By Kelley R. Taylor

As schools look ahead to a return to "normal" this fall, advocates for police-free schools continue to push for community-driven strategies and restorative justice for student safety and overall well-being.

The pandemic presents unique challenges for the nearly 23 million nine- to twelve-year-olds in the United States. Here are ways to support them. 

Traditional education largely has not addressed race and racism. That will only change if all teachers adopt antracist teaching methods.

Research shows that preschoolers naturally categorize people by race, can be conscious of social stereotypes as early as age six, and naturally attribute positive traits to their own ethnic or racial groups.

A common goal is to build positive connections while helping to stem negative impacts traditionally associated with wholly punitive discipline, such as school suspensions and expulsions.

Target, Seattle Public Schools, and the Free Library of Philadelphia have something in common. All have been sued for having websites or digital tools that fail federal accessibility standards for individuals with disabilities. Knowing the rules of 508 compliance is important for school librarians, who are often responsible for tech, including maintaining website content.

As childhood trauma is recognized as a public health issue, librarians and educators help students who have experienced violence, loss, and other issues.

Trauma-informed approaches can help librarians better understand and respond to young patrons' behavioral issues.

Food and cooking are easy and accessible entry points to learning.