Core Education Issue Brief: ESSA – Seizing the Opportunity

Posted on May 27, 2016May 20, 2016 by coreeducation

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was passed by Congress in December, and the law affords states much more flexibility to develop innovative educational systems and accountability processes. Now is an incredible opportunity for the transformation of American education, state by state. In this month’s issue brief, Core Education explores the opportunities under ESSA, including Read more about Core Education Issue Brief: ESSA – Seizing the Opportunity[…]

Collaborative Inquiry in MNPS

Posted on May 26, 2016May 20, 2016 by coreeducation

Each month in Core Education’s issue brief, we post a call for commentary. We always enjoy hearing great ideas from our readers! Recently, we had the pleasure of speaking with Margie Johnson of Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) about an innovative approach to collaborative inquiry that the district is implementing. Through a partnership with REL Read more about Collaborative Inquiry in MNPS[…]

Making the Most of ESSA

Posted on May 25, 2016May 20, 2016 by coreeducation

As states work to finalize plans for the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) by the 2017-18 school year, Education First asks, what is your state’s North Star and how can you use ESSA to help you chart a course to reach it? When a state has an education North Star – a shared statewide vision Read more about Making the Most of ESSA[…]

Disconnect Between Parents’ Perceptions of Child’s Performance Versus Achievement Data

Posted on May 24, 2016February 13, 2017 by coreeducation

A new national survey reveals large disconnects between how well parents believe their children perform academically and their actual performance. It also finds that parental aspirations for their child to go to college are much higher than data on the percentage of children who get to and through college. Results from the survey, which was Read more about Disconnect Between Parents’ Perceptions of Child’s Performance Versus Achievement Data[…]

Want to Fix Education? Give a Kid a Tutor

Posted on May 23, 2016May 20, 2016 by coreeducation

In the late 1970’s, education research was deemed a pseudoscience by many in the field due to a lack of clear data and results that pointed to effective practice. In response, researchers began designing field experiments to test the effectiveness of programs and practices. In recent years, as concern over U.S. educational performance has increased, Read more about Want to Fix Education? Give a Kid a Tutor[…]

Grading the Graders: A Report on Teacher Evaluation Reform in Education

Posted on May 20, 2016May 20, 2016 by coreeducation

A recent report from Thomas Toch at Georgetown University analyzes the national teacher-evaluation reform movement and finds that it has been far more beneficial than its many critics would suggest. In a growing number of states and school districts, new, more meaningful evaluation systems have focused principals’ attention on instruction, prompted valuable discussions in schools Read more about Grading the Graders: A Report on Teacher Evaluation Reform in Education[…]

A Policymaker’s Guide to School Leadership

Posted on May 19, 2016May 13, 2016 by coreeducation

Whether the goal is to enhance instruction, create a culture of excellence, or broaden education options for parents, it’s nearly impossible to improve schools without strong leaders. This is hardly news; much evidence has indicated the importance of effective principals for decades. Yet reform strategies have largely lacked a coherent plan to upgrade leadership, even Read more about A Policymaker’s Guide to School Leadership[…]

Policy Change is not the Only Path to School Reform

Posted on May 18, 2016May 13, 2016 by coreeducation

A recent opinion blog, written by Michael J. Petrilli, President of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, discusses the education sector’s exhaustion with policies on education reform. Mr. Petrilli writes: It strikes me, and several others with whom I’ve spoken in recent months, that education reform is at a turning point. It’s not just the new Read more about Policy Change is not the Only Path to School Reform[…]

Lessons on Teacher Preparation

Posted on May 17, 2016May 13, 2016 by coreeducation

A group of leading teacher preparation program providers – Deans for Impact – released a set of policy recommendations calling for outcomes-based accountability and data-informed improvement in teacher preparation. Their recommendations are consistent with the following findings: Teacher preparation programs are disconnected from local labor market needs. There is no incentive for teacher education programs to slow the Read more about Lessons on Teacher Preparation[…]

Where Do Teachers Go When They Leave?

Posted on May 16, 2016May 13, 2016 by coreeducation

When teachers leave teaching, where do they go next? Are they getting good jobs outside of education? Or are subsequent jobs more of a lateral move? Do teachers who quit teaching also quit working? A recent article by the Brookings Institute takes a look at several data sources to see what happens when teachers leave Read more about Where Do Teachers Go When They Leave?[…]

College- and Career-Ready Assignments

Posted on May 13, 2016May 7, 2016 by coreeducation

As a result of new, more rigorous college and career standards, many school leaders and educators are asking, “What does a college- and career-ready assignment look like?” Ed Trust answers that question in a new report and interactive assignment tool. “Checking In Update: More Assignments From Real Classrooms” is the second report in Ed Trust’s Read more about College- and Career-Ready Assignments[…]

How to Get a First-Rate Teacher in Front of Every Student

Posted on May 12, 2016May 7, 2016 by coreeducation

A recent Education Week blog by Marc Tucker examines what it truly takes to get a first-rate teacher in front of every student, and compares the United States systems to the rest of the world. Some experts estimate that half of those who start a career in teaching are gone in five years, and those whose Read more about How to Get a First-Rate Teacher in Front of Every Student[…]

ACSD Releases Teacher Impact Grants

Posted on May 11, 2016May 7, 2016 by coreeducation

ASCD has announced its Teacher Impact Grants program, which will provide direct grants to teacher leaders to fund initiatives that drive transformation for wider impact on improving student outcomes. The Teacher Impact Grants will enable teachers to have a greater impact on the quality of teaching in their classrooms, schools, and districts—and assume greater ownership of student Read more about ACSD Releases Teacher Impact Grants[…]

What Are Micro-Credentials?

Posted on May 10, 2016March 3, 2020 by coreeducation

Nowadays, most employers expect their workers to continually seek out learning opportunities. Micro-credentials offer students and working professionals alike a way to bulk up their resumes with field-specific skills. Micro-credentials are like certifications. Students or professionals take courses and develop specific skills in certain fields. This could include topics like: Teaching writing in K-12 classrooms Read more about What Are Micro-Credentials?[…]

Stanford Data Set Reveals Local Education Inequities

Posted on May 9, 2016May 7, 2016 by coreeducation

Sean Reardon and colleagues at the Graduate School of Education reviewed more than 200 million test scores to spotlight communities with the nation’s worst achievement gaps. The results show almost every school district enrolling large numbers of low-income students has an average academic performance significantly below the national grade-level average. Reardon and colleagues already have Read more about Stanford Data Set Reveals Local Education Inequities[…]