States fighting attendance manipulation in face of tighter ESSA regulations

Officials from three school districts explain how they're monitoring and revamping their attendance data.

By Jessica Campisi • Sept. 12, 2018

Chicago schools embrace district CEO's social media example

Chief Education Officer Janice Jackson's active social media presence sets a standard for other administrators at all levels.

By Roger Riddell • Sept. 11, 2018

School districts explore strategies to support students in foster care

These students are among a school’s most fragile population and often require special handling to help them succeed.

By Amelia Harper • Sept. 11, 2018

New exemption in California allows migrant students to remain in schools for entire year

The lawmaker who pushed for the change said the rule that migrant families have to move at the end of the harvest contributed to low graduation rates.  

By Linda Jacobson • Sept. 10, 2018

LPI report explores states' use of 5 indicator metrics under ESSA

The indicators examined were suspension rates, school climate, chronic absenteeism, extended-year graduation rate, and access to college- and career-ready curriculum.

By Roger Riddell • Sept. 6, 2018

Pending California law would let parents administer medical marijuana at school

Officials are leery of allowing the substance on school grounds, even when given by a parent, due to the possibility of losing federal funds. 

By Christina Vercelletto • Sept. 5, 2018

What did a New Mexico district learn after one year operating on a 4-day week?

Some families and educators liked the switch, but others were concerned about its impacts.

By Jessica Campisi • Sept. 5, 2018

Chicago schools issue strict guidelines on appropriate communication between students and staff

Meeting students where they live, while also eliminating the possibility of inappropriate communication, is proving to be a sticky situation. 

By Christina Vercelletto • Aug. 30, 2018

Gallup superintendent survey finds growing concerns around civics preparation

Among respondents, 74% agreed or strongly agreed that preparing students to be engaged citizens presents a challenge, up from 50% last year — and teacher recruitment and retention also ranked high among concerns.

By Roger Riddell • Aug. 30, 2018

School safety commission focuses on need for communication at final listening session

However, none of the commission's four members, including U.S. Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, attended the session.

By Jessica Campisi • Aug. 29, 2018

Report: District-run 'charters' don't see same results

District models of charters are not able to replicate the outcomes of schools with true autonomy.

By Christina Vercelletto • Aug. 27, 2018

Do low-stakes exams yield accurate results about student achievement?

Researchers argue that many students don’t take the Program for International Student Assessment seriously, skewing results used by policymakers.

By Amelia Harper • Aug. 27, 2018

Senate approves more than $70B for FY2019 ed budget

It's a big win for the Senate, and one step closer to a big win for students and educators.

By Jessica Campisi • Aug. 24, 2018

UPDATED: DeVos Ed Dept weighing decision to let schools buy guns under ESSA program

It would reverse a long-standing view of the government — that it shouldn't pay for weapons in schools.

By Jessica Campisi • Aug. 24, 2018

Poll suggests a majority of the public favors school choice

Approval for school choice is on an upswing. Just don't call it a voucher system. 

By Christina Vercelletto • Aug. 24, 2018

More than half of school violence incidents happened in just 10 states. Here's why they may have made the list

Threats made up more than 3,300 of the incidents — a 62% hike from the 2016-2017 school year, according to an Educator's School Safety Network report.

By Jessica Campisi • Aug. 23, 2018

Report: Shortfalls in employee benefits strain district finances

According to Bellwether Education Partners, district spending on benefits has risen 22%, compared to a 1.6% growth rate in overall K-12 spending between 2005 and 2014.

By Roger Riddell • Aug. 23, 2018

Socioeconomic inequalities often land students of color in special ed, study says

They're not placed in this category because of racially biased educators, according to the study.

By Jessica Campisi • Aug. 23, 2018

Gunfire at Florida HS football game isn't deemed 'school shooting' — so what is?

A narrow definition shapes the conversation and response to an issue that’s left more than a third of parents fearing their kids aren’t safe at school.

By Jessica Campisi • Aug. 22, 2018

Principal: Play is non-negotiable for elementary students' cognitive development

The CDC suggests at least 60 minutes of recess for students, with play helping students develop important social skills and physical abilities.

By Roger Riddell • Aug. 21, 2018

Some states measuring student engagement as school success indicator

New research suggests No Child Left Behind ultimately had a negative impact on students' engagement in learning.

By Linda Jacobson • Aug. 20, 2018

NCLB revision became ESSA — same thing, different day

A Nashville principal who testified before the Senate HELP committee on NCLB revisions says a lack of true change comes at the detriment of students, teachers.

By Susan Stone Kessler, Ed.D. • Aug. 20, 2018

From NCLB to ESSA: moving toward student-centered assessments

ESSA has presented states with the opportunity to adapt how they evaluate student progress throughout the year and in traditional end-of-year assessments.

By Jessica Leigh Brown • Aug. 20, 2018

Poll finds most Michigan residents want changes to school funding

The state is among several that have been re-examining funding formulas in recent years.

By Amelia Harper • Aug. 17, 2018

Study: High-pressure school mandates eventually stall gains

Stringent accountability like that of NCLB can discourage educators from trying new approaches, but principals should encourage teachers to be a school's chief innovators.  

By Christina Vercelletto • Aug. 15, 2018