Educational assessments provide data that give policymakers a “snapshot” of how students are performing and serve as a means of holding teachers, schools, and districts accountable. Many contend, however, that assessments could do more to promote deeper learning in K–12 environments. One interesting possibility is the use of Curriculum-Embedded Performance Read more
A redesigned School Turnaround Learning Community (STLC) site provides access to a range of free resources and opportunities for engagement focused on school turnaround in action. A project of the Center on School Turnaround at WestEd, the STLC supports state, district, and school leaders working to improve the nation’s lowest-achieving Read more
CRPE, based out of the University of Washington, is focused on the complex systemic challenges affecting public education. The organization develops, tests, and supports evidence-based solutions to create new possibilities for the parents, educators, and public officials who strive to improve America’s schools. One of their regular publications, The Lens, Read more
The percentage-and overall number-of high school students reporting an interest in teaching has steadily declined since 2010, according to The Condition of Future Educators 2014. This ACT report compares data on the self-reported career interests of nearly 1.85 million 2014 US high school graduates who took the ACT® test, compared Read more
As a result of changes in the global economy, educators, education researchers, and national and state policymakers have emphasized that students must graduate from high school “ready for college and career.” But opinions differ about what college and (especially) career readiness actually means and how best to assess it. ACT Read more
In 2013, The Wallace Foundation identified, based on a decade of research, five practices principals can use to guide their schools to better teaching and learning. WNET, New York City’s PBS affiliate, has just released a series of five videos that bring these practices to life by showing how successful Read more
P21, the Partnership for 21st Century Learning, released an online free resource for parents to help prepare kids for the future of citizenship, learning and the workforce. The National PTA served as a family engagement advisor for the project. To be successful today, students must be civically and digitally literate, Read more
The implementation of new educator evaluation systems has become an important issue for states and districts. A new guide developed by Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) Central provides a three-step process for state departments of education to monitor district implementation of state- or district-developed educator evaluation systems. This process includes the Read more
Just 3% of all college graduates in a recent Gallup-Purdue University study say they had all six of the experiences — “The Big 6” — that have been shown to prepare students well for life and increase chances of on-time graduation. Together, and individually, the Gallup-Purdue Index finds these six Read more
The Leadership Conference Education Fund, Hager Sharp Inc., and ORC International have collaborated to conduct a national survey among U.S. adults about their awareness, knowledge and attitudes regarding standards in public K-12 education. The survey broadly explores their expectations of public education and also includes questions pertaining specifically to the Read more
Michael Lewis’ book, Moneyball, which later became a motion picture starring Brad Pitt, details the transformation of baseball’s Oakland A’s through data analytics. The true story makes a compelling case that making decisions based on data is both cost effective and powerful. In this month’s issue brief, we explore the Read more
School climate or culture reflects all the elements that combine to give individuals a “feeling” about a school, including the physical environment, safety, school leadership, teachers, and stakeholder relationships. Because research suggests a strong association between a positive school climate and student achievement, school culture has become an important concept Read more
Competency-based education (CBE) programs are growing in popularity as an alternative path to a postsecondary degree. Freed from the seat-time constraints of traditional higher education programs, CBE students can progress at their own pace and complete their postsecondary education having gained relevant and demonstrable skills. The CBE model has proven Read more
A recent Fordham Institute study is out with a new analysis of NAEP data showing that the percentage of college-ready high school seniors has been flat for 20 years. This is particularly disheartening given the importance placed on college readiness today. Even with flat results, there is an increasing “college Read more
The Committee for Economic Development of The Conference Board (CED) unveiled a video series that features business and education leaders discussing why college- and career-ready standards benefit students and employers. The series consists of three videos and is part of the nonpartisan, business-led public policy organization’s work to support the Read more
Education Week has recently put together a new in-depth toolkit for educators that focuses on classroom management and student engagement. This unique toolkit presents resources and ideas educators need to run their classrooms smoothly and generate excitement about learning. The toolkit includes: 10 Education Week PD Webinars on improving classroom Read more