Ed Dept announces teacher and school leader grant competition

Applications can be submitted now through March 24, 2017, but while President Barack Obama requested $250 million for the competition, funds will depend on the next Congress.

By Tara García Mathewson • Dec. 20, 2016

Heeding research, states investing in school counselors

Minnesota, Tennessee, Colorado and Indiana are among those focusing on school counseling to prepare students for high school graduation, college and beyond.

By Tara García Mathewson • Dec. 20, 2016

Few companies have fully funded their ConnectED promises so far

The White House released a fact sheet about the initiative, but the amount of software and devices donated doesn’t seem to reach the $100-million-plus commitments.

By Tara García Mathewson • Dec. 20, 2016

Illinois law requires students to practice safe police interactions

A new law adds lessons in driver’s ed courses about how to behave during traffic stops, and a Texas senator has proposed a similar bill.

By Tara García Mathewson • Dec. 19, 2016

Should experienced teachers help determine teacher prep focus?

While some experts believe teachers are critical go-to sources to determine how teacher preparation programs should improve, others say their skills can be outdated.

By Tara García Mathewson • Dec. 19, 2016

DeVos' Detroit charter law influence offers insight on how she might approach ed nationally

The Secretary of Education nominee used her power as an influential Republican donor to kill legislation that would have provided oversight of Detroit’s troubled charter sector.

By Tara García Mathewson • Dec. 16, 2016

New York to streamline school violence reporting system

The Violent and Disruptive Incident Reporting System asked schools to self-report across 20 categories that were confusing and overly legalistic, but now it will make do with nine categories.

By Tara García Mathewson • Dec. 15, 2016

New resources offer school leader support guidance for ESSA

Together, a new RAND Corporation report and Council of Chief State School Officers guide offer ways to use Title I and II funds for principal training and support.

By Tara García Mathewson • Dec. 15, 2016

Philadelphia schools revise discipline policies to limit disparate impact

Girls of color are among the most frequently disciplined and suspended, prompting advocates to urge changes to vague policies about attitude or distracting dress that push them out.

By Tara García Mathewson • Dec. 15, 2016

Should school districts play a larger role in birth-to-5 programs?

New research finds a 13% return on investment to high-quality birth-to-5 programs, and while K-12 districts may not be the ones to run them, they can be partners to support families at this critical time. 

By Tara García Mathewson • Dec. 14, 2016

New series aims to help schools serve the 'whole child'

The Brzycki Group and The Center for the Self in Schools has released a Well-Being in School workshop series to train educators, health care providers and policymakers.

By Tara García Mathewson • Dec. 14, 2016

Facing pressure, NYC abandons Harlem elementary merger plan

The city's Department of Education has backed away from a plan to merge two schools after facing criticism that it was moving forward too quickly.

By Tara García Mathewson • Dec. 14, 2016

Report: Wide variety across states in Head Start quality, funding, access

A comprehensive report by the National Institute for Early Education Research covers the pre-K program as well as its equivalent for infants and toddlers, migrants, and American Indians and Alaska natives.

By Tara García Mathewson • Dec. 14, 2016

Black, Latino students more likely to attend schools with police, no counselors

A recent analysis of the latest Civil Rights Data Collection survey takes a closer look at the finding that 1.6 million students attend schools with police officers but no counselors.

By Tara García Mathewson • Dec. 13, 2016

Superintendents with lengthy histories in their districts bring stability, expertise

A quarter of the superintendents in California’s largest 20 districts were once students in those schools, which gives them a deeper understanding of the communities and an incentive to stay.

By Tara García Mathewson • Dec. 13, 2016

Google data center creates boon for Oklahoma district

A massive data center in Pryor, OK, may not have brought thousands of jobs to the small town, but it has brought money and active volunteers to benefit local schools.

By Tara García Mathewson • Dec. 13, 2016

'Inclusive Schools Week' aims to better integrate students with disabilities

Inclusive Schools Week, the first week of December, was originally supported by the Office of Special Education, but its inclusivity message stretches to all marginalized groups.

By Tara García Mathewson • Dec. 12, 2016

Amid legalization, superintendents seek more info on pot's school impact

In states that legalized recreational marijuana use for adults in November, administrators are becoming more focused on addressing drug possession and monitoring students.

By Tara García Mathewson • Dec. 12, 2016

OCR celebrates successes, braces for what's to come

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights last week released its annual report as well as a companion report summarizing the office’s work during the Obama administration.

By Tara García Mathewson • Dec. 12, 2016

Computer science education expands with new AP courses

Hour of Code events introduce 100 million kids to computer science in a week, but schools are going beyond that with year-long courses, including new Advanced Placement options.

By Tara García Mathewson • Dec. 9, 2016

New York's homeless pulled between shelter and school

The city often places homeless families in shelters outside their home borough, meaning if children want to stay in their same school, they have to spend hours each day getting there.

By Tara García Mathewson • Dec. 9, 2016

Wyoming bill recommends 'Indian Education for All'

A bill passed unanimously by the Select Committee on Tribal Relations could come before the state legislature this year and, if passed, would require a new curriculum on tribal history in all schools.

By Tara García Mathewson • Dec. 8, 2016

California forms regional support networks for charter authorizers

Charter authorizers in many California districts are part-time positions, filled by people who are reportedly not fully informed about their expected oversight role and who don't have time to do it well.

By Tara García Mathewson • Dec. 8, 2016

Ed Dept releases final ESSA assessment regulations

The final regulations are very similar to those proposed earlier this year, but changes include tweaks to criteria around receiving waivers for exceeding the cap on students with disabilities taking alternative tests.

By Tara García Mathewson • Dec. 8, 2016

Survey: NY parents don't think grads are ready for college

The Education Trust-New York found stark differences by race when asking parents about the importance of grading schools, creating clear report cards and identifying low-performing schools.

By Tara García Mathewson • Dec. 8, 2016