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

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

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

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

Outcomes for children of migrant workers have improved

Over a half-century in, the Migrant Education Program has made it possible for more migrant workers' children to break the cycle of poverty by graduating high school, entering college and finding other forms of work.

By Amelia Harper • Aug. 14, 2018

Discipline policies that illegally punish and exclude students with disabilities must stop

Officials from the National Center for Special Education in Charter Schools say a recent lawsuit filed against Success Academy should serve as notice for districts and charters alike.

By Paul O’Neill and Stephanie Lancet • Aug. 14, 2018

Report calls for national strategy to help schools prevent suicide, substance abuse

Suicide is now the third leading cause of death of children ages 10 to 14, and more than 1 million middle school and high school age students have a substance abuse disorder.

By Amelia Harper • Aug. 13, 2018

California taps paraprofessionals, non-instructional staff as teachers

A nationwide shortage of teachers, particularly in areas like special ed, has some states looking to non-traditional pipelines.

By Christina Vercelletto • Aug. 13, 2018

Online learning to melt snow days in 5 South Carolina districts

The effort is part of the South Carolina Education Oversight Committee's broader eLearning pilot, with those days counting toward the state's requirement of 180 school days.

By Roger Riddell • Aug. 10, 2018

Pre-to-3: Application period for Preschool Development Grants opens

As part of the Every Student Succeeds Act, 40 states could receive awards ranging from $500,000 to $10 million to improve services for children, birth to age 5.

By Linda Jacobson • Aug. 10, 2018

Principals now joining teachers in pursuit of elected office

Issues like the Janus decision, ongoing teacher protests, criminal justice reform and the opioid epidemic have inspired school leaders to take action.

By Roger Riddell • Aug. 9, 2018

Report: Hate speech remains persistent concern in public schools

A review of 472 verified incidents that occurred between 2015 and 2017, finding that they primarily targeted black, Latino, Jewish and Muslim students.

By Amelia Harper • Aug. 8, 2018