The New Testing Landscape: How State Assessments Are Changing Under ESSA

Posted on September 24, 2019September 18, 2019 by coreeducation

State testing systems are in transition. Buffeted by anti-testing sentiment on the left and right, budget battles, and renewed debates over the role that testing plays, the recent, unprecedented push for states to collaborate on high-quality, standards-aligned assessments has given way to an increasingly fragmented marketplace. A new report from FutureEd Senior Fellow Lynn Olson Read more about The New Testing Landscape: How State Assessments Are Changing Under ESSA[…]

Education Research: Does the United States Have the Right Model?

Posted on September 17, 2019September 13, 2019 by coreeducation

Recently in NCEE’s blog, Marc Tucker asked a compelling question: Is the United States employing the right approach to education research? The evidence points to an answer of no. Excerpts from the piece appear below: Many years ago, in 1971, I (Tucker) was asked to join the White House unit set up to plan for Read more about Education Research: Does the United States Have the Right Model?[…]

Supporting Teachers Through Policies for Personalized Learning

Posted on September 3, 2019September 1, 2019 by coreeducation

If state leaders want more student-driven learning in classrooms, creating policies that support teachers is critical. That’s according to a new report from iNACOL, a nonprofit that supports competency-based education. The report outlines five recommendations for state policy leaders on how to help develop teachers so they’re prepared for competency-based instruction: 1. Convene a state Read more about Supporting Teachers Through Policies for Personalized Learning[…]

Reimagining the Teaching Profession for the 21st Century

Posted on July 25, 2019July 20, 2019 by coreeducation

In a new issue brief, iNACOL outlines five key opportunities for state policymakers to transform the teaching profession to enable it to support the shift toward student-centered learning models in K-12 education. Modernizing the Teaching Workforce for Learner-Centered, Competency-Based, Equity-Oriented Education: State Policy Recommendations makes five recommendations to leverage the unique role of state policymaking: Read more about Reimagining the Teaching Profession for the 21st Century[…]

Alignment Matters: A Framework for Advancing Student Learning and Promoting Equity

Posted on June 20, 2019June 19, 2019 by coreeducation

What do high performing schools have in common? Among other things, they have rigorous academic standards, rich curriculum, and high-quality assessments. They also have well-trained educators who have regular access to accurate and useful data. And they have a culture of equity that undergirds their work. All of these reinforce one another to drive student Read more about Alignment Matters: A Framework for Advancing Student Learning and Promoting Equity[…]

Few States Have Policies to Fully Address Student Trauma

Posted on February 20, 2019February 16, 2019 by coreeducation

Despite the pervasive effect of traumatic experiences on student performance,only 11 states encourage or require school staff training on the effects of trauma. Half of states have policies on suicide prevention. And just one state, Vermont, requires a school nurse to be available daily at every school campus. Those are among the key findings of Read more about Few States Have Policies to Fully Address Student Trauma[…]

50-State Comparison: Teacher Leadership and Licensure Advancement

Posted on November 14, 2018November 12, 2018 by coreeducation

On the path to strengthen teacher pipelines, support excellent teaching and improve retention, many states have developed opportunities for teacher leadership and advancement. While most states offer advanced licenses to encourage ongoing learning and growth within the teaching profession, many are now also including supports and incentives to encourage more teachers to become leaders in Read more about 50-State Comparison: Teacher Leadership and Licensure Advancement[…]

Restorative Justice: An Alternative to Traditional Punishment

Posted on November 13, 2018November 12, 2018 by coreeducation

Restorative justice is the focus of a series of reports authored by the WestEd Justice and Prevention Research Center, through funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The reports include: What Further Research is Needed on Restorative Justice in Schools? Restorative Justice in U.S. Schools: Summary Findings from Interviews with Experts Restorative Justice in U.S. Read more about Restorative Justice: An Alternative to Traditional Punishment[…]

Promoting Professional Learning Through Teacher Licensure Renewal Policies

Posted on September 6, 2018September 3, 2018 by coreeducation

Writing for New America, Melissa Tooley and Taylor White highlight how the policies undergirding most states’ licensure renewal systems not only conflict with what is known about best practices in adult learning, but that “whether a teacher grows considerably while fulfilling her state’s renewal requirements or does not improve at all is of no consequence Read more about Promoting Professional Learning Through Teacher Licensure Renewal Policies[…]

Every State’s Economic Future Lies with School Reform

Posted on June 26, 2018June 24, 2018 by coreeducation

Eric Hanushek recently wrote an issue brief for AEI detailing the connection between quality education and a state’s economic future. Key points of the brief include the following: A key element of any successful economy, whether a nation or a state, is the quality of its workforce. The economic gains to each state from improving Read more about Every State’s Economic Future Lies with School Reform[…]

Teachers of Color: In High Demand and Short Supply

Posted on May 15, 2018May 10, 2018 by coreeducation

The Learning Policy Institute has examined national data and recent research on the barriers teachers of color face to both entering and staying in the profession. Their new report, Diversifying the Teaching Profession: How to Recruit and Retain Teachers of Color, includes recommendations intended to help policymakers increase teacher workforce diversity-an especially important strategy to Read more about Teachers of Color: In High Demand and Short Supply[…]

Critical Success Factors for Great School Leaders

Posted on May 9, 2018May 9, 2018 by coreeducation

Writing for The 74, Beth Rabbitt reflects on the takeaways from the Learning Accelerator’s work with more than 100 leaders across eight regions nationally in the past year. Excerpts from the article appear below: Looking at patterns across each region, our biggest finding was this: ecosystems matter. Leaders can only be as effective as the Read more about Critical Success Factors for Great School Leaders[…]

50-State Comparison: School Leader Certification and Preparation Programs

Posted on May 8, 2018May 8, 2018 by coreeducation

Research shows school leadership is a pivotal factor in improving student achievement and retaining quality teachers. In fact, among school-related factors, leadership is found to have one of the greatest impacts on student learning — second only to classroom instruction. However, many districts are challenged by high rates of turnover, resulting in shortages and inexperienced Read more about 50-State Comparison: School Leader Certification and Preparation Programs[…]

NCTQ Releases 2018 State Teacher Policy Best Practices Guide

Posted on April 24, 2018April 23, 2018 by coreeducation

NCTQ’s 2018 State Teacher Policy Best Practices Guide highlights leading state work across 37 different policy areas that impact teacher quality. This resource serves as a guide to all states seeking concrete ideas and examples of how to improve teacher policy. Despite consistent concerns regarding whether states are acting quickly and ambitiously enough to improve Read more about NCTQ Releases 2018 State Teacher Policy Best Practices Guide[…]

Wonk-A-Thon Winners

Posted on April 18, 2018April 13, 2018 by coreeducation

This year, the Fordham Foundation hosted a Wonkathon, asking assorted education policy experts whether America’s graduation requirements need to change. Replies were rated and the winners have been announced: 2018 First Place: High school reimagined (and we truly mean reimagined) by Jessica Shopoff, M.Ed., and Chase Eskelsen, M.Ed. To build a personalized learning model that Read more about Wonk-A-Thon Winners[…]