News
New book takes in-depth look at first ladies, how the position has evolved
"The Cambridge Companion to US First Ladies" takes a look at the history of the role of first lady. Not simply a collection of biographies, the book examines how first ladies were portrayed in their time, their legacies, how they performed, their influence and much more through a variety of scholarly lenses.

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Wed, 01/29/2025
KU research team develops virtual reality, AI-boosted system to help students with autism improve social skills
A KU research team has secured funding to boost systems called iKNOW and VOISS to help students with autism spectrum disorder improve social skills in a school setting.
Tue, 01/28/2025
Book will guide teachers and child care providers in using the Pyramid Model
“Unpacking the Infant-Toddler Pyramid Model: A Practical Guide for Teachers and Providers," co-edited by researchers at the University of Kansas, is a guide for early childhood education professionals.
Tue, 01/28/2025
Research finds alternative anxiety, depression treatment for LGBTQ individuals shows results
A University of Kansas researcher analyzed results of an alternate treatment for LGBTQ individuals contained in “LGBTQI Workbook for CTI,” which is designed to help individuals who can’t access or have not had success with professional therapy.
Thu, 12/12/2024
Education scholar calls for ecological shift to 'school within a school' to give students autonomy needed for success
Schools are one of the most resilient aspects of American society, changing little in 200 years, Yong Zhao writes. Attempts at reform have failed because they are attempted on the systemwide level. In a scholarly analysis, the KU professor of education calls for a "school within a school" approach at giving students autonomy over their own learning.
Mon, 12/09/2024
Study finds readers trust news less when AI is involved, even when they don't understand to what extent
In a University of Kansas study, readers were presented an article and given options in a byline disclosing to what extent artificial intelligence was involved. The more AI was involved, the less readers trusted its credibility, even when they didn't understand exactly what it did.
Thu, 12/05/2024
Virtue and reality of hope examined in new book
In a new book, Nancy Snow, professor of philosophy at the University of Kansas, and noted scholars from different disciplines provide a unique perspective on the qualities and expectations that hope offers.
Tue, 12/03/2024
AAI announces the Center for Geography of Education Policy
The Achievement & Assessment Institute (AAI) has announced the launch of a new center that will explore the ways that education policy and school management are both shaped by and shape geography.
Tue, 12/03/2024
Study finds American, Canadian universities vary widely in preparing future urban planners for climate change
A KU researcher has led a study examining how well universities are preparing future urban planners to mitigate and adapt to climate change as part of their curriculum. “We don’t believe you should be able to come out of a planning program without addressing climate change,” said Ward Lyles associate professor of public affairs & administration.
Mon, 11/25/2024
Study finds suburban school districts diversified since 2000, but urban districts saw more racial isolation
A study compared school districts across the country in 2020 and 2000 using census and demographic data, as well as sophisticated geographical mapping. Suburban districts across the country saw more diversity, but urban districts saw more racial isolation.
Thu, 11/21/2024
KU researchers studying efficacy of automatic recording and AI analysis of children's language use and development
KU scientists are testing how artificial intelligence could be applied to measure verbal interactions unobtrusively and automatically in a variety of settings, including at area child care or early education programs. Earlier work took them to Science City in Union Station.
Mon, 11/18/2024
New book aims to guide qualitative researchers looking to better understand the college student experience
A University of Kansas researcher's new work provides guidance, examples and considerations of how best to conduct qualitative research with college students, especially those from historically marginalized populations.
Mon, 10/28/2024
Study finds influential textbooks labeled American actions as imperialist, contradicting American exceptionalism
Stephen Jackson conducted a study in which he analyzed influential Texas world history textbooks. They clearly labeled American actions in the 19th century as imperialist, contradicting the long-standing ideal of American exceptionalism. The study unpacks that seeming contradiction.
Tue, 10/22/2024
Book gathers research on education for people with disabilities, including voices of those with lived experience
A research team at the University of Kansas has published a new edition of a book that collects the latest research on education for people with disabilities, including perspectives of individuals with lived experience through an inclusive lens.
Tue, 10/15/2024
KU researchers leading projects to make Library of Congress educational materials more accessible, use AI to aid writing instruction
Researchers have secured two grants to help make PBS Newshour Classroom materials more accessible in teaching students with disabilities and to use AI to help teachers expand an existing writing instruction program, also with a focus on students with disabilities.
Tue, 10/01/2024
State mandates requiring genocide education lack standards to guide teachers, study finds
A study analyzing state mandates requiring genocide education almost always lacked standards on what topics to teach and how to address the subject. The lack of guidance fails to give students an understanding of the causes of genocide and how to prevent them in the future, KU researchers found.
Wed, 09/11/2024
Study finds encouraging empathy makes students better at argumentation
Teaching argumentation is a key part of the common core standards in education. But a new study finds that encouraging empathy, instead of the traditional approach of winning, produces more well-rounded argumentation and writing in students.
Tue, 09/10/2024
Center for Educational Opportunity Programs secures $21.8 million in federal grants to support middle and high school students
The Center for Educational Opportunity Programs at the University of Kansas is the recipient of two federal grants totaling $21.8 million over seven years. These grants will provide critical support to middle and high school students in Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools and Kansas City Public Schools in Missouri.
Mon, 09/09/2024
KU researcher leading project to gauge effectiveness of journalism ethics disclosures
Alyssa Appelman is co-leading a project to test whether disclosing a journalist's ethical training influences readers' perceptions of that journalist's and media's credibility.
Thu, 09/05/2024
KU leading multi-institutional program to support undergraduate STEM research and student retention
The University of Kansas, in collaboration with five other regional higher education institutions, has been awarded a five-year, $3.5 million National Science Foundation Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation grant. The award will establish the Aligning STEM Trainees for Enterprising Research (ASTER) program and fund undergraduate research in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
Wed, 09/04/2024
Study finds when self-determination model provided to schools with support, teachers and all students benefit
A KU program implemented the Self-Determined Learning Model of Instruction in 15 schools and found that when it was provided with online training models and coaching, schools were more likely to implement it with fidelity and continue its use.
Wed, 08/28/2024
KU partners with teachers, schools to train early-childhood special educators; publishes guide for teacher prep programs
Project MounTaiN at KU is in its second year of training working and future teachers to better serve early childhood students with high-incidence disabilities and partnering with area schools to provide student teaching and support to education centers. The project also published a guide for other teacher prep programs looking to improve.
Tue, 08/27/2024
Swift solution: Taylor Swift sparks innovation for education researcher
Taylor Swift speaks to human experiences through emotion, interpretation and expression. Researchers investigate those experiences using analysis, measurement and science. Jake Thompson connected these approaches to fill a blank space in education research.
Mon, 07/15/2024
Author shows importance of framing in disability policy discussions
Analyzing interactions in town hall meetings with legislators, a University of Kansas professor of English finds that expressing one's lived experience, too, helps advocates “amplify marginalized voices in public debates.”
Thu, 07/11/2024
Article tracks history of state history education standards, how teachers can use them as lessons
Stephen Jackson has published an article outlining how state history education standards came about, how they evolved and how teachers can use the standards themselves as history lessons in a way that avoids the common political arguments surrounding the documents.
Wed, 06/26/2024
New work highlights physical, mental, social benefits of caring climate in sports
A KU researcher outlines the research-proven benefits of positive sporting environments in a chapter for new edition of a sports psychology book.
Tue, 06/11/2024
New book examines best methods to prepare future English teachers
Theory, curriculum and what it means to be a professional educator are all at the heart of “Principles That Shape English Teacher Education,” co-edited by Heidi Hallman, professor of curriculum & teaching at KU.
Mon, 06/03/2024
Camps built on KU research to help young readers improve, future school psychologists put theory to practice
A pair of reading camps hosted by the OASIS training clinic at KU will help struggling readers boost their skills in a fun way based on research from KU. The camps also train aspiring school psychologists in using research-based reading intervention and behavior supports.
Thu, 05/16/2024
KU team leads special journal edition on including people with disabilities in research
A KU team has led the publication of a special issue of the journal Inclusion, calling for opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to be paid, equitable members of research teams. The journal includes firsthand accounts from researchers with disabilities.
Tue, 05/07/2024
Educational research should pinpoint anti-Black aggressions to build better policy, scholar argues
A KU scholar has published an article that argues educational research should instead study antiblack aggressions as scholars originally intended and use the approach to build more equitable policy at the individual and institutional levels.
Mon, 04/29/2024
Intervention based on science of reading, math boosts comprehension, word problem-solving
New research from the University of Kansas has found an intervention based on the science of reading and math effectively helped English language learners boost their comprehension, visualize and synthesize information, and make connections that significantly improved their math performance.