AERA Annual Meeting: From the Coast to the Heartland: Scaling Integrated Student Support Systems in the Post-Pandemic Era

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From the Coast to the Heartland: Scaling Integrated Student Support Systems in the Post-Pandemic Era

Fri, April 10, 3:45 to 5:15pm PDT (3:45 to 5:15pm PDT), InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown, Floor: 7th Floor, Hollywood Ballroom I

Session Type: Symposium

Abstract

As education systems face intensifying student needs and rising political and social pressures, many states are reimagining support structures through the lens of whole-child education. This symposium explores one such effort: the large-scale implementation of City Connects, an integrated student support (ISS) intervention scaled across a Midwestern state since 2021. Using administrative data analysis, multi-year principal surveys, and qualitative case studies, this symposium examines ISS in action: tracking its effects on achievement and attendance, exploring evolving leadership perceptions, and analyzing local adaptations. Together, these studies illuminate what it takes to implement ISS with depth and integrity across diverse schools, informing researchers, practitioners, and policymakers committed to building education systems where every child is seen, supported, and set up to thrive.

Sub Unit

Division H - Research, Evaluation and Assessment in Schools / Division H - Section 2: Program Evaluation in Schools

Chair

Deoksoon Kim, Boston College

Papers

Session Organizer

Haibin Jiang, Boston College

Discussant

Robert Behning, Marian University