How Blue States & Red States Use COVID Relief Funds Differently to Aid Schools

Recently in The 74, Bella Dimarco and Phyllis Jordan reviewed the ESSER spending pattern of different states, according to their political persuasion. Excerpts from the piece appear below: As school districts have decided how to spend billions in federal Covid-relief aid, there has been more convergence on priorities—and even a few surprises, according to a Read more about How Blue States & Red States Use COVID Relief Funds Differently to Aid Schools[…]

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Secretary Cardona Lays Out Vision to Support and Elevate the Teaching Profession

U.S Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona recently laid out his vision for how the nation can support teachers across the country and elevate the teaching profession. During an address and fireside chat at the Bank Street College of New York, Secretary Cardona discussed how the Department, states and districts, and higher education institutions can recruit, Read more about Secretary Cardona Lays Out Vision to Support and Elevate the Teaching Profession[…]

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Dr. Pedro Noguera & Dr. Frederick Hess on Conversations About the Toughest Questions in K-12

At a time of bitter national polarization, there is a critical need for leaders who can help us better communicate with one another. In A Search for Common Ground, Rick Hess and Pedro Noguera, who have often fallen on opposing sides of the ideological aisle over the past couple of decades, candidly talk through their Read more about Dr. Pedro Noguera & Dr. Frederick Hess on Conversations About the Toughest Questions in K-12[…]

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Scholars Release New Framework for History and Civics in Schools

Writing for The 74, Kevin Mahnken recently reviewed a new roadmap for American history and civics education titled “Education for American Democracy.” Excerpts of the piece appear below: Through a collaboration funded by grants from the Department of Education and the National Endowment for the Humanities, a group of civics and educational institutions spent the Read more about Scholars Release New Framework for History and Civics in Schools[…]

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Engaging Students in Civic Discourse

With all of the uncertainty around the pandemic, getting  students settled into the classroom—whether in-person or virtual—and ready to learn this fall was already going to be challenging. But we are also heading into what promises to be a contentious and polarizing election season, and students will need help navigating this difficult political environment. In Read more about Engaging Students in Civic Discourse[…]

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Making Education Everyone’s Business: Three Studies of Successful Education Advocacy

Business leaders play a critical role in ensuring that our education systems enable young people to gain the skills, knowledge, and experiences they need to be successful in the current and future economy. Business voices can be powerful tools to help shape policy, champion programs, and advocate for greater coordination and alignment among the early Read more about Making Education Everyone’s Business: Three Studies of Successful Education Advocacy[…]

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Every State’s Economic Future Lies with School Reform

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[…]

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Critical Success Factors for Great School Leaders

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[…]

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Student Voice: The Power of Amplifying Education’s Ultimate Stakeholder

Students on the Prichard Committee Student Voice Team recently wrote, “Young people are ready to help lead the charge. Policymakers would be wise to heed our interest and energy and enlist us a full partners in finding solutions.” As the national conversation around student voice swells, these students and millions of others are raising their Read more about Student Voice: The Power of Amplifying Education’s Ultimate Stakeholder[…]

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State Education Policy Tracking

The Education Commission of the States is out with policy snapshots of enacted state legislation related to teachers. Each snapshot covers all teacher legislation in 2017 as well as select 2018 introduced legislation and details various state approaches to attracting and retaining a high-quality teacher workforce. Access the snapshots at the following links: Teacher Evaluations: Read more about State Education Policy Tracking[…]

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What’s Working in America’s Public Schools

Earlier this month, John White, Louisiana state superintendent of education and board chair of Chiefs for Change, wrote a piece for the Washington Post that explored the progress made in America’s public schools over the past decade. Excerpts appear below: On the extremes of the right and the left, there is a growing desire to Read more about What’s Working in America’s Public Schools[…]

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State Education Governance Structures: 2017 Update

State education governance structures create a framework for the interplay of authority and accountability, dictating how directives are issued and how authority is  balanced with the responsibility to ensure that directives are appropriately carried out and desired results are achieved. This report explores the 50 states and takes a deep dive into the four primary Read more about State Education Governance Structures: 2017 Update[…]

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Competency-Based Education

The Education Commission of the States is out with a new policy snapshot that explores competency-based education and provides an overview of current and previous legislation related to this approach. The main goal of competency-based education serves to award credit/degrees to students for meeting specific skill competencies agreed upon by faculty, industry leaders and workforce Read more about Competency-Based Education[…]

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New Guide from NCTQ Highlights Educator Equity Work in State ESSA Plans

By September of this year, states will be submitting their state plans to meet the new standards under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). As part of the equity requirements of the policy, states are required to formulate policies that ensure historically disenfranchised students are not disproportionately taught by ineffective or inexperienced teachers. As of Read more about New Guide from NCTQ Highlights Educator Equity Work in State ESSA Plans[…]

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Dear President-Elect Trump

Marc Tucker recently penned a letter to President-Elect Trump, outlining the importance of education to the American economy. Portions of it appear below: Dear President-Elect Trump, People are counting on you because you told them that you can restore their jobs and their incomes, and, most important, their pride and self-respect. The most important reason Read more about Dear President-Elect Trump[…]

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16 Education Policy Ideas for the Next President

Education is not getting much attention on the presidential campaign trail, but that doesn’t mean the next administration won’t face a variety of opportunities and challenges in the education sector. In fact, the relative silence is misleading. Given the changes and competing pressures buffeting America’s education system, leaders in the Department of Education will have their hands Read more about 16 Education Policy Ideas for the Next President[…]

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