Report: Lingering biases continue to hinder urban schools despite improvement

Research published in the journal City & Community ties negative perceptions of urban schools, particularly by white parents, to rising school segregation.

By Amelia Harper • Dec. 17, 2018

Pre-to-3: Early-childhood community looks to new Opportunity Zone program to improve facilities

The Bipartisan Policy Center hopes the program will be used to build and enhance facilities, especially in child care "deserts."

By Linda Jacobson • Dec. 14, 2018

Growing pains, grievances for new ESSA school report cards

As states roll out revamped school accountability systems, administrators say kinks including a lack of detail are hindering their effectiveness.

By Jessica Campisi • Dec. 14, 2018

More state boards of education including students in policy decision-making

The students gain valuable opportunities to build leadership and soft skills, while boards benefit from the perspective of those most affected by decisions.

By Amelia Harper • Dec. 14, 2018

Indiana state board suggests tougher rules for virtual charters

The state's fastest-growing sector of charter schools could slow down if lawmakers accept proposed changes.

By Amelia Harper • Dec. 14, 2018

Transportation, enrollment issues create barriers to school choice, study says

A study focusing on Colorado reveals that white, middle- to upper-class families are more likely to use school choice options.

By Amelia Harper • Dec. 13, 2018

Survey: More than half of US teachers concerned about language barriers with ESL parents

With 55% of schools translating parent correspondence into foreign languages, teachers worry that parents of English language learners cannot fully engage in school life and communications.

By Amelia Harper • Dec. 13, 2018

Principals, teachers have different views on employee input

A new survey finds 96% of principals think teachers are involved in making important decisions about their schools — far more than the 58% of teachers who feel the same way.

By Linda Jacobson • Dec. 13, 2018

Common Cents: Philadelphia Eagles' Zach Ertz scores over $55K for education

Through his work on and off the field, the Super Bowl champ aims to provide sports opportunities for youth, improve education quality, and restore hope in Philly, California's Bay Area and Haiti.

By Jessica Campisi • Dec. 13, 2018

Setting clear guidelines for teachers can lead to more creativity, flexibility

A Colorado high school teacher says explicit expectations and parameters help when innovating and transforming classrooms.

By Amelia Harper • Dec. 12, 2018

Code-cracking puzzles are a gateway to higher math

Teaching the long history of ciphers, cryptography and code breaking expands students' ideas of how math fits into the real world.

By Lauren Barack • Dec. 12, 2018

Impact of student health on achievement rises to forefront in whole-child approach

Physical and emotional barriers to learning can be addressed at many points throughout curriculum, a former superintendent says.

By Lauren Barack • Dec. 12, 2018

Co-teaching requires trust, comfort in sharing control

Some educators find the model beneficial for special education inclusion, but researchers note it necessitates additional time and energy to make the partnerships work.

By Lauren Barack • Dec. 12, 2018

Digital portfolios allow more space to assess student learning

A Wisconsin principal suggests students gain the added benefit of exercising crucial digital and soft skills while giving their teachers more material to tailor personalized feedback.

By Lauren Barack • Dec. 12, 2018

Meditation rekindles students' energy, focus

In an Australian primary school classroom, students do a few minutes of guided meditation each day to help them take a break.

By Lauren Barack • Dec. 12, 2018

School safety commission to recommend scrapping Obama-era discipline guidance

The commission, which is set to release a final report this month, will suggest cutting a program aimed at eliminating racial disparities in school discipline.

By Jessica Campisi • Dec. 12, 2018

Atlanta Public Schools seeks community input on 'school excellence' plan

Among the contents are district leaders' outlines for intervention when schools aren't meeting expectations.

By Linda Jacobson • Dec. 12, 2018

Los Angeles district studying affordable housing options for families, employees

Working with developers to build "below-market workforce housing on district-owned land" is among priorities named in a resolution passed Tuesday.

By Linda Jacobson • Dec. 12, 2018

Resource officers equipped with SEL skills can help reduce bullying, suspensions

A "schoolhouse adjustment" approach, where these officers are trained to act as informal counselors and mentors, can divert students from the school-to-prison pipeline, one expert says.

By Amelia Harper • Dec. 12, 2018

$4.4M in grant funds help California administrators improve STEM instruction

Some county offices of education are building STEM leadership into the requirements for an administrative credential.

By Linda Jacobson • Dec. 11, 2018

Trump administration cuts Obama-era school nutrition standards

As part of the changes, previous rules guiding options on grains, milk and sodium content in school cafeteria lunches will be replaced.

By Jessica Campisi • Dec. 11, 2018

New ESSA rules may target over 30% of schools for improvement

As states begin to determine which schools fall under the Additional Targeted Schools category, the numbers may be surprising.

By Amelia Harper • Dec. 11, 2018

Study: Housing instability largest predictor of chronic absenteeism

Researchers at the University of Michigan's Poverty Solutions say districts should opt into a data collection system that alerts educators when students approach chronic absenteeism levels.

By Amelia Harper • Dec. 11, 2018

4 steps to achieving districtwide technology equality

Kevin Ghost of Pennsylvania's Connellsville Area School District explains how a rural, 4,300-student district gave teachers and students a uniform experience in a 21st century learning environment.

By Kevin Ghost • Dec. 10, 2018

Videoconferencing can help ease teacher shortage pain, but is it enough?

"Beaming in" highly qualified or specialized teachers can aid low-income schools, but concerns persist that it's a Band-Aid for more systemic solutions.

By Allie Gross • Dec. 10, 2018