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Universal autism screening is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics at 18 and 24 months. However, many children are not identified until after the age of 4 years, and some not until adulthood, either due to mild or no indication of symptoms early in development, or to co-occurring conditions which may overshadow autism symptoms. This indicates a need for universal autism screening measures for school-age children. This project adapts the widely used toddler autism screening tool, the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised, with Follow-Up (M-CHAT-R/F), for use in school-age children, called M-CHAT-School (M-CHAT-S). The study follows the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System guidelines for measure development to create parent- and teacher-report versions of the M-CHAT-S for 4- to 8-year-old children. Through expert consensus feedback via a Delphi pool and cognitive interviewing with stakeholders (i.e. parents and teachers), we developed two versions of the M-CHAT-S to be used for verbal and minimally verbal children. The M-CHAT-S poses several advantages to existing measures, including brevity, items updated based on current knowledge and conventions, and narrow age range to assure items are developmentally appropriate. Future steps include validation of the M-CHAT-S to determine its utility as an autism screener for young school-age children.

Career counselors practicing in rural communities must understand and address social determinants of mental health (SDOMH). This conceptual article details the relationships between SDOMH domains and employment and provides evidence-based recommendations for integrating SDOMH into practice through a rural community health and well-being framework. Description of the adaptation of the framework for career counselors in rural communities, SDOMH assessment strategies and tools, and workflow adjustments are included. Conclusions suggest next steps for practice and research.

Both parasympathetic nervous system regulation and receipt of social support from close relationships contribute to prosocial development, although few studies have examined their combined influences in adolescence and particularly within racially and ethnically minoritized populations. In this longitudinal study of 229 U.S. Mexican-origin adolescents (48% female-identifying), youths reported on receipt of social support from family and friends from 10 to 16 years, had their baseline respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) measured at 17 years, reported their prosocial behavior and completed the Mind in the Eyes test to assess cognitive empathy at 17 and 19 years, and reported their prosocial civic behavior (i.e., community activity) at 19 years. Family social support predicted prosocial behavior at 17 years, and friend social support predicted prosocial civic behavior at 19 years. Compared to youths with lower or higher baseline RSA, youths with moderate RSA reported more prosocial civic behavior, had greater cognitive empathy, and tended to report more general prosocial behavior at 19 years. The quadratic association between baseline RSA and cognitive empathy was stronger for youths with greater family social support. These findings are the first to extend the evidence that moderate baseline parasympathetic nervous system activity supports prosocial development into late adolescence and with the U.S. Mexican-origin community, and these findings address calls for more integrative biopsychosocial studies of prosociality.

A global concern in recent years has been the formal incorporation of computing and digital technology subjects into high school curricula. Despite many initiatives to make these subjects accessible to students, significant barriers to uptake remain in many countries. In this study we convened a panel of 32 academic, research, and other experts from several countries, to participate in a three round Delphi study with the goal of identifying ways to improve student participation for high school computer science and programming subjects in New Zealand. The study explored barriers and challenges, potential solutions and future scenarios, as well as implementation ideas for the most important solutions across five domains: Computer Science and Programming Standards, Resources, Support, Assessment, and Student-centred factors. Together these three Delphi rounds were synthesized into a framework summarizing challenges and potential solutions, including suggestions relating to the implementation of those solutions, alongside key aspects of a likely and a desirable future scenario regarding high school computing in New Zealand. The framework, which is the major result of this study, was designed with the intention to summarise and present potential ways to increase student participation and engagement for computer science and programming standards. We hope that this framework will be of interest to government, teachers, schools, industry, universities and other key stakeholders.

An unplugged approach to teaching enables students to explore Computational Thinking without using a computer. It might appear that if students are to learn programming, they should focus on computer-based work; however, it appears that using "unplugged" activities before engaging in computer-based coding (programming) activities for each unit of work leads to better outcomes for students in the same amount of time. In this paper we explore why this could be the case, by reviewing literature that reports on these experiences, and also using different theoretical lenses (Notional Machines, Semantic Profiles, and the Zone of Proximal Development) to analyse how the combination of experiences can engage students. We also explore how the approach integrates with mathematics education.

Using data from seven R1 and R2 universities in Ohio, this study seeks to determine the extent of usage of full-text e-journal articles stored across multiple platforms. Specifically, COUNTER 5 data is presented from five major academic journal publishers (Taylor & Francis, SAGE, Oxford, Wiley, and Springer), looking at usage within each of the publishers' respective platforms, as well as in EBSCO, JSTOR, and OhioLINK's Electronic Journal Center platform. The overarching goal of the analysis is to identify where exactly usage occurred for this e-journal content within the different platforms, especially in cases where an individual title has duplicate full-text access. Analysis of this data was conducted using Tableau and Excel. Findings raise significant questions about end-user behavior in terms of students' and faculty's ability to locate full text, regardless of whether it is discoverable from Google or other commercial search engines. The findings also suggest a strong connection between EBSCO usage and the academic calendar, with peak usage (as a percentage of overall usage) occurring in October, November, March, and April. Lastly, findings for Taylor & Francis e-journals within EBSCO call into question what these duplicate holdings mean for "big deal" subscription packages.

Loneliness becomes more prevalent as youth transition from childhood into adolescence. A key underlying process may be the puberty-related increase in biological stress reactivity, which can alter social behavior and elicit conflict or social withdrawal (fight-or-flight behaviors) in some youth, but increase prosocial (tend-and-befriend) responses in others. In this article, we propose an integrative theoretical model that identifies the social, personality, and biological characteristics underlying individual differences in social--behavioral responses to stress. This model posits a vicious cycle whereby youth who respond to stress with fight-or-flight tendencies develop increasing and chronic levels of loneliness across adolescence, whereas youth who display tend-and-befriend behaviors may be buffered from these consequences. Based on research supporting this model, we propose multiple avenues for intervention to curtail the prevalence of loneliness in adolescence by targeting key factors involved in its development: social relationships, personality, and stress-induced behavioral and biological changes.

Racial disparities exist in autism diagnosis, and yet, the development of most diagnostic tools has not explicitly examined measurement equity between racial and ethnic groups. We examined the validity of the Toddler Autism Symptom Inventory (TASI), a semi-structured interview developed for diagnosis of toddlers, in non-Hispanic Black/African American and non-Hispanic White children. After controlling for group differences in socio-economic status, no differences in diagnosis, age at diagnosis, mean developmental level, or autism severity were found. TASI ROC curves for both groups, in the overall sample, and in samples stratified by SES, showed high AUC values. Validity of two cutoff scores was acceptable. Lack of significant differences in TASI score or responses to individual items suggests similar symptomatology. These results provide early support for the use of the TASI in diagnostic evaluations of Black and White children.

Research capacity building is a process by which individuals and organizations develop skills and infrastructure resulting in greater ability to conduct useful research. Frequently, research quality and productivity measures focus on outcomes, such as peer-reviewed publications or grants awarded. Such distal measures are not informative when measuring initial stages of research, a common situation in low- and middle-income countries. This study used Cooke's six-principle framework to assess the progress of an autism research collaborative in northern Mexico. We established 64 criteria across the six principles and rated them as Not Started, In Progress, or Achieved, based on narratives and process documentation collected for this purpose. Ratings were established for the years 2018, 2020, and 2022, which correspond to Years 5, 7, and 9 since the beginning of the collaborative, respectively. As of 2022, Principles 2 and 3 ("Close to practice" and "Linkages, collaborations, and partnerships," respectively) had all begun; no criteria were rated as Not started. The principles with the highest Achieved rates were "Linkages, collaborations, and partnerships" (90%), and "Infrastructure" (Principle 6, 70%). Cooke's research capacity building framework is a useful way to monitor progress of research capacity building and contribute to harmonious development of relevant principles at different levels.

Providing hands-on practical education without access to laboratories during the COVID-19 pandemic has required creativity and innovation. In this paper, co-authored by academic staff and students, we describe an at-home mobile phone-based 'spectrophotometer' experiment used in an introductory undergraduate biology course. Using colour picker apps, a smartphone can be used to quantify concentration, which was used to compare the strengths of different brands of tea. The protocol is designed to be low-cost and safe to perform outside of a laboratory. Students used the methods to learn important biochemical methods such as preparing dilutions, constructing calibration curves, normalising data and testing a hypothesis. We reflect on the experience of developing and using the protocol from a staff and student perspective, which highlights the advantages of this approach in terms of student independence and inclusivity. We also suggest alternative experiments that could be performed using the protocol. We encourage biology educators to think creatively about the possibilities for using mobile phones or at-home experiments in their teaching. Our experience suggests that at-home experiments like this protocol will have value even after the pandemic is over, particularly in terms of inclusivity.

Social changes have resulted in an increase of students living in households that do not include both a mother and a father, reducing the efficacy of common survey questionnaire approaches to measuring student socioeconomic status (SES). This paper presents two studies conducted to develop and test a new,more inclusive set of student SES items appropriate for students from a range of household types. In the first study, we held group interviews with 57 students in Grades 4, 8, and 12 who lived in four nontraditional household types. The study goal was, first, to understand how students thought about their household members and learn what they knew about the educational background and employment status of their caregivers and, second, to develop draft items based on these findings. In the second study, we held 51 individual cognitive interviews with a similar sample to evaluate draft item clarity and function.We found that although students may live with a broad range of family members and other adults, they understood the term caregiver to refer to a person who provides resources and support. Students found it easier to answer items when the items included the titles of their caregivers. Our results demonstrate that a customizable approach to measuring student SES allows more students to report information about their caregivers than the current standard of asking about mothers and fathers. We provide recommendations for student SES measurement and potential next steps for research on this topic.

Males are more likely to be diagnosed with autism than females, and at earlier ages, yet few studies examine sex differences in screening. This study explored sex differences in psychometric properties, recommended cutoff scores, and overall scores of the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised, with Follow-Up. Participants were 28,088 toddlers enrolled in four early detection of autism studies. Children (N = 731) at high likelihood for autism attended evaluations after screening and/or primary care clinician concern. Females were less likely to screen at high likelihood for autism at each stage of screening and therefore less likely to be invited for evaluations. Positive predictive value was significantly lower among females than males, but sensitivity was similar. False positive females were likely to have another developmental delay. Cutoff scores for males and females matched recommended guidelines. Final scores on the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised, with Follow-Up did not differ between males and females diagnosed with autism, but did for the overall sample identified at high likelihood for autism. Our findings suggest that females are less likely to be referred for evaluations, but the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised, with Follow-Up accurately identifies both males and females with autism at established cutoffs. Future research should examine methods to reduce false positive in females.

The current study examined the Five Cs model of positive youth development (PYD; Lerner et al., 2005) in U.S. Mexican-origin youth (N = 674, 50% female) and tested the extent to which ethnic pride, familismo, and respeto, as an index of cultural orientation, predicted PYD across midadolescence. PYD was modeled using a bifactor structure, which defined global PYD and the Five Cs (Caring, Character, Competence, Confidence, and Connection) using theoretically similar measures matched to the conceptual definitions of the Cs. Tests of longitudinal invariance of the bifactor model at ages 14 and 16 established scalar invariance, providing support for the structure and stability of the Five Cs and global PYD using the theoretically similar measures across time. Adolescents' cultural orientation (latent factor incorporating familismo, respeto, and ethnic pride) at age 14 was positively associated with the Five Cs within and across time. Greater cultural orientation at age 14 predicted increased global PYD across ages 14 and 16. The contribution of cultural orientation to the PYD across midadolescence did not differ by adolescent gender or nativity. These findings demonstrate the robust nature and stability of the Five Cs model of PYD and provide novel evidence that ethnic pride, familismo, and respeto promote greater PYD in Mexican-origin youth during midadolescence.

Online Parent Training in Early Behavioral Intervention (OPT-In-Early) is a self-directed resource for caregivers of autistic children. Sixty-three parent-child dyads from three states in were randomized to the OPT-In-Early or treatment as usual group. Parents in both groups completed baseline and post-treatment visits, which were targeted for 4 months apart but allowed to go up to 6 months. Compared to parents in the treatment as usual group, parents randomized to OPT-In-Early learned more evidence-based intervention principles from baseline to post-treatment and were rated by observers blind to group and time as increasing their use of these strategies during brief semi-structured interactions with their children. Parent participation in OPT-In-Early did not significantly influence children's social communication as coded from one observation session. Results suggest that parents acquired knowledge and skills in intervention techniques from OPT-In-Early. Longer trials may be needed for gains in child behavior.

Education policy signals the level of support or importance for high-performing or gifted and talented students to school leaders, educators, parents, and other stakeholders. These policies communicate the value or goals of departments of education. Given the importance of education policy, there remains a void in the analysis of gifted and talented education policy, which accounts for less than 1% of the empirical literature. We sought to understand how publicly available individual state and territory departments of education's gifted and talented education policies and guidance documents coalesce with the NAGC (2019) Pre-K-Grade 12 Gifted Education Programming Standards. Although not developed for the Australian context, they provide a common index from which to gauge alignment. Results indicated an uneven approach in both policy and guidance and this imbalance exposes opportunity gaps to address the specific learning needs of this student population.

In this article, we focus on two components of the Online Curriculum Consortium for Accelerating Middle School (OCCAMS) project: the curriculum frameworks and the curriculum development process. The frameworks include the Integrated Curriculum Model (advanced content, unit themes, and process/product), culturally responsive curriculum, and talent development. In our discussion of the curriculum frameworks, we share how two accelerated, online courses centered on themes that motivate and engage diverse learners: identity, heroism, conviction, and sacrifice. In addition, we highlight how the exploration of these themes through texts written by diverse authors and featuring diverse characters allows students to go on an even deeper journey into self-discovery. The second focus of this article is on the curriculum development process. We illustrate the iterative nature of the development of the curriculum, including descriptions of the site visits and use of teacher and student feedback in each stage of revisions.

This manuscript describes an empirically designed internship course that utilized the Ecological Social Justice School Counseling theory to teach internship students how to engage in antiracist practice to address social determinants of health in schools. The research reports on the eight school counseling internship students' experiences, through five themes and 12 subthemes, highlighting the ways they increased awareness of SDOH, antiracist practice, and related constructs at their schools and with students including their action toward addressing SDOH, advocacy, barriers, and growth. Implications for counselor educators and site supervisors conclude.