Building Better Schools with Evidence-based Policy

Building Better Schools with Evidence-based Policy: Adaptable Policy for Teachers and School Leaders provides an extensive set of free-to-use policies for building better schools.

The policies included in this book cover a broad range of popular topics for schools that are not readily accessible, and each policy is built on theory, driven by research, and created by experts. Each policy is based on substantial evidence, and this is ensured through the inclusion of contributors who are active and highly reputable in their respective field. Most schools are obliged to write and maintain policy, and not all school leaders have the required skills, time, or expertise to do this effectively. Building Better Schools with Evidence-based Policy: Adaptable Policy for Teachers and School Leaders is a time-saving resource for schools. It aims to address the reported research-to-practice gap in education by delivering accessible evidence-based practice in a ready-to-use adaptable format. All policies within this book are designed to be adapted and tailored to the unique diversity and needs of each school as reflected by the context and the people that make up the school community.

This book is relevant to every person who works in a school – worldwide. Users of this book can rest assured that each policy has been carefully formulated from the current understandings of best practice. This is a practical innovation and an example of how schools can use research evidence in their day-to-day practices.

"The Open Access version of this book, available at www.taylorfrancis.com, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 license."

Kelly-Ann Allen is a board-endorsed Educational and Developmental Psychologist and senior lecturer within the School of Education, Monash University (Educational Psychology and Inclusion). Kelly-Ann is a Senior Fellow (Honorary) of the Centre for Positive Psychology, Melbourne Graduate School of Education, University of Melbourne, and is the inaugural director and founder of the International Belonging Research Laboratory and Global Belonging Collaborative, which represents a large group of belonging researchers from around the world. She is the Editor-in-Chief of the Educational and Developmental Psychologist and The Journal of Belonging and Human Connection.

Andrea Reupert is a Professor at Monash University, Clayton and Director of Psychological Programs at the Krongold Clinic. Andrea’s area of expertise is in the promotion of young people’s mental health and the role of schools and other services in mental health promotion, prevention, and early intervention. Along with her team, and in consultation with parents and children, she has developed various evidence-based interventions for families and other professional development resources for various practitioners, including teachers.

Lindsay Oades is a Professor and Director of the Centre for Positive Psychology at the Melbourne Graduate School of Education, The University of Melbourne, Australia. With over 130 publications, Lindsay’s research and scholarship in wellbeing science spans the health, organizational, and education sectors. He is currently a coordinating lead author on a UNESCO Education Assessment examining the relationship between education and flourishing.