Ethnic and Racial Disparities in Education

Ethnic and racial disparities

A task force researched ways psychology can understand and reduce ethnic and racial disparities in education.

View task force briefing

Teacher in the classroom

Instructional mini-modules for teachers

These modules apply psychological literature to practical problems and needs in the classroom.

View modules
Stressed teacher

Teacher stress tutorial

This tutorial is based on the psychological literature relating to both general and teacher-specific stress.

View tutorial
Sitting in corner

Zero tolerance in schools

The APA Zero Tolerance Task Force report examines the impact of zero tolerance policies in schools.

Read task force report
classroom desks

APA classroom management modules

Covering general classroom management as well as how to deal with students' disruptive behavior.
Resources for classroom management
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Mission

The Center for Psychology in Schools and Education (CPSE) promotes the high quality application of psychological science to programs and policies for schools and pre-K through grade 12 education. The office serves as a liaison both within APA and with national educational and scientific societies, federal agencies and the general public concerning the education and development of children and adolescents.

About CPSE

Ongoing projects

Classroom Climate

  • Understanding and Preventing Classroom Violence
    An APA Board of Education Affairs task force was tasked with creating a resource aimed at helping K-12 teachers cope with and prevent the occurrence and threat of violent incidents in the classroom. This report outlines the task forces' recommendations for research, policy and practice.

  • National Survey on Classroom Violence (PDF, 119KB)
    A BEA Task Force examining violence against teachers in the classroom generated a survey to gather firsthand feedback from teachers on their experiences. This survey received approximately 4,700 responses. This report is a summary of the survey analysis with the goal of informing future educational policy research.

  • Zero Tolerance Task Force Report
    The APA Zero Tolerance Task Force report examines the impact of Zero Tolerance policies and makes recommendations regarding the implementation of these policies in elementary and secondary schools.

  • Combating Teacher Stress (PDF, 1.4MB)
    This brochure, "Teaching is fundamental: Ideas for friends and spouses supporting teachers’ early career challenges," includes strategies for recognizing signs of teacher stress, ideas to help reduce teacher stress and insights into the particular times during the school year when stress is likely to increase. It aims to inform those close to teachers about what to expect during their loved one’s first year in the classroom, and how they can offer support and encouragement.

  • Teacher Stress Module
    The first few years in the classroom can be the most difficult for a new teacher who may feel overwhelmed by the complexity and responsibilities of his or her new role. This module, primarily aimed at preservice teachers and new educators, examines definitions and causes of teacher-related stress and provides strategies for recognizing, preventing and coping with stressful situations, events and triggers as they occur.

  • Bullying Mini-Module
    It is estimated that 40-80 percent of school-age children experience bullying at some point during their school careers and 10-15 percent may be either chronic victims or bullies themselves.

  • Improving Students' Relationships with Teachers to Provide Essential Supports for Learning Mini-Module
    Improving students’ relationships with teachers has important, positive and long-lasting implications for students’ academic and social development.

Learning and Instruction

Mini-modules for teachers:

Additional CPSE Resources

  • Assessing and Evaluating Teacher Preparation Programs (PDF, 319KB)
    This resource for teacher education practitioners and policymakers concentrates on the three most commonly employed and widely used data sources for evaluating the effectiveness of teacher preparation programs: (1) teaching observations; (2) satisfaction surveys from graduates, employers and K-12 pupils in the graduates' classrooms; and (3) pupil growth on standardized tests.

  • Multiple Social Science Research Methods in Education Research
    The recent CPSE product, “Assessing intervention effects: The promise of multiple methods,” takes the reader through the life cycle of a research study on the effects/effectiveness of a social intervention. This guide (PDF, 170KB) and its accompanying narrative (PDF, 519KB) are intended for instructional use with new researchers, as well as for consumers of educational research. Each section of the guide has a related section in this narrative. Sections are designed to be relatively independent, so that readers can select the section they wish to read and then study/use the associated sections. You can request hard copies of the chart in poster and fold out form by contacting Rena Subotnik.

  • CPSE Publications
    Books, articles and reports by the CPSE.

  • External Links for Teachers
    Research and technology, funding opportunities and other external links for teachers and educators.