Redesigning University Principal Preparation Programs: A Systemic Approach for Change and Sustainability

Research has shown that school principals matter greatly to teaching and learning, but the university training they receive for the job has struggled to keep pace with the post’s growing demands. To test a path forward, in 2016 The Wallace Foundation launched the University Principal Preparation Initiative, providing support to seven universities in seven different Read more about Redesigning University Principal Preparation Programs: A Systemic Approach for Change and Sustainability[…]

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National Call to Action for Summer Learning: How Did School Districts Respond?

Seeking to counter the pandemic’s harmful impact on students, the vast majority of school districts nationwide mobilized in 2021 to deliver summer learning programming. A full 94 percent of districts responded, reaching nearly one-fifth (18 percent) of their student populations, on average. A new slide presentation from Westat details early findings from an ongoing multi-method Read more about National Call to Action for Summer Learning: How Did School Districts Respond?[…]

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Evaluating the Impact of Teach for America: Two New Studies

Recently, Future Ed reviewed two recent studies that suggest positive results for students in classrooms with TFA teachers, who typically lack the traditional training in education schools and commit for two or more years of service. Excerpts from the piece appear below: In a new working paper from the Annenberg Institute, Brown University researcher Virginia Read more about Evaluating the Impact of Teach for America: Two New Studies[…]

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Transforming for Tomorrow: A State Policymaker’s Guide for Supporting Student-Centered Education Systems

KnowledgeWorks has released a state policymaker’s guide for supporting student-centered education systems: A personalized, competency-based approach to learning reimagines our K-12 education systems with the goal of ensuring that each child is empowered with the knowledge and skills they need for the future. This approach to education creates engaging learning experiences customized to each student’s Read more about Transforming for Tomorrow: A State Policymaker’s Guide for Supporting Student-Centered Education Systems[…]

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Educators Field Guide to Preparing for Web3: 3 Steps You Can Take Today, to be Ready for Tomorrow

Writing for Getting Smart, Mike Peck recently reviewed trends in web3 and the principles that guide them that can help inform practices to prepare young people for the next generation of the web. Excerpts of the piece appear below: Broadly speaking,there are a few key principles that are guiding the growth of web3. To try Read more about Educators Field Guide to Preparing for Web3: 3 Steps You Can Take Today, to be Ready for Tomorrow[…]

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The Power of Expectations in District and Charter Schools

Now that the most acute phase of the Covid crisis is over, public conversation has turned to the millions of students who are still struggling academically and emotionally—and how our nation’s schools ought to respond. Decisions that education leaders make right now will determine whether this generation of students recovers or continues to lose ground. Read more about The Power of Expectations in District and Charter Schools[…]

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Federal Omnibus Bill Includes Substantial New Funds for Education Research

A recent piece by Kevin Mahnken in The 74 summarizes recent developments that mean more funding for R&D in education.  A recently passed $1.7 trillion federal omnibus package includes a $70 million boost to the Institute for Education Sciences (IES), the Department of Education’s arm for statistics, research, and evaluation. Within that 9.6% bump, $40 Read more about Federal Omnibus Bill Includes Substantial New Funds for Education Research[…]

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Do States Have the Data to Answer Important Questions about their Teacher Workforce?

Over the last couple of years, we have seen increased concerns about the teacher workforce and intensified news reporting describing teacher shortages. In response, many states have enacted policies largely in the absence of data on the precise nature of their staffing challenges, such as lowering standards across the board for entry into teaching. These Read more about Do States Have the Data to Answer Important Questions about their Teacher Workforce?[…]

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Coaching Improvement Resources

When told with the perspective of hindsight, many improvement stories can seem relatively clear and straightforward– a team isolates a problem, does some tests, learns some things, and a few iterations later, they’ve made progress. In practice, however, applying improvement science principles, tools, and methods to solve a problem in an educational context can be Read more about Coaching Improvement Resources[…]

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Using Predicted Academic Performance to Identify At-Risk Students in Public Schools

Ed Working Papers has released a new paper by Ishtiaque Fazlul, Cory Koedel, and Eric Parsons focused on ways to use data to identify at-risk students. This paper offers a promising look at new ways to identify students early so that they can receive timely intervention. Measures of student disadvantage—or risk—are critical components of equity-focused Read more about Using Predicted Academic Performance to Identify At-Risk Students in Public Schools[…]

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Inside the Incubator Using Apprenticeships to Redesign Teacher Preparation

Writing for The 74, Asher Leher-Small recently reviewed the ways in which apprenticeships are transforming teacher preparation across the country. Excerpts from the piece appear below: Wyoming is rolling out a program designed to eliminate key barriers to becoming an educator — and doing so with the help of a network of more than a Read more about Inside the Incubator Using Apprenticeships to Redesign Teacher Preparation[…]

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4 Education Policy Tools to Use

Writing for EdNote, Erin Whinnery recently shared four new education policy tools. Excerpts from the piece appear below: How can education leaders better support students, families and teachers in these unprecedented times? What needs can be met with policy changes? Education Commission of the States supports education leaders with four unmatched state policy resources. The State Read more about 4 Education Policy Tools to Use[…]

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ESSER Hold’em for Districts

Released by ERS, ESSER Hold’em is a modified version of Budget Hold’em for Districts that helps districts plan, focus investments, and navigate tradeoffs in spending ESSER dollars among the 5 Power Strategies that have been identified. These five strategies address critical student needs now and lay a sustainable foundation for lasting improvement. The game will Read more about ESSER Hold’em for Districts[…]

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Equity in Student-Centered Learning Design

A new guide from Education Evolving is designed to help teams design learning that equitably honors the unique assets and needs of students. It provides tips, stand-out examples, and discussion questions for teams to work through, focused on each of Education Evolving’s seven principles of student-centered learning. The guide draws wisdom from 11 brilliant educators Read more about Equity in Student-Centered Learning Design[…]

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3 State Policy Levers to Support Teacher Mental Health

Writing for EdNote, authors Alyssa Rafa and Cassidy Francies present three state policy levers to support teacher mental health. Excerpts from the piece appear below: While state policymakers have been working to improve student mental health for years, there has not been much legislative action related to teacher mental health. It is, however, an issue Read more about 3 State Policy Levers to Support Teacher Mental Health[…]

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The Boys Feminism Left Behind

Writing for Common Sense, Richard V. Reeves explores the gender issues affecting boys and men today. Excerpts of the piece appear below: In 1970, on American campuses males dominated. In undergraduate enrollment they were 58 percent of students to females’ 42 percent. Men got more than 85 percent of PhDs. In law schools, about 90 Read more about The Boys Feminism Left Behind[…]

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