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How are schools addressing COVID-19 quarantines for fall?

The pandemic is disrupting in-person learning for a third school year in a row, but this time, remote learning policies for quarantines aren't so clear.

Superintendents navigate fiery mask debates amid employment threats

Despite mask bans and threats to jobs, some leaders are requiring masks. They're difficult decisions one expert compared to "snow days on steroids."

Deep Dive

Threat assessments: Preventing school violence or creating student trauma?

The school safety approach is used to evaluate a student’s potential to cause school violence, but critics say the practice is discriminatory and harmful.

Summer Reading: The delta variant's rapid reshaping of the new school year

A new wave of COVID-19 has quickly led to changes in guidance after many school leaders had hoped the worst of the pandemic had passed.

How K-12 schools are switching gears on college prep as test-optional admissions grow

With two-thirds of four-year institutions not requiring the SAT or ACT for at least fall 2022 admissions, schools are exploring portfolios, early college and more.

Promising Practices: SuitUp competitions let students dive into hands-on corporate experiences

Partnerships between the schools and the nonprofit connect learners to real-life business challenges and coaching from entrepreneurs and executives.

Summer Reading: COVID-19's impact on ed tech, connectivity

The past year and a half led to seismic shifts in efforts to address digital equity gaps and integrate tech in learning.

Reports: Math, reading progress slowed during first full school year of pandemic

Three separate assessment analyses show younger students, students of color and low-income students had lower rates of academic gains.

School attorneys: Heated discourse at meetings shouldn't keep boards from conducting business

The public has a right to participation and free speech, but there are steps school boards can take to set expectations for decorum at meetings.

Promising Practices: High schools, communities set visions for reforms

A grant program helped support initiatives like "Portraits of a Graduate," setting priorities for skills necessary for college and career success.

'We don't have big goals': Leaders call for ed transformation after COVID-19

Legislators and policymakers at a Reagan Institute event said bipartisanship needed for impactful change has been hard to come by.

Summer Reading: Reacclimating for in-person learning

For many students, the COVID-19 pandemic took a significant personal toll that will require additional social-emotional supports amid classroom returns.

Column

Lessons In Leadership: How a superintendent tapped SpaceX to help close homework gap

With a high ELL population, Texas' Ector County Independent School District is also committed to multilingual programming and parent engagement.

NPC 2021: How can principals build, strengthen equity mindset in schools?

Philadelphia principals detailed the need for systemic change and the crucial role of a strong school community, teacher diversity and partnerships.

NPC 2021: Principals share strategies for leading a culture of diversity, unity

During a virtual discussion, three school leaders covered topics ranging from the importance of vulnerability to the problem with saying, "But I'm not racist."

Summer Reading: How 16 months of disruption are shaping professional development

We've gathered a selection of our recent coverage of PD topics to help you get up to speed on the changing face of teacher learning.

Challenges, benefits of keeping school devices in students' hands over summer

Maintaining access to educational content over summer boosts equity, but there are also major tech management considerations and costs.

Deep Dive

Using the Olympics to bring STEM excitement into classrooms

The Summer and Winter Olympic Games can add real-world context and relevance to a variety of science and engineering lessons.

ISTE 2021: District tech leaders share pandemic learning takeaways in 'bootcamp'

The virtual discussion ranged from new approaches for distributing and managing devices to the silver linings of the past 18 months.

ISTE 2021: Teachers share pandemic 'aha' moments and how they'll apply them

Educators in a Tuesday webinar discussed helping learners develop autonomy, deepening student relationships, and enhancing collaboration.

How are schools fixing the digital equity conundrum?

Attention is being focused at the state and local levels to verify equity and effectiveness in student and teacher use of available digital tools. 

Q&A

Lessons In Leadership: How can districts improve recruitment, retention for male teachers of color?

In South Carolina's Richland School District Two, Superintendent Baron Davis has also prioritized strong magnet programming and facilities improvements.

5 ways school librarians can support teachers and students amid reopenings

School librarians are in a unique position to help address social-emotional, curricular and other needs amid the return to in-person learning.

Despite skeptics, Cardona seeks 'sustained effort' in wake of ARP plans

How American Rescue Plan funds are used now may be a litmus test before lawmakers consider allocating more federal and state dollars. 

Decoding the Divide: The struggle to make 21st century learning equitable for all students

A year of unprecedented disruption prompted significant investment to expand digital equity, but gaps persist in a number of areas.