ESSA asks states to offer definitions of 'ineffective teachers'

As states hand in their Every Student Succeeds Act plans to the federal government, they are taking different approaches on teacher evaluation strategies.

By Pat Donachie • June 6, 2017

Disruptors or bullies: What are school leaders to do when funding comes with an agenda?

Declining public support for education has forced administrators to increasingly look to private philanthropists to keep the doors open, but those donors often have their own ideas about what's best for students.

By Autumn A. Arnett • June 6, 2017

Soft skills benefit from arts education

In a recent webinar, thought leaders addressed the benefits of art in helping students build leadership skills, confidence and critical thinking.

By Roger Riddell • June 1, 2017

Attendance, grad rate, enrollment up in Chicago high school with holistic health clinic

The SMART Clinic at Sullivan High School, on Chicago's North Side, has been a key contributor to rapid improvement of student academic performance.

By Tara García Mathewson • June 1, 2017

English learners particularly affected by Texas special ed legislation

Though ELLs increased dramatically in the state over the past decade, the percentage in special education classes dropped after lawmakers pressured districts to classify fewer students as needing services.

By Pat Donachie • June 1, 2017

Where are all the teachers of color?

Before Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans stood out among urban areas for its 71% black teaching force, but in 2014, African-Americans made up less than half of all teachers in the city.

By Autumn A. Arnett • June 1, 2017

Syracuse Public Schools among districts withholding disciplinary records to colleges

In the years since it made the decision, the district has seen an increase in its graduation rate and the number of students going to college alongside a 50% decline in disciplinary referrals.

By Roger Riddell • May 31, 2017

New Orleans charters focus on addressing trauma

Most schools in the city are charters, and five are working to address the effects of trauma on students.

By Pat Donachie • May 31, 2017

Oklahoma school districts enact four-day school week

Facing state budget cuts, weeks are getting shorter at more and more districts in the state.

By Pat Donachie • May 31, 2017

Can looking abroad close teacher shortages?

Some districts have long found recruiting internationally boosts multicultural learning experiences, but the practice could face hurdles under Trump.

By Roger Riddell • May 30, 2017

DeVos: Funding decisions for discriminatory schools should be left to states

During a trip to Capitol Hill, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos ruffled feathers by saying decisions on punishing schools not properly serving all students should be left to states, not the federal government. 

By Autumn A. Arnett • May 26, 2017

Personalized learning could get a boost with increased local control

While No Child Left Behind may have made school districts risk-averse when it came to innovation, the Every Student Succeeds Act creates room to experiment.

By Tara García Mathewson • May 25, 2017

Schools in disrepair could access funding via tax credits

Many schools nationwide badly need significant infrastructure repairs, and some legislators have an idea to get historical preservation tax credits to fund the work.

By Pat Donachie • May 25, 2017

Report tracks preschool funding and quality nationwide

Funding for state-funded preschool programs increased in the last year, but quality varies by state, according to a new report.

By Pat Donachie • May 25, 2017

Maryland district's program facilitates cultural understanding between students, educators

Montgomery County Public Schools is working to address misunderstandings due to underlying cultural biases and perceptions with its Equity and Excellence in Education (EEE) program.

By Roger Riddell • May 24, 2017

States take different approaches to closing teacher shortages in early ESSA plans

Six of the states are considering ways to entice teachers through higher pay, particularly for subject areas with shortages, like STEM fields, or locations like rural areas.

By Pat Donachie • May 24, 2017

Vouchers a boon to homeschooling for some parents

Some Florida parents who decide to homeschool their children with special needs take advantage of a scholarship voucher program.

By Autumn A. Arnett • May 23, 2017

Georgia district makes SEL program possible with community partnership

Forsyth County Schools looked to the local Sheriff's department for assistance in funding an SEL program, gaining school resource officers trained in the program in the process.

By Roger Riddell • May 22, 2017

School choice options can vary in success in rural areas

Charter schools and vouchers are heartily supported by the new presidential administration, but the success of those options can depend on the area where they're introduced.

By Pat Donachie • May 22, 2017

Measuring the impact of lead exposure on learning and cognition

Water crises are springing up in districts nationwide — but what does this mean for schools?

By Pat Donachie • May 22, 2017

Several Baltimore schools report 0 students proficient in math, reading

Despite relatively high per-pupil spending, the city's schools continue to struggle.

By Autumn A. Arnett • May 19, 2017

Panel: Bilingual education critical to future of the workforce

A group of experts on Wednesday evening discussed the importance of language learning for students of all ages to fill critical needs in industry.

By Autumn A. Arnett • May 18, 2017

Will expected voucher expansion leave special needs students in the cold?

President Trump's leaked ed budget includes $400 million to expand such programs, but parents in states like Florida have reported being unable to find schools to serve their children's needs despite more choices.

By Pat Donachie • May 18, 2017

Whose responsibility is school funding? In Mississippi, the fight rolls on

The state's Supreme Court is set to begin hearing arguments Wednesday around whether the legislature has an obligation to fully fund education in the state.

By Autumn A. Arnett • May 17, 2017

Educators can find ways to integrate SEL with common lessons

Social-emotional learning is increasingly considered an important aspect of a student's education, but teachers are finding it difficult to integrate in lessons consumed by content.

By Pat Donachie • May 17, 2017