Trump victory prompts call for better K-12 civics education

Soviet advances with Sputnik prompted a burst of investment in science education, and those who see Trump’s presidency as a threat to democracy say this election should do the same for civics.

By Tara García Mathewson • Nov. 11, 2016

New Jersey social studies teacher figured out how to engage students with video

East Brunswick High School's Kelly Grotrian created a twist on the standard document-based question (DBQ) activity, giving students control over their own learning.

By Tara García Mathewson • Nov. 11, 2016

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Curriculum

Educators are exploring a variety of strategies to improve students’ learning experiences while continuing to navigate ongoing political disputes.

By K-12 Dive staff

Study shows average principal works 60-hour weeks

The average comes from the first nationally representative study of how principals spend their working hours, conducted by the federal Regional Education Laboratory for Northeast and Islands.

By Tara García Mathewson • Nov. 11, 2016

Gwinnett County schools focus on teacher tech training to improve instruction

This metro Atlanta district aims to make effective technology use a standard part of teaching and learning for all students through strategic planning and targeted professional development.

By Tara García Mathewson • Nov. 10, 2016

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools to change magnet admissions policies

The North Carolina district will take socioeconomic status into account, both for the students who are applying and the neighborhoods in which they live, to diversify magnets.

By Tara García Mathewson • Nov. 10, 2016

Are today's digital natives stunting their social skills?

A new documentary, "Screenagers: Growing Up in the Digital Age," explores the impact of how much time today’s students spend looking at their phones or other digital devices.

By Tara García Mathewson • Nov. 10, 2016

California officials join chorus of opposition to Ed Dept ESSA regs

At the close of the public comment period for the Obama administration’s regulations relating to the distribution of federal Title I dollars, state leaders made their voices heard.

By Tara García Mathewson • Nov. 10, 2016

68% of districts have fast internet, up from 19% in 2013

A new report from the Consortium for School Networking shows districts have taken the need for high-speed internet seriously and invested in the technology necessary to bring it to their schools.

By Tara García Mathewson • Nov. 10, 2016

Massachusetts voters deny lift on charter school cap

About 62% of voters cast their ballots against charter school expansion in a deeply personal campaign for families both for and against a lift.

By Tara García Mathewson • Nov. 10, 2016

State ballot initiatives rock K-12 policy

Four states voted on referenda that would greatly impact the K-12 landscape.

By Autumn A. Arnett • Nov. 9, 2016

Don't forget Common Core calls for literacy instruction in all subjects

At the end of the English/language arts section of the Common Core State Standards are recommendations for integrating literacy into history, social studies, science and technical subjects.

By Tara García Mathewson • Nov. 9, 2016

Perseverance a key skill students learn from arts education

Many schools recognize the value the arts can bring to students and have begun to integrate them into other subjects, but MindShift highlights the value of keeping trained arts teachers.

By Tara García Mathewson • Nov. 9, 2016

Changing Minds campaign highlights teacher power to combat trauma

The campaign, a partnership of the Department of Justice, Futures Without Violence and the Ad Council, emphasizes the impact caring teachers can have on children’s brains.

By Tara García Mathewson • Nov. 9, 2016

Narrowing down the field of parent-teacher communication apps

First-grade teacher Jessica Meacham shares her strategy for choosing a new app to improve communication with parents — one that is free and fits all the needs for her classroom.

By Tara García Mathewson • Nov. 9, 2016

Why voting doesn't matter so much for schools

Candidates on all sides say they want to improve schools, and while they may have different strategies for doing so, ed isn’t particularly politicized, Jay Mathews writes for The Washington Post.

By Tara García Mathewson • Nov. 9, 2016

Education community hopes differences can be reconciled with President-elect Trump

Despite overwhelming support for the Democratic nominee, hope remains the state of education will improve under the next president.

By Autumn A. Arnett • Nov. 9, 2016

FarmRaiser offers schools alternative fundraisers that benefit local farmers, too

The Virginia-based organization helps connect schools with farms and artisan producers to sell healthy, local foods instead of wrapping paper or candy bars, and schools get 45% of proceeds.

By Tara García Mathewson • Nov. 8, 2016

California voters expected to effectively overturn English-only mandate

Voters in the state will see a question on their ballot about whether to allow multilingual instruction in public schools, reversing a 1998 ban.

By Tara García Mathewson • Nov. 8, 2016

Massachusetts instructional tech specialist urges critical thinking

Dianne Pappafotopoulos believes it is time for a paradigm shift in the way schools offer technology education, adding in lessons on ethics and the potential downsides of tech advancements.

By Tara García Mathewson • Nov. 8, 2016

Superintendent turnover breeds instability in districts working toward reform

An EdSource survey of California’s 30 largest districts found that 17 had superintendents in their positions for three years or less, and nine of those 17 were in their first year.

By Tara García Mathewson • Nov. 8, 2016

Minnesota cultural inclusivity starts with student name pronunciation

Increasingly diverse districts have been paying attention to names as a way to honor identity and culture, as well as ensure students don’t disconnect from learning.

By Tara García Mathewson • Nov. 8, 2016

'Little data' movement could have big outcomes for completion

Promoting self-discovery of students' own learning capacity could lead to greater achievement and increased completion rates.

By Jarrett Carter • Nov. 8, 2016

To personalize your classroom, follow special ed's lead

The special education classroom is a good place to discover successful personalized learning tools for all students.

Nov. 8, 2016

Ohio superintendents plan statehouse rally against standardized testing

As the state school board meets and a trade show opens, superintendents will join other education leaders to protest the emphasis on testing.

By Tara García Mathewson • Nov. 7, 2016

Districts turning to Rosetta Stone in absence of language teachers

The language learning program supplements teacher instruction in 4,000 schools that have not been able to staff their foreign language programs with qualified teachers.

By Tara García Mathewson • Nov. 7, 2016