In a recent article for the Shanker Institute, David Blazar and Matthew Kraft reflect on the findings of their recent study of teacher effects on students’ social and emotional skills: A growing body of research is starting to provide convincing evidence that teachers can have large effects on students’ social and emotional development in addition Read more about Teacher Effects on Social and Emotional Skills in School[…]
A new study finds both strengths and limitations in the measures used for New Jersey’s new principal evaluation system. The study, released by the Institute of Education Sciences, was conducted by Regional Educational Laboratory Mid-Atlantic and focused on the statewide principal evaluation system that was fully implemented by the state of New Jersey during the Read more about New Report Examines Measures Used in New Jersey’s Principal Evaluation System[…]
There is no consensus among the public about the role of the public school system in the U.S., according to a Phi Delta Kappan poll that also shows widespread discontent with some of the education policies that have been a major focus of the reform movement. “This really calls into question in many ways whether Read more about Confusion Over Purpose of U.S. Education System[…]
In Education Week Teacher, Elena Aguilar writes an insightful piece about the promise of transformational coaching. Excerpts appear below: I believe new-teacher support programs must be linked to schools’ moral imperative to meet the social, emotional, and academic needs of every child, every day. To that end, the overarching objective of a teacher-support program should Read more about Developing Resilient, Equity-Conscious Teachers[…]
The Center on Great Teachers & Leaders at AIR has released a new toolkit and crosswalk, Aligning Leadership Standards to the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders. Many states are transitioning or considering a transition to the new Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (PSEL), developed by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). Developed in Read more about New Toolkit and Crosswalk for Leadership Standards Alignment[…]
The U.S. Department of Education has released its final regulations governing how states hold their teacher preparation programs accountable. New America’s Melissa Tooley takes a closer look at the potential challenges with implementation, which falls squarely on the shoulders of State Education Agencies: As with the recently-enacted Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), these regulations leave Read more about Teacher Prep Regulations Rise from Dead, Turn Spotlight to States[…]
A new report from the Learning First Alliance, A New Philosophy on Education Decision-Making, calls for unique collaboration between governors and practitioners in K-12 policymaking. Governors and state education officials can provide direction to empower local leaders by supporting a collaborative decision-making system that brings a new relationship between policy and practice. The report Read more about Learning First Alliance Challenges Governors to Expand Collaboration with Educators[…]
The Aspen Institute’s Education & Society Program and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) have released a new report, Advancing Equity through ESSA: Strategies for State Leaders. This framework is designed to help states make the most of the opportunities provided in ESSA to advance eight equity priorities that states already are pursuing. Read more about Advancing Equity through ESSA: Strategies for State Leaders[…]
The Education Week Research Center has released an original study examining teachers’ perspectives on growth mindset. The national survey of K-12 educators, conducted with support from the Raikes Foundation, also explores their views about professional development, training, and the use of practices related to growth mindset in the classroom. Growth mindset-the belief that intelligence can Read more about Mindset in the Classroom: A National Study of K-12 Teachers[…]
The U.S. Department of Education has released non-regulatory guidance to help support the nation’s educators and elevate the teaching profession. The guidance encourages states and districts to prepare, train, and recruit high-quality teachers and principals to increase student academic achievement. With the enactment of Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), states and districts have the opportunity Read more about Education Department Encourages Support for Educators and Teaching Profession[…]
The Institute of Education Sciences has released a new guide that can help researchers and practitioners who are planning, implementing, and evaluating professional learning communities (PLCs). The guide, from Regional Educational Laboratory Mid-Atlantic, compiles 49 valid, reliable, and tested measures of key performance indicators of teacher PLCs. The guide features an annotated bibliography that identifies Read more about Instruments for Measuring the Performance of Professional Learning Communities[…]
New data show that new teachers make up a significant segment of the U.S. teaching force, making their ability to thrive (and stay) in the classroom an increasingly critical issue for schools. A new special report from Education Week explores the challenges facing new teachers and the ways schools, colleagues, and other stakeholders can better Read more about How Can Schools Help New Teachers?[…]
The Fishman Prize for Superlative Classroom Practice recognizes 100 inspiring public school teachers each year, and celebrates four winners who are making a profound difference for their students and schools. Winners participate in a thought-provoking summer residency with their peers, reflecting and writing about the issues facing their profession—and how they’re tackling them in their Read more about Essays from TNTP’s 2016 Fishman Prize Winners[…]
To build a world-class educational system, America needs outstanding teachers. But how do we entice exceptional candidates into the teaching pipeline and recruit them in the states and districts that need them most? Why are there teacher surpluses in some areas and extreme shortages in others? In this month’s issue brief, Core Education has assembled Read more about October Issue Brief: America’s Teacher Pipeline[…]
In “Grading Schools: How States Should Define ‘School Quality’ Under the Every Student Succeeds Act,” Bellwether author Chad Aldeman argues that accountability systems are a state’s best tool to signal what it values and how schools should be working to improve. But if states fail to take advantage of that opportunity, they may not provide Read more about Grading Schools: How States Should Define ‘School Quality’ under ESSA[…]
Everybody involved in K-12 education knows that new teachers tend to need a lot of extra support. What they may not fully grasp, however, is just how many new teachers are out there. As a segment of the total U.S. teaching force, their representation appears to be considerable. Nationally, 12 percent of all public school Read more about New Teachers Make Up a Significant Segment of Profession[…]