Reading reality in America’s classrooms

The nation's schools are facing a long overdue conversation about "deeply flawed" reading curricula that don't serve students, three superintendents write.

Superintendents skew younger, but diversity remains elusive

Nearly 90% of superintendents said they plan to continue in their same position next school year, a survey by AASA found.

Ransomware gang claims responsibility for cyberattack on Minneapolis schools

Medusa, a ransomware group, leaked alleged sensitive student information on its website as it asked the district to pay $1 million to delete the stolen data.

Biden requests $90B for Education Department in FY24 budget

High-poverty schools and special education services would receive the largest K-12 funding portions under the plan.

Updated March 9, 2023

5 tips for navigating ChatGPT and other AI tools in the classroom

While some districts have already blocked access to the artificial intelligence chatbot, some educators have advised against knee-jerk reactions.

More districts receiving dedicated homeless student funding, but rural areas still lag

Advocates say expanded funding helps with increased identification and support, which remains scarce especially in rural areas.

School lunch participation leapt 51% during 2021-22

A new FRAC report attributes the increase to now-defunct universal school meal waivers, among other things. 

Learner, educator support needed to encourage underrepresented students to take advanced courses

Simply requiring college prep courses alone can be detrimental to learning if scaffolds aren’t in place to account for barriers, one researcher says.

House committee advances bills on parents’ rights, women’s sports

In a marathon session, lawmakers debated parents’ roles in educational decision-making and transgender students’ participation in school athletics.

IXL Learning acquires Teachers Pay Teachers

In 2022, TPT had a record number of teachers purchasing educator-created resources and earning money from their content, according to IXL.

4 ways the National Cybersecurity Strategy could shape K-12

From increasing tech companies’ accountability to combating ransomware attacks, ed tech experts weigh the significance of the White House plan.

Teacher-founded nonprofit aims to disrupt lectures with modern classroom approach

The Modern Classrooms Project model has students watch teacher-developed instructional videos and work on assignments at their own pace.

More evidence shows teachers are increasingly exiting the classroom

Teacher attrition is set to surpass pre-pandemic rates if the current pace continues, a new McKinsey analysis shows.

Summer programs still robust for 2023, but future slowdown looms

As ESSER funds erode, summer learning experts say there’s uncertainty for future years of summertime academic offerings and enrichment.

Teachers of color most likely to feel brunt of seniority-based layoffs

In 37 of 40 states, minority teachers are more likely than their White peers to be in the early stages of their career, a report by nonprofit TNTP found.

Updated March 7, 2023

Social studies instructional support remains scarce at state and local levels

The subject lacks consistent standards, assessments and other supports when compared to other core K-12 content areas, a RAND Corp. report finds.

How can districts help prevent millions of children from losing Medicaid coverage?

Much of the expected coverage loss will be due to administrative churn and impact district reimbursements, overall student health and attendance.

K-12 enrollment lagged projections by 2% in 2021, revealing college pipeline cracks

About 833,000 fewer public school seats were filled across the country, with several traditionally underserved demographics showing notable declines.

‘Mother’ of disability rights movement Judy Heumann dies at age 75

Heumann's work in civil rights included leading the Education Department's special education office from 1993 to 2001.

From finance to food, DC school aims to make CTE more attractive, accessible

At a CTE Month event, educators and students discussed how enhancing career and technical offerings can boost postsecondary success.

How tapping into family engagement can boost literacy, math learning

The first session of an Education Department series explored the role of parent and teacher collaboration in honing students’ skills.

Top House Republicans introduce ‘Parents Bill of Rights Act’

The bill would require districts to publicly post curricula, provide parents a list of library books, and offer two in-person parent meetings each school year.

Chicago principals can unionize under newly signed law

Recent legislation allows school leaders in the city to participate in collective bargaining, but they can’t strike.

States invest ESSER funds in tutoring but scalability remains a challenge

A CCSSO report highlights promising practices from states including Tennessee, Louisiana and Colorado.

Lessons In Leadership: Roanoke superintendent puts equity in action through career and technical ed

For Verletta White, navigating and avoiding misunderstandings is a matter of listening, identifying pain points and finding common ground.