Reconsidering middle and high school grade configurations

The founder of the charter school advocacy group Great School Choices blogs that data drawn from Oakland, CA charters signals that traditional grade level configurations should be upended.

By Erin McIntyre • March 7, 2016

Bringing computer science to all classrooms

TechCrunch reports on 1.8 million U.S. jobs that are expected to be unfilled due to a lack of qualified candidates, saying that American students need more computer science education. 

By Erin McIntyre • March 7, 2016

Virtual learning days let students try out e-learning

At Park Ridge High School in Bergen County, N.J., students get to stay home from school once annually in order to take part in a planned virtual learning day.

By Erin McIntyre • March 7, 2016

Special ed teachers react to initiative to better identify and serve students of color

Two educators write op-ed pieces for the Department of Ed detailing their reactions to a new Obama initiative to address disparity in serving students of color with special ed.

By Erin McIntyre • March 7, 2016

After New York drops timed tests, more states consider the same

States and education experts are divided over whether the practice of timing standardized tests should be abandoned.

By Erin McIntyre • March 7, 2016

Ed Dept releases names of ESSA committee members

The department released the list of people who will propose draft regulations under ESSA late Friday.

By Autumn A. Arnett • March 4, 2016

Tackling California's truancy crisis

Jill Habig, special counsel to Attorney General Kamala Harris, discusses the long-term impacts of chronic absences.

By Erin McIntyre • March 4, 2016

Directory of blended learning aims to help districts, schools

In an op-ed, Julia Freeland Fisher, director of education research at the Clayton Christensen Institute, examines two strategies for adopting blended learning.

By Erin McIntyre • March 4, 2016

New Orleans school funding battle pits magnets v. charters

A new per-pupil funding formula for state aid in New Orleans that calls for tax revenue to be redistributed from gifted students to those with disabilities is under debate.

By Erin McIntyre • March 4, 2016

Nomination of King as ed sec provokes ire from activists

Based on his track record as ed commissioner in New York, some activists are saying that Dr. John B. King, Jr.'s nomination as secretary of education should be thwarted.

By Erin McIntyre • March 4, 2016

Accountability under ESSA still open to interpretation

Because of flexibility around accountability in the Every Student Succeeds Act, states like Florida and Kentucky are considering bills that might not meet federal standards.

By Erin McIntyre • March 4, 2016

Creative approaches can make coding more fun, accessible

Four districts are taking innovative approaches to closing the subject's participation gap. 

By Erin McIntyre • March 4, 2016

Report: Special ed services in NYC schools severely lacking

Nearly 40% of students who need special education services are being failed by NYC schools, a new report says.

By Erin McIntyre • March 3, 2016

Cafeteria vulnerabilities highlight schools' need for emergency plan

Schools and districts should prepare students for situations in which they may not be able to be locked down in a classroom.

By Erin McIntyre • March 3, 2016

Proposal of teacher database creates contention, debate

On the heels of California's proposal to create a statewide teacher database to help address teacher shortages, a larger policy debate has emerged.

By Erin McIntyre • March 3, 2016

Keeping students safe with proactive IT practices, guidelines

Good stewardship and a robust, proactive IT presence can help districts keep their students safe in digital spaces.

By Erin McIntyre • March 3, 2016

Using Universal Design for Learning to help diverse students

Under the new Every Student Succeeds Act, schools are encouraged to try out universal design for learning (UDL) in order to reach learners with diverse needs.

By Erin McIntyre • March 3, 2016

3 things connected educators do differently

Administrators Jimmy Casas and Jeff Zoul can attest to the impact of Twitter, but they say there's also more to being 'connected' than employing social media tricks.

By Roger Riddell • March 2, 2016

Chicago Public Schools cuts 62 positions, axing 17 teachers

After a round of layoffs left 17 teachers and a total of 62 school staff out in the cold, Chicago unions are threatening to strike over potential pension changes.

By Erin McIntyre • March 2, 2016

CA considers old proposal of creating statewide teacher database

Advocates in California say that the implementation of statewide teacher databases could help address the gaps that result from a teacher shortage.

By Erin McIntyre • March 2, 2016

Washington district tastes success with community schools

In Vancouver, one district is seeing success and planning to expand a community schools initiative currently at work in 16 schools. 

By Erin McIntyre • March 2, 2016

Emotional skills under microscope in K-12

Although social emotional learning has been proven to help increase academic achievement, measuring those emotional skills is controversial. 

By Erin McIntyre • March 2, 2016

Success, trial, and error at Summit Preparatory Charter High School

The California school has seen success, but it's still learning how to help low-income students become fully prepared for college.

By Erin McIntyre • March 2, 2016

Shadow a Student Challenge puts educators in students' shoes for a day

The exercise is meant to help teachers and principals foster empathy and understanding of students' experiences.

By Erin McIntyre • March 1, 2016

What 7 principals wish they knew their first day on the job

Several K-12 school leaders shared their thoughts at the NASSP's Ignite '16 conference in Orlando.

By Roger Riddell • March 1, 2016