In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, Illinois educators and policymakers have taken an increased interest in the effects of trauma on students and educators. In March 2021, the Illinois General Assembly passed House Bill 2170, which, among many other things, called for specific attention to the effects of trauma on students. Given this interest in how trauma intersects with educational experience, IWERC was asked to write “research briefs” on trauma and its implications for educational institutions in the state. IWERC is producing briefs that are Illinois-specific, rooted in rigorous scholarly research, focused on target populations that are more likely to experience trauma and may require distinct approaches, and pithy and actionable for educators, educational institutions, and others.