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4 tips to help improve COVID-19 testing in schools

When developing a testing system to keep students in school during the pandemic, K-12 leaders suggest one key is to support school nurses.

Challenges persist in assessing, responding to threats against schools

Acts of violence against schools often happen after multiple red flags slip through the cracks, and threat assessment practices remain a topic of debate.

Being Black in Education: Where is the system going wrong?

Evidence demonstrates Black leaders can strengthen achievement and culture — if they get the chance.

The issue of school redesign: 'If not now, when?'

The growing burdens facing schools demand a rethinking of how school is designed from the ground up.

Will Bloomberg's $750M charter donation move the needle on public ed?

Charter advocates say the money will help build new schools, while some experts don't think the donation will cause a seismic shift.

5 ways educators infuse joy into learning

Providing fun, engaging activities and welcoming settings for instruction can boost happiness in classrooms — and learning.

Head Start classrooms close as vaccination mandate looms

The mandate was intended to keep classrooms open, but with staff unwilling to get vaccinated, the opposite is happening.

Why student data remains at risk — and what educators are doing to protect it

Outdated laws, abundance of state rules and increase in ed tech tools add to the difficulty in protecting students' personal data.

What role should parents play in school gun violence prevention?

As the Oxford High School shooting resurfaces familiar questions, experts suggest collaboration, training and legislation.

Supreme Court to decide on public assistance for religious school tuition

Carson v. Makin focuses on a small and unique tuition assistance program, but a ruling could either greatly expand or limit voucher-type programs nationally.

The K-12 Dive Awards for 2021

With community engagement, steadfast leadership and focus on students' social-emotional needs, these are the leaders shaping K-12 today.

How Disney's magic can inspire students in STEAM

From the physics behind a roller coaster to the engineering in a light projection show, Disney parks offer a variety of STEAM lessons on- and offsite.

Coding and barbering event aims to broaden Black student participation in computer science

Students in South Carolina are learning a unique approach to barbering by coding hair designs in their barbershop class.

As public trust in teachers declines, how can districts turn the tide?

Data shows a 6-percentage-point dip since the pandemic began, but experts suggest "leaning into the problem" and engaging families to address it.

Video empowers self-reflection, personalization in professional development

An instructional coach writes that reviewing recordings of themselves can allow teachers to see things they often don’t recall from that moment.

High school counselors navigate SEL, college applications amid youth mental health crisis

With mental health challenges compounded by the pandemic, counselors are working to ease the pressure of the college application process.

Reading Reimagined attempts to take complexity out of literacy interventions

The project aims to provide research-based curriculum and tools to help underserved students become successful readers.

What can schools do to navigate the effects of long COVID?

Chronic post-COVID symptoms may qualify students for Section 504 and IDEA coverage or change their existing status.

Principal of the Year: Jessica Cabeen, Ellis Middle School

With unwavering positivity and “unconventional” leadership, a Minnesota principal sets out to help middle schoolers grow academically, socially and emotionally.

District of the Year: Richland School District Two

A South Carolina district focuses on innovation and school improvement initiatives to create equity and opportunity for all students.

Superintendent of the Year: Michael Hinojosa, Dallas Independent School District

Laser-focused determination to do what's best for students helped the Texas leader navigate public disputes amid an ongoing pandemic.

Will UC System's move to end undergrad admissions testing create more equity for high schoolers?

ACT pushes back on equity claims, saying the decision will "dim the prospects for students from underrepresented populations."

Promising Practices: Rural Texas districts collaborate to expand CTE

Three neighboring districts with small student populations found cost savings in collaborating on course offerings.

Rising District Leaders: Assistant superintendents driving inclusion, curriculum and learning

In an era of increasingly distributed leadership, these assistant superintendents and cabinet-level leaders have proven critical to their districts' success.

Rising Leaders: K-12's standout assistant principals and district leaders

We're recognizing 21 trailblazing administrators providing support, asking the right questions and reinforcing the visions of their schools and central offices.