📍Boston University Center for Computing and Data Sciences (CDS), Room 1101

Welcome to this week’s recap! This week we share BU Wheelock updates, provide details on recent faculty engagement, and highlight media mentions and upcoming events.

Out and About

• Exploring Education Policy at the State House: Kyle DeMeo Cook (Clinical Asst. Professor, BU Wheelock) and BU Wheelock students in the Master’s program in Leadership, Policy and Advocacy for Early Childhood Well-Being visited the Massachusetts State House last week as the culmination of a semester spent learning about the legislative process and tracking legislation.

Faculty Engagement

• Early Childhood State Conference: Kyle DeMeo Cook (Clinical Asst. Professor, BU Wheelock) and Sierrah Liu (Master’s Student, BU Wheelock) represented BU Wheelock’s programs at the Massachusetts Association for the Education of Young Children Conference in Natick, MA, where Cook led a workshop on successful transitions to kindergarten. The early childhood conference was designed for early childhood educators, caregivers, and professionals who are passionate about harnessing the transformative power of play to promote positive behavior and emotional development in young children.

Academic Conferences

• NARST 2026: Sensemaking, AI, and Elementary Science Methods: TJ McKenna (Clinical Asst. Professor, BU Wheelock) presented at the 2026 Annual International Conference of the National Association for Research in Science Teaching (NARST) in Seattle. He presided over a symposium titled “Cultivating Joyful Transgression in Elementary Science Methods: A Collaborative Self-Study of AI Integration and Radical Imagination,” developed through the National Elementary Science Teacher Educators Group (NESTeg). McKenna also presented his paper, “Exploring Joyful Transgressions in STEM: Thematic Analysis of Student Notebooks from a University Sensemaking Course,” drawing on 16 student sensemaking notebooks from three cohorts of his BU Wheelock Sensemaking in STEM course.

Faculty Awards

• Outstanding Book Award: Congratulations to Anthony Jack (Assoc. Professor, BU Wheelock) for receiving the Outstanding Book Award from the Society of Professors in Education (SPE) for his book, “Class Dismissed: When Colleges Ignore Inequality and Students Pay the Price”, while attending the 2026 AERA Annual Meeting. The Outstanding Book Award is a prestigious annual honor recognizing excellence in scholarly, educational, and professional literature.

In the News

• What drove Hampshire College to shutter, despite raising $55 million, The Christian Science Monitor, (Assoc. Dean Mary Churchill featured), April 18, 2026.

Upcoming Events

• Curiosity and Learning Conference: The BU Wheelock 11th Annual Curiosity and Learning is a STEAM conference designed for educators who want to strengthen student engagement, incorporate phenomena-based learning, and make classroom experiences more joyful and interactive. The day will include interactive learning stations, live demonstrations and maker activities, direct engagement with BU Wheelock faculty and local STEM education experts, research-based instructional strategies, and networking with classroom teachers, museum educators, family childcare providers, and community partners. Learn more and register here.

  📅 Date: Saturday, April 25, 2026

  🕒 Time: 9:00 am-1:00 pm

  📍Duan Family Center for Computing & Data Sciences, 17th Floor

• EdVestors Annual Showcase: Join EdVestors for the Annual Showcase event, highlighting school-based solutions and key education issues in Boston. The event will feature programs and partners working to expand career pathways, strengthen arts and creative learning opportunities, support math engagement, advance equitable literacy and data practices, and create supportive school environments for all students. Attendees can also expect a student performance, opening remarks, and a reception. Learn more and register here.

  📅 Date: Wednesday, April 29, 2026

  🕒 Time: 4:00 pm-6:30 pm

  📍Boston University Center for Computing and Data Sciences (CDS)

• Leading for the Future in Public Education: Join BU Wheelock for the panel “Leading for the Future: Equity, Sustainability, and Innovation in Public Education,” a conversation with leaders working at the intersection of schools, systems, and communities. The discussion will explore how to advance equity, support educators, and drive innovation while maintaining trust. Moderated by Dr. Jalene Tamerat (Senior Lecturer, BU Wheelock), the conversation with feature insights from Dr. Carol Johnson (former Superintendent, Boston Public Schools), Monique Rodrigues DeBarros (Dr. Johnson Fellowship alumna), and Antonelli Mejia (Principal, Boston Public Schools; Doctoral Student, BU Wheelock), and Dr. Ramon M. Gonzalez (Professor, BU Wheelock). Those interested in education, nonprofit leadership, or public policy are encouraged to register here.

  📅 Date: Thursday, May 7, 2026

  🕒 Time: 5:30 pm-7:30 pm

  📍Boston University Center for Computing and Data Sciences (CDS), Room 1101

Welcome to this week’s recap! This week we share BU Wheelock updates, provide details on recent faculty engagement, and highlight media mentions and upcoming events.

Updates from BU Wheelock

• BU Wheelock Ranked #35 Among Top Education Schools: BU Wheelock has moved up 5 spots in the U.S. News & World Report rankings and is now ranked #35 among the nation’s top graduate schools of education. The Wheelock Educational Leadership & Policy Studies program also ranked #24 for the second consecutive year. Each year, the U.S. News & World Report rankings evaluate programs based on key metrics such as academic reputation, student outcomes, and research activity—making this recognition a reflection of BU Wheelock’s continued impact in education.

Out and About

• BPL Debuts New Exhibition on the Declaration of Independence: Mary Churchill (Assoc. Dean, SPACE) attended the Boston Public Library’s opening reception for Declarations: Printing a New Nation, where Mayor Michelle Wu and members of the City of Boston team delivered remarks. The exhibition features eight printings of the Declaration of Independence and invites visitors to explore how eighteenth-century print culture shaped the movement for American independence.

• Celebrating Neil Sullivan: Mary Churchill (Assoc. Dean, SPACE) attended Neil Sullivan’s retirement party celebrating his contributions to the City of Boston, including more than three decades as the Executive Director of the Boston Private Industry Council (PIC). Mayor Michelle Wu, former Mayor Ray Flynn, and other Boston leaders attended to celebrate Neil’s career.

Faculty Engagement

• Integrating ECE Workforce Data to Inform Policy and Practice: Pia Caronongan (Research Assoc. Professor, BU Wheelock) co-led a session at the 2026 National Early Childhood Education Workforce Convening with Charlie Rosemond (Advisor, Data Quality Campaign). The session brought examples from their work with states for a conversation on how early childhood education workforce data is being used and how this work is collectively building towards what is needed to inform early childhood workforce policy and practice. Organized by T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood National Center, this convening is an annual event designed to unite professionals from across the U.S. who are engaged in advocacy, policy, funding, strategy development, and systems building aimed at the implementation and sustainability of early education programs.

Academic Conferences

• BU Wheelock at AERA 2026: Nearly 70 researchers from BU Wheelock and Boston University attended the 2026 Annual Meeting of the American Education Research Association (AERA) in Los Angeles, contributing to more than 100 presentations. Over the course of the four-day conference, BU Wheelock researchers explored a wide array of topics centered on educational equity, innovation, and the experiences of marginalized groups, illustrating the critical role of research in transforming educational systems and practices. Highlights included discussions on fostering engagement in STEM, advancing mental health services in schools, and reimagining teacher-student relationships through new technologies and methodologies.

• Shaping Executive Functions in Early Learning: Nermeen Dashoush (Clinical Assoc. Professor, BU Wheelock) was a keynote speaker at San Diego County Office of Education’s Early Years Conference. Her session, Behind the Behavior: Executive Functions for A Changing World, shared practical strategies for educators to nurture children’s executive function skills like attention, self-regulation, working memory, and flexible thinking, which are central to children’s academic success, emotional well-being, and sense of belonging. The Annual Early Years Conference invites educators, administrators, caregivers, and community leaders to explore evidence-based strategies that promote learning, resilience, and belonging in early childhood through workshops and sessions.

In the News

• Sport & Performance Psychology w/Dr. Edson Filho and Dr. Carly Block, Reid Connect-ED, (Assoc. Professor Edson Filho and Lecturer Carly Block featured), April 14, 2026.

Upcoming Events

• Curiosity and Learning Conference: The BU Wheelock 11th Annual Curiosity and Learning is a STEAM conference designed for educators who want to strengthen student engagement, incorporate phenomena-based learning, and make classroom experiences more joyful and interactive. The day will include interactive learning stations, live demonstrations and maker activities, direct engagement with BU Wheelock faculty and local STEM education experts, research-based instructional strategies, and networking with classroom teachers, museum educators, family childcare providers, and community partners. Learn more and register here.

  📅 Date: Saturday, April 25, 2026

  🕒 Time: 9:00 am-1:00 pm

  📍Duan Family Center for Computing & Data Sciences, 17th Floor

Welcome to this week’s recap! This week we share community updates, provide details on recent faculty engagement, and highlight media mentions and published research.

Updates from the SPACE Office

• BU’s Commitment to Boston’s Schools: A recent Bostonia article highlights Boston University’s commitment to the City of Boston through citywide programs, partnerships, and research. In this piece, BU President Melissa Gilliam labels the relationship as symbiotic: “At Boston University, we say we are ‘Boston’s University,’ because we are deeply committed to serving this city, and because the city is deeply committed to us.” It also features quotes from Superintendent Mary Skipper describing BU’s partnership with Boston Public Schools as a source of opportunity for the BPS community and Mary Churchill (Assoc. Dean, SPACE) emphasizing BU’s commitment to expanding its impact through new partnerships with the City of Boston and BPS.

Out and About

• FC Tech Momentum Celebration: Mary Churchill (Assoc. Dean, SPACE) and Cara Mattaliano (Asst. Director, SPACE) attended Celebrating Our Momentum 2026, a fundraising event hosted by Franklin Cummings Tech, where Mary serves on the board. The event sought to raise more than $1 million in support of student scholarships and other initiatives that expand access to education and economic opportunity.

• Strategies for Children 9:30 Call: This week, Kyle McGee (Master’s Student, BU Wheelock) joined Strategies for Children’s 9:30 Call to discuss her internship with Chelsea Public Schools, highlighting the role of family liaisons, the support they provide to schools, and the risks they face amid budget cuts.

Faculty Engagement

• American Economic Review Board of Editors: Joshua Goodman (Assoc. Professor, BU Wheelock) has been appointed to the Board of Editors of The American Economic Review (AER). AER is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, scholarly association committed to the advancement of economic research and to improving the professional climate in economics.

• Intersecting Identities: Insights from Deaf Faculty Across Diverse Backgrounds: The Boston University LGBTQIA Center and the Boston University Deaf Center hosted Intersecting Identities: Insights from Deaf Faculty Across Diverse Backgrounds, a panel exploring how intersectionality shapes experiences in academia. Featuring Deaf Studies faculty Franklin Jones Jr (Lecturer, BU Wheelock), Ana Lim (Lecturer, BU Wheelock), Andrew Bottoms (Senior Lecturer, BU Wheelock), and moderated by Emily Glenn-Smith (Lecturer, BU Wheelock), the discussion highlighted the lived experiences of Deaf individuals across diverse cultural, racial, and gender identities. Panelists emphasized the importance of accessibility, dismantling ableism, and advancing social justice in higher education.

In the News

• Teaching cursive in school — the arguments for and against, NBC10 Boston, (Master Lecturer Christina Michaud featured), April 9, 2026.

Research That Matters

• American K-12 Standards and Teaching Fascism: Back then, over there, never here, never now: Fascism according to K–12 social studies standards (co-authored by Senior Lecturer Rob Martinelle and Lecturer Lauren Funk)

  • In this article, researchers examined how, and in what contexts, the idea of “fascism” is represented in K-12 social studies standards, and how and if instantiations of American fascism, such as the demise of Reconstruction, invite examination of fascist politics and stand to disrupt the theory of American exceptionalism. Findings reveal that most states reinforce a narrative of American exceptionalism by representing "fascism" as something limited to interwar Europe and “un-American.” Yet, some states were more likely to connect Reconstruction to themes associated with fascist politics. The findings highlight the need for curriculum writers and social studies teacher educators to rethink when and how fascism is discussed and taught through their work.

Upcoming Events

• BPL Library People Webinar: Join the Boston Public Library (BPL) Fund for a Library People webinar with Jessica Chapel (Chief of Digital & Online Services, BPL). Jessica will share insights into how the Library is advancing access to knowledge in the digital age through innovative technology and thoughtful stewardship of its collections. This conversation will offer a compelling look at how the Boston Public Library is setting a national example for how public libraries can harness technology to expand access. Register here.

  📅 Date: Wednesday, April 15, 2026

  🕒 Time: 12:00-12:30 pm

  📍Zoom Webinar

• BU Wheelock Reads 2026: Grace Lin and Raúl the Third will join BU Wheelock for Writing & Illustrating Across Formats for All Ages, an event focused on creativity, storytelling, and representation in children’s literature. The two acclaimed author-illustrators will discuss how their backgrounds and artistic processes shape their work, while offering insight into the development of picture books and middle-grade novels. The event is open to the community. Reserve a spot here.

  📅 Date: Thursday, April 16, 2026

  🕒 Time: 6:00-8:00 pm

  📍Questrom Auditorium & Lobby

Welcome to this week’s recap! This week we share community updates, provide details on recent faculty engagement, and highlight media mentions and published research.

Updates from BU

• Asia Alumni Forum: Penny Bishop (Dean, BU Wheelock) and Eleonora Villegas-Reimers (Clinical Professor, BU Wheelock) traveled to Singapore and joined BU President Melissa Gilliam at the Asia Alumni Forum, a premier gathering of Boston University alumni from across Asia. During the Forum, Dean Bishop moderated a Global Education Discussion featuring Professor Reimers, and BU alumni Geraldine Teo-Zuzarte (Principal, SJI International Preschool), Hui Wen Chin (Lecturer, Singapore University of Social Sciences), and Hang Qin (Founder and CEO, Banbuniuniu).

• O’Bryant Innovation Project Showcase: Boston University Medical Campus (BUMC) recently hosted students from the John D. O’Bryant School of Mathematics and Science as part of Boston University’s ongoing partnership with the school. During the visit, students presented their year-long innovation projects and received feedback from BU faculty and PhD students. They also participated in a career panel featuring BUMC staff, gaining insight into a range of educational and professional pathways in science, research, and healthcare.

Out and About

• Connecting Educators with Literacy Resources: Ayana Bass (Doctoral Student, BU Wheelock) joined the BU Wheelock National Center on Improving Literacy (NCIL) to share free resources to support students with literacy-related disabilities at the Rhode Island Science of Reading 2026 Conference. The Rhode Island Science of Reading Conference is an annual in-person professional development event for educators, focused on evidence-based literacy practices aligned with the Science of Reading.

• Solutions Summit at FC Tech: Mary Churchill (Assoc. Dean, SPACE) attended the Solutions Summit hosted by Franklin Cummings Tech (FC Tech) in partnership with Jobs for the Future (JFF). The convening brought together thought leaders, policymakers, industry executives, education innovators, and workforce intermediaries to explore solutions for a modern, career-connected education system that prepares learners for high-demand industries.

Faculty Engagement

• Sociedad de Investigación Educativa Peruana: Dina C. Castro (Professor, BU Wheelock) recently joined the Sociedad de Investigación Educativa Peruana (SIEP), a national association dedicated to advancing, producing, and disseminating educational research across Peru. Her membership reflects a longstanding commitment to strengthening educational systems and expanding research capacity in her home country, an enduring focus throughout her academic career.

• Therapeutic Preschools and Early Childhood Support: The BU Center on the Ecology of Early Development (CEED) hosted a presentation and panel on a new report alongside Walker Therapeutic & Educational Programs and Community-Led Solutions focused on the future of early childhood support. The report, “Meeting the Needs of Young Children with Acute Behavioral Challenges: The Case for Therapeutic Preschools,” co-authored by Stephanie M. Curenton (Professor, BU Wheelock), Emily K. Miller (Research Scientist, CEED), Melissa Lucas (Research Scientist, CEED), Destiny Ho (Research Fellow, CEED), and Taylor Boyd (Research Fellow, CEED), brought together educators, researchers, advocates, and community leaders to highlight the need for therapeutic preschools that support young children with acute behavioral challenges.

• Josh Goodman at HKS - Labor Market Strength and Declining Community College Enrollment: Joshua Goodman (Assoc. Professor, BU Wheelock) presented his research, “Labor Market Strength and Declining Community College Enrollment,” as part of the Program on Education Policy and Governance (PEPG) Education Policy Colloquium Series at Harvard Kennedy School. The series brings leading scholars to campus to share their research and engage the Harvard community in thoughtful discussion on pressing issues in education policy.

In the News

• Does special education work?, Chalkbeat, (Professor Marcus Winters featured), March 30, 2026.

• Sensemaking in Science, ASCD, (authored by Clinical Asst. Professor T.J. McKenna), April 1, 2026.

Research That Matters

• Children and Parents Reconcile Scientific and Religious Beliefs About Death: Peaceful coexistence or inevitable clash? Confronting the claims of science and religion about death (co-authored by Professor Kathleen Corriveau)

  • This study examined how children ages 5 to 12 and their parents responded to conflicting scientific and religious explanations about death. Researchers found that most secular participants agreed with scientific explanations regardless of age, while most religious participants agreed with religious explanations, with this pattern becoming stronger with age. Explanations that integrated both types of claims also increased with age regardless of religious background. Overall, the findings suggest that people often rely on their own background when thinking about death, but become more open to balancing multiple viewpoints with age.

• Individualized Supports Improve Learning: Special Education Substantially Improves Learning: Evidence from Three States (co-authored by Professor Marcus A. Winters, Assoc. Professor Joshua Goodman, and Doctoral Student Yunee H. Yoon)

  • Special education serves more than one in seven U.S. students, yet its causal impact (whether the services themselves directly lead to changes in student learning, rather than just being associated with those changes) remains understudied. This study looked at how students performed before and after receiving special education individualized supports and found that students’ scores decline prior to placement and rise sharply afterward. Overall, they found that individualized support substantially increases learning productivity. Key findings include:

    • Positive effects across all three states studied.

    • Effects are substantially larger than prior estimates.

    • Gains are immediate and continue to grow over time.

    • Gains reflect genuine learning, not testing accommodations.

    • Effects are consistent across student subgroups and school settings

Upcoming Events

• Intersecting Identities: Insights from Deaf Faculty Across Diverse Backgrounds: Join the Boston University LGBTQIA Center and the Boston University Deaf Center for a panel discussion on navigating academia through an intersectional lens. Featuring Deaf Studies faculty members Franklin Jones Jr. (Lecturer, BU Wheelock), Ana Lim (Lecturer, BU Wheelock), Andrew Bottoms (Senior Lecturer, BU Wheelock), and moderated by Emily Glenn-Smith (Lecturer, BU Wheelock), the conversation will explore the experiences of Deaf individuals across diverse cultural, racial, and gender identities, with a focus on accessibility, dismantling ableism, and advancing social justice in higher education. Register here.

  📅 Date: Tuesday, April 7, 2026

  🕒 Time: 4:00-6:00 pm

  📍Zoom Webinar

• BPL Library People Webinar: Join the Boston Public Library (BPL) Fund for a Library People webinar with Jessica Chapel (Chief of Digital & Online Services, BPL). Jessica will share insights into how the Library is advancing access to knowledge in the digital age through innovative technology and thoughtful stewardship of its collections. This conversation will offer a compelling look at how the Boston Public Library is setting a national example for how public libraries can harness technology to expand access. Register here.

  📅 Date: Wednesday, April 15, 2026

  🕒 Time: 12:00-12:30 pm

  📍Zoom Webinar

• BU Wheelock Reads 2026: Grace Lin and Raúl the Third will join BU Wheelock for Writing & Illustrating Across Formats for All Ages, an event focused on creativity, storytelling, and representation in children’s literature. The two acclaimed author-illustrators will discuss how their backgrounds and artistic processes shape their work, while offering insight into the development of picture books and middle-grade novels. The event is open to the community. Reserve a spot here.

  📅 Date: Thursday, April 16, 2026

  🕒 Time: 6:00-8:00 pm

  📍Questrom Auditorium & Lobby

Welcome to this week’s recap! This week we share community updates, provide details on recent faculty engagement, and highlight recently published research.

Updates from BU Wheelock

• 2026 BU Wheelock Forum: The SPACE Team – Mary Churchill, Irene Dennison, and Cara Mattaliano – attended the 2026 BU Wheelock Forum: AI and the Future of Education. The Forum showcased BU Wheelock’s leadership in examining how AI is reshaping education in real time and invited participants to explore how AI can be thoughtfully developed in collaboration with students and teachers. The discussions highlighted innovative approaches to integrating AI into teaching and learning while emphasizing the critical role of educators in shaping its future. Featured presenters included:

  • Aaron Rasmussen, Founder of MasterClass and Outlier

  • Clay Hopper, Senior Lecturer, BU College of Fine Arts

  • James Grady, Assistant Professor, BU College of Fine Arts

  • Naomi Caselli, Associate Professor, BU Wheelock

  • Michael Alan Chang, Assistant Professor, BU Wheelock

  • Nermeen Dashoush, Clinical Associate Professor, BU Wheelock

  • TJ McKenna, Clinical Assistant Professor, BU Wheelock

  • Penny Bishop, Dean, BU Wheelock

Faculty Engagement

• EMPath Conference Fireside Chat: Mary Churchill (Assoc. Dean, SPACE) moderated the opening fireside chat featuring Melissa Gilliam (President, Boston University) and Kim Janey (CEO, EMPath) at the Economic Mobility Pathways (EMPath) 2026 Disrupting Poverty Conference. The discussion examined the role of universities as anchor institutions in their cities and the systems-level changes needed to move from managing poverty to dismantling it. The conference, held at Boston University, brought together practitioners, policymakers, philanthropists, and academics from around the world for engagement, education, and new strategies for disrupting poverty.

• Raul joins the NPEA Advisory Board: Raul Fernandez (Senior Lecturer, BU Wheelock) has been appointed to the National Partnership for Educational Access (NPEA) Advisory Board. NPEA elevates and amplifies a broad coalition of voices committed to educational access for students from under-resourced communities.

• Educating for Resilience at BC Symposium: Mary Churchill (Assoc. Dean, SPACE) and Raul Fernandez (Senior Lecturer, BU Wheelock) participated in the panel “Educating for Resilience” at Boston College’s Spring 2026 Symposium on Democratic Resilience. They joined Carol Ferrara (Emerson College), Peter Levine (Tufts University), and Erik Owens (Boston College) for a dynamic conversation on the role of education in strengthening democratic resilience. The symposium brought together scholars, students, and thought leaders to examine how education and free speech shape resilient democracies.

• Leading from the Middle – HERS Network Panel: Mary Churchill (Assoc. Dean, SPACE) participated in a panel as part of the Higher Education Resource Services (HERS) Network’s Leading from the Middle program, a leadership development series for mid-level higher education professionals. The panel brought together experienced leaders to share practical strategies for navigating institutional hierarchies, managing teams, and leading with influence across roles and relationships.

Research that Matters

• Inclusive Science Education Through Play: Building Inclusive Science Classrooms, (co-authored by Assoc. Professor Naomi Caselli)

  • This LEGO Education white paper highlights how learning through play can transform elementary science education by making classrooms more engaging and inclusive for all students. Traditional one-size-fits-all approaches often fall short in meeting the needs of diverse learners and can increase the burden on educators to differentiate instruction. Research shows that students learn best through experiences that are joyful, meaningful, and interactive. By integrating playful, inquiry-driven learning with Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles, educators can create a dynamic and supportive classroom that promotes student agency and collaboration. The paper also introduces LEGO Education Science as a practical application of these principles by outlining strategies educators can use to implement inclusive, play-based learning while highlighting the importance of ongoing teacher support.

• Audiobook Vocabulary Learning: Remote Text-Supplemented Audiobook Intervention Supports Children’s Explicit and Incidental Vocabulary Learning (co-authored by Research Asst. Professor Ola Ozernov-Palchik)

  • Significant vocabulary knowledge gaps exist between students with reading disabilities or from disadvantaged backgrounds and their peers. Children with lower vocabulary knowledge are less likely to learn new words through independent reading and are less responsive to vocabulary instruction methods. A potential solution is using audiobooks supplemented by explicit and individualized remote instruction from paraprofessionals. In this study, researchers explored how audiobook listening, with and without scaffolded instructional support, affected third- and fourth-grade students’ vocabulary growth over eight weeks. Children were randomly assigned to one of three groups: Audiobooks-Only, Audiobooks+Scaffold, or active control. Students in both audiobook groups showed significant gains in vocabulary, while the control group did not. Readers benefited the most from the guided, scaffolded instruction. Students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds showed smaller, nonsignificant gains from either component, suggesting a need for additional support. Overall, the findings suggest that text-supplemented audiobooks, particularly when combined with personalized support, can be valuable for supporting vocabulary development in struggling readers.

• COVID-19 and Inequities Impact Black Families: Black Parent Voices: Resilience in the Face of the Two Pandemics—COVID-19 and Racism (co-authored by Professor Stephanie Curenton and Research Scientist Jacqueline Sims)

  • This report examines how the combined impacts of COVID-19 and systemic racism have affected Black children and families in the United States. It highlights disparities in health outcomes, economic stability, and exposure to discrimination, showing how these challenges have intensified during the pandemic. The findings underscore the need to address inequities in areas such as healthcare, financial security, and access to early care and education to better support Black communities.

Upcoming Events

• Meeting the Needs of Young Children with Acute Behavioral Challenges: Join the Walker Therapeutic & Educational Programs, the Center on the Ecology of Early Development (CEED), and Community-Led Solutions, LLC for the release of the report, “Meeting the Needs of Young Children with Acute Behavioral Challenges: The Case for Therapeutic Preschools”. The presentation will highlight rising behavioral challenges among preschool-age children and the urgent need for therapeutic solutions. Following the presentation of the report’s findings, early childhood providers and families will share their perspectives. Register for the event here.

  📅 Date: Tuesday, March 31, 2026

  🕒 Time: 4:00-6:00 pm

  📍Boston University Ladd Room: 43 Hawes Street, Brookline, MA

Welcome to this week’s recap! This week we share community updates, provide details on recent faculty engagement, and highlight news mentions and recently published research.

Updates from the SPACE Office

• Campus Compact 2026: The SPACE Team (Mary Churchill, Irene Dennison, and Cara Mattaliano) attended and presented at Campus Compact’s 2026 Conference, Hope Found Here. The conference took place in Chicago and brought together more than 900 higher education leaders, students, and community partners from across the country to collaborate on advancing civic and community engagement. At the conference, the team presented two posters:

  • High School Internships as Models of Reciprocal Learning on University Campuses: This poster highlighted the development of BU Wheelock’s BPS high-school internship program in partnership with the Boston Private Industry Council (PIC), showcasing how these programs create mutually beneficial learning experiences for both high school students and university communities. It also outlined next steps for expanding this work into a replicable, scalable model to increase access to Boston Public Schools internships across college and university campuses. Check out the full poster here.

  • Moving Boston Forward Together: Aligning University, School District, and City: This poster shares the story of how in collaboration with the City of Boston and Boston Public Schools, the SPACE Office created a scalable model for Institutes of Higher Education and City of Boston partnerships. We highlight the BU-BPS Working Group: a community engagement focused group representing BPS partnerships across BU’s 17 schools and colleges Government & Community Affairs, and the Department of Athletics. We also outline our next step: piloting a higher education research consortium for the City of Boston starting with Boston Public Schools’ research agenda. Check out the full poster here.

• Join our External Advisory Board for Community Engagement: We invite you to apply to be a member of our new External Advisory Board for Community Engagement! We are looking for thought leaders in the community engagement space to convene for 90 minutes three times a year, and we expect to select and meet with our inaugural committee this spring. Apply here and do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.

Out and About

• 2026 MA Early Childhood Policy Research Summit: BU Wheelock co-sponsored the 2026 MA Early Childhood Policy Research Summit at Wellesley College. Kyle DeMeo Cook (Clinical Asst. Professor, BU Wheelock) and Shavon Drayton (Senior Director of Early Education at Horizons for Homeless Children and Master’s student, BU Wheelock) were part of the leadership team for the event with Kimberly Lucas (Northeastern) and Wendy Robeson (Wellesley). BU Wheelock faculty, master’s and doctoral students and colleagues presented research and led roundtables at the event, along with colleagues from BU School of Social Work and Children’s Health Watch.

• Wheelock Counseling Psychology Presents at MASCA Conference: Scott Solberg (Professor, BU Wheelock) and BU Wheelock Counseling Psychology students participated in the 2026 convening of the Massachusetts School Counseling Association (MASCA) Conference. The MASCA Annual Conference is a major professional development event for school counselors, administrators, and educators, featuring keynotes, workshops, and networking focused on academic, career, and social-emotional development, often highlighting equity and current school counseling techniques.

Academic Conferences

• WEPC at AEFP 2026 Conference: Nine BU Wheelock team members represented the Wheelock Education Policy Center (WEPC) at the 2026 Association for Education Finance and Policy (AEFP) Conference: Joshua Goodman (Assoc. Professor), Pia Caronongan (Research Assoc. Professor), Meagan Comb (Executive Director, WEPC), Marcus Winters (Professor), Liz Bettini (Assoc. Professor), Jo R. King (Asst. Professor), and doctoral students Josefina Senese, Hanyun Cui, and Mingyan Ma. WEPC presented more than 15 papers, chaired 4 sessions, and hosted a Policy Dialogue block. The AEFP conference brings together researchers, students, policymakers, practitioners, and others interested in education policy to share and learn about research spanning from early childhood education to long-term postsecondary outcomes. Check out the full list of WEPC’s presentations here.

In the News

• ‘Really hitting our schools hard’: Special education teachers are leaving the classroom in droves. Why?, The Boston Globe, (Assoc. Professor Elizabeth Bettini featured), March 18, 2026.

• Will AI solve America’s reading crisis or make it worse?, The Boston Globe, (written by Research Asst. Professor Ola Ozernov-Palchik), March 13, 2026.

Research that Matters

• Adult and Peer Imitation Across Cultural Contexts: Evidence against the age-based imitation bias in a culturally diverse sample (co-authored by Professor Kathleen Corriveau)

  • This study explores how children decide who to learn from and imitate. While it is often assumed that children imitate adults due to the presumption that adults are more knowledgeable (an idea known as the age-based imitation bias), this concept has not been widely studied across a broad range of ages or cultural contexts. To address this gap, researchers examined imitation patterns among 369 children ages 3 to 17 across four diverse communities. They found no evidence that children consistently preferred to imitate adults over their peers. Instead, the findings suggest that age alone does not determine who children choose to learn from. Children may rely more on other cues, such as who appears knowledgeable or trustworthy, when deciding whose behavior to follow.

• Exploring the Impact of Music on Attention: The Concentration Grid Exercise: Effects of Silent Practice and Music Distraction on Performance, Attention, Affect, and Brain Activity (co-authored by Assoc. Professor Edson Filho)

  • This paper reports two studies examining how background conditions influence performance on a focused attention task. In Study 1, participants practiced the task in silence, while in Study 2 they completed it with loud music playing. Each study included 12 participants (6 female, 6 male) who performed a concentration grid exercise while researchers measured performance, attention, mood, and brain activity. Results indicated that background music did not significantly affect performance or mood, though some participants reported it as distracting. Across both studies, practice was associated with improved focus and a shift toward a more quiescent brain state, regardless of noise condition. Overall, the findings support the concentration grid as a useful tool for both experimental research and attention training.

• Staff Turnover Impact on Students With and Without Disabilities: Impacts of Staff Turnover on Test Scores for Students with and Without Disabilities (co-authored by Assoc. Professor Elizabeth Bettini and Assoc. Professor Nathan Jones)

  • Students with disabilities may be disproportionately impacted by teacher turnover than general student outcomes, as they receive services from both general educators and from special educators and paraeducators, who have higher turnover rates. This study uses administrative data from Washington State to provide the first causal estimates of special and general education teacher and paraeducator turnover on outcomes for students with and without disabilities. Researchers found general education teacher turnover negatively impacts test scores for both groups, and an outsized impact of special education teacher turnover on test scores for students with disabilities. Estimates of paraeducator turnover, however, are small and not statistically significant. Findings suggest the stability of the general education teacher workforce is important for all students, and the stability of the special education teacher workforce should be a key priority for improving the outcomes for students with disabilities.

Upcoming Events

• AI and the Future of Education: The 2026 BU Wheelock Forum: AI and the Future of Education highlights the leadership and expertise of BU Wheelock in a conversation on AI and how it’s reshaping education in real time. Designed for educators, learning leaders, ed technologists, and others who are engaged in education, the Forum invites participants to think together, ask hard questions, and explore how AI can be developed with educators and students. It will feature Aaron Rasmussen (Founder, MasterClass and Outlier), Clay Hopper (Senior Lecturer, BU College of Fine Arts) and James Grady (Asst. Professor, BU College of Fine Arts), Naomi Caselli (Assoc. Professor, BU Wheelock), Michael Alan Chang (Asst. Professor, BU Wheelock), Nermeen Dashoush (Clinical Assoc. Professor, BU Wheelock), TJ McKenna (Clinical Asst. Professor, BU Wheelock), and Penny Bishop (Dean, BU Wheelock). Learn more and register here.

  📅 Date: Wednesday, March 25, 2026

  🕒 Time: 5:30–8:30pm

  📍Tsai Center

• Meeting the Needs of Young Children with Acute Behavioral Challenges: Join the Walker Therapeutic & Educational Programs, the Center on the Ecology of Early Development (CEED), and Community-Led Solutions, LLC for the release of the report, “Meeting the Needs of Young Children with Acute Behavioral Challenges: The Case for Therapeutic Preschools”. The presentation will highlight rising behavioral challenges among preschool-age children and the urgent need for therapeutic solutions. Following the presentation of the report’s findings, early childhood providers and families will share their perspectives. Register for the event here.

  📅 Date: Tuesday, March 31, 2026

  🕒 Time: 4:00-6:00 pm

  📍Boston University’s Wightman Mansion, Ladd Room