Teachers sue Ed Dept over denied loan forgiveness

A new lawsuit claims the department failed to correctly implement the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program with intentional administrative errors.

By Naaz Modan • July 11, 2019

E-rate remains critical to school broadband connectivity

Funds For Learning's ninth annual survey of E-rate applicants finds 70% reporting the program's competitive bidding rules are lowering internet service prices, though home connectivity for students remains a challenge.

By Roger Riddell • July 11, 2019

Ed Dept touts handling of civil rights complaints

The department's Office for Civil Rights says it has resolved almost twice as many complaints per year as during the Obama administration, but advocates say officials might be missing "systemic" issues.

By Linda Jacobson • July 11, 2019

Congress considering bills to free up more funds for summer food programs

A Food Research and Action Center report released Wednesday shows participation in summer meal programs has fallen for the past three years.

By Shawna De La Rosa • July 10, 2019

Report: More states pursuing innovative assessment models

But some are "responding to political pressures" against over-testing, according to a Bellwether Education Partners analysis.

By Linda Jacobson • July 10, 2019

New York, Chicago districts act to lower police presence in schools

African American students are more likely to attend schools where police are present — and disproportionately arrested at school compared to white peers.

By Shawna De La Rosa • July 9, 2019

ISTE 2019: 3 ways educators can improve advocacy for district needs

Creating a plan, getting a seat at the table and sharing success stories are key.

By Naaz Modan • July 8, 2019

Democratic presidential hopefuls on 9 key education issues

Before delegates at the NEA convention, 10 candidates laid out their plans on topics such as teacher pay, charter schools and picking the next ed secretary.

By Linda Jacobson • July 8, 2019

What can administrators do to bridge the homework gap?

Amid the rise of 1:1 device programs, nearly 18% of U.S. students don’t have home internet access, and 17% lack access to home computers.

By Shawna De La Rosa • July 8, 2019

Oklahoma sees 54% increase in emergency teacher licenses

Rural districts can have a difficult time recruiting and retaining highly qualified teachers, and as the state faces a continuing shortage of accredited teachers, the need for emergency licenses is expected to rise.

By Amelia Harper • July 3, 2019

Providence school system faces state takeover demands from parents

A blistering independent report detailed issues including widespread and long-term use of substitutes with little training to teach core classes, the stifling of parent voices, and chaotic classrooms with little discipline.

By Amelia Harper • July 1, 2019

ISTE 2019: State leaders, board members talk school safety, data privacy laws

More technology solutions and surveillance mean schools must be wary of stringent regulations protecting student data. 

By Naaz Modan • June 28, 2019

Educators praise SCOTUS decision to keep citizenship question off 2020 census

Immigrant advocacy groups also say the ruling is a win for democracy, though it leaves the door open for the question to be presented again.

By Shawna De La Rosa • June 28, 2019

More school districts creating threat assessment teams

As a growing number of school violence incidents are reported, many schools are looking for ways to identify threats before they turn into tragedies.

By Amelia Harper • June 28, 2019

Hurricane-ravaged Florida district to receive $1.25M for mental health services

The approved state budget also includes funds that will allow the district to avoid layoffs.

By Linda Jacobson • June 27, 2019

ISTE 2019: Teacher of the Year calls for hope, connection in digital age

Administrators and other stakeholders also provided school safety, privacy and digital equity gap insights in sessions throughout the conference's last day.

By Roger Riddell , Naaz Modan • June 27, 2019

ISTE 2019: Tuesday keynotes inspire educators to be 'limitless'

Sessions throughout the day also informed school leaders how to advocate for funding and implored teachers to reclaim agency in professional learning.

By Roger Riddell , Naaz Modan • June 26, 2019

Florida, maybe Alabama — will more states drop Common Core?

While some state policymakers blame the standards for stagnant student performance, others continue to make revisions without dropping the Common Core completely.

By Linda Jacobson • June 26, 2019

ISTE 2019: CTOs return to 'bootcamp', advocating for tech and more

Also, during an opening day keynote, futurist Mike Walsh said educators need not worry about being replaced by artificial intelligence, adding that automation will simply change the profession and require them to embrace new roles.

By Roger Riddell , Naaz Modan • June 25, 2019

50 States of Ed Policy: What state legislatures tackled in their 2019 sessions

From an increase in student mental health resources to varying approaches to improving school safety, here are the major takeaways from this year's state legislative sessions. 

By Naaz Modan • June 25, 2019

Trump plan to re-calculate poverty level would affect school lunch, Head Start eligibility

One estimate says that over 10 years, 100,000 students would no longer qualify for free school meals, and 300,000 children would lose health coverage through Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program.

By Linda Jacobson • June 24, 2019

GAO report demands action on underreported restraint and seclusion numbers

Numbers suggesting zero incidents in 70% of districts for the 2015-2016 school year are likely inaccurate, as past data trends suggest at least one instance occurs in districts with a student population of more than 100,000.

By Naaz Modan • June 21, 2019

Report: Adolescent suicide rate hits 20-year high

There are a number of options schools can pursue for additional support, though high counselor caseloads remain a problem for many.

By Amelia Harper • June 21, 2019

High-quality teachers significantly boost student attendance

Brown University researchers find that among students at high risk of absenteeism, having a highly engaging teacher can increase attendance by at least seven days a year.

By Shawna De La Rosa • June 20, 2019

Random wand searches will end in Los Angeles schools

Board members in the Los Angeles Unified School District have given Superintendent Austin Beutner a year to come up with alternative school safety measures.

By Linda Jacobson • June 20, 2019