Opinion: Page 5
The latest opinion pieces by industry thought leaders
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Equity is only possible with quality information
Nevada's state superintendent writes that using data, including assessments, to support student success is critical to ensuring equal learning opportunities.
Jhone Ebert • Sept. 29, 2021 -
How a Texas school managed classroom chaos
An assistant principal shares how school-home communications were all the more crucial as students were ping-ponged between learning models.
Sarah Norman • Sept. 23, 2021 -
Why we're prioritizing SEL this year
Four educators write that additional supports are a necessity for students and their families this year to proactively address pandemic stress and trauma.
Chrysantha Norwood, Shane Blandford, Scott Hangey and Mike Hoffman • Sept. 8, 2021 -
It's now or never: Let's use this investment opportunity to create a new US education system
An SEL expert suggests bolstering the approach in schools in partnership with students, families and communities is crucial to systemic change.
Karen Niemi • Sept. 2, 2021 -
Retrieved from U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Access to meals must be a priority in the return to school
An estimated one in six children across the nation could struggle with hunger as they re-enter the classroom.
Jillien Meier • Aug. 30, 2021 -
We need to address students' trauma heading into the next school year
A former Chicago principal writes that more nuanced and complex challenges require preparation to provide emotional support for student success.
Liz Dozier • Aug. 25, 2021 -
Ensuring federal K-12 aid is more than a stopgap relief effort
The head of the National Association of Energy Service Companies urges the use of relief funds to modernize infrastructure for efficiency.
Timothy Unruh • July 29, 2021 -
Retrieved from U.S. Department of Agriculture.
How universal meals nourish all students and transform citywide wellness
Two school nutrition services directors write that school meal policies provide an opportunity to close prominent, long-standing equity gaps.
Laura Benavidez and Jennifer LeBarre • July 23, 2021 -
School mental health supports are a pathway to equity
The Jed Foundation's director of high school implementation writes school mental health work must include a focus on systemic change.
Wenimo Okoya • June 21, 2021 -
Early childhood must be overhauled to improve pay, career pathways
A senior researcher at the Wellesley Centers for Women writes a new approach to early childhood is needed to attract and retain workers.
Wendy Wagner Robeson • June 14, 2021 -
Schools must provide assessments to see where students stand after pandemic
The superintendent of San Antonio ISD writes that exams are more crucial than ever to target supports and help students gain lost ground.
Pedro Martinez • June 8, 2021 -
To meaningfully address learning loss, schools must use federal funds to reform education
A former chief academic officer for Delaware writes that achieving long-term results from relief funding will require a comprehensive rethinking of how school works.
Michael Watson • May 27, 2021 -
Alternative assessment approaches can boost creativity, educators' insights into student learning
Van Andel Institute for Education Director Terra Tarango shares five alternative approaches educators can use to move beyond pencil-and-paper.
Terra Tarango • May 26, 2021 -
School districts must learn from history, not repeat it
A former superintendent writes that understanding a crisis like Hurricane Katrina can help schools build back better from COVID-19.
Robert Avossa • May 18, 2021 -
Jones, Alex. (Getting To Class). "2014". Retrieved from Unsplash.
School safety should begin with proactive measures
A former director of the U.S. Secret Service urges a focus on mental health, social-emotional wellbeing and recognizing early warning signs.
Mark Sullivan • May 11, 2021 -
Our financial literacy gap is a systemic problem: Let's treat it that way
Corporate allies can help school communities take action and make financial literacy a core value for underserved students, two nonprofit leaders write.
Demi Ross and Charles Walker • May 5, 2021 -
Zimmerman, Polina. (2020). Retrieved from Pexels.
Why we can't drop the ball on ed tech now
A nonprofit executive writes that technology is an essential tool that can be a great equalizer for students — especially those with disabilities.
Brad Turner • April 28, 2021 -
Closing the enrichment gap matters now more than ever
Officials from The Primary School detail how the pandemic has widened the gap in available learning opportunities beyond core curriculum.
Meredith Liu and Vida Amanat • April 21, 2021 -
The implications of testing flexibility on measuring student growth and learning trends
Former state officials from South Dakota and North Carolina write ed leaders and policymakers must understand the promise and limits of flexible options.
Melody Schopp and Angela Quick • April 16, 2021 -
Social-emotional learning is essential to 'build back better'
The CEOs of CASEL and Urban Assembly write that the crises of the past year drive home the importance of SEL in preparing students for the future.
Karen Niemi and David Adams • April 12, 2021 -
Jones, Alex. (Getting To Class). "2014". Retrieved from Unsplash.
As schools reopen, prioritizing student mental health can prevent 'twin-demic'
A professor and psychologist writes that the mental health needs of teens and young adults are critical, and that educators remain best-positioned to identify warning signs of self-harm and suicide.
Scott Poland • March 25, 2021 -
5 strategies for ensuring educator professional development is 'all-in'
Ken Wallace, an Illinois district superintendent, shares tactics for developing and maintaining effective adult learning programs for educators.
Ken Wallace • Feb. 10, 2021 -
4 questions to ask when committing to equity and anti-racism in schools
The tough considerations that lead to real and meaningful change begin with understanding your "why," two K-12 leaders write.
Henry Turner and Lainie Rowell • Feb. 3, 2021 -
Supporting states and schools must take priority over costly standardized testing
Learning Disabilities Association of America board members suggest ensuring the continuation of high-quality learning may require a testing pause.
Monica McHale-Small, Bev Johns and Collin Diedrich • Jan. 8, 2021 -
The image by Sebastien.delorme is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
How COVID-19 is affecting students with visual impairments and their educators
Among teachers who had visually impaired students taking classes alongside sighted peers, 85% said at least one student had an accessibility issue.
L. Penny Rosenblum • Nov. 25, 2020