Summer Reading: COVID-19's impact on ed tech, connectivity

The past year and a half led to seismic shifts in efforts to address digital equity gaps and integrate tech in learning.

Aug. 2, 2021

School attorneys: Heated discourse at meetings shouldn't keep boards from conducting business

The public has a right to participation and free speech, but there are steps school boards can take to set expectations for decorum at meetings.

By Kara Arundel • July 26, 2021

How universal meals nourish all students and transform citywide wellness

Two school nutrition services directors write that school meal policies provide an opportunity to close prominent, long-standing equity gaps.

By Laura Benavidez and Jennifer LeBarre • July 23, 2021

'We don't have big goals': Leaders call for ed transformation after COVID-19

Legislators and policymakers at a Reagan Institute event said bipartisanship needed for impactful change has been hard to come by.

By Naaz Modan • July 23, 2021

Ed Dept reiterates obligations to 2020 Title IX amendments until new proposal

A new Office for Civil Rights Q&A document includes policy examples for sexual harassment investigations, hearings and more.

By Kara Arundel • July 20, 2021

Survey: Under-resourced schools less likely to perform COVID-19 testing in fall

While top officials have said ARP funds should cover the costs, some districts have reportedly received only a few hundred dollars or none at all.

By Naaz Modan • July 15, 2021

GAO: Ed Dept can improve K-12 operations in 3 priority areas

Comprehensive reporting on COVID-19 relief obligations and expenditures is one area a new report recommends the department strengthen.

By Kara Arundel • July 8, 2021

How might the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework impact schools?

The proposal could significantly reduce the presence of lead pipes in schools and boost students' access to reliable home internet.

By Naaz Modan • July 6, 2021

NCES: 3% school enrollment drop is largest decline in over two decades

Numbers confirm enrollment dips were most pronounced in pre-K, making tracking those students all the more difficult for districts.

By Naaz Modan • Updated June 29, 2021

Lawmakers show division on instruction around racism in America

U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona repeatedly said during a hearing Thursday that the federal government doesn't dictate curriculum.

By Kara Arundel • June 25, 2021

SCOTUS rules against school that disciplined cheerleader for off-campus speech

The ruling presents three factors for schools to consider when disciplining off-campus speech, including on social media.

By Naaz Modan • Updated June 23, 2021

Ed Dept: Title IX protects LGBTQ students

The decision walks back Trump-era interpretation and opens the door for the Supreme Court to pick up a case on transgender students' rights.

By Naaz Modan • June 17, 2021

How a South Carolina district is reexamining grading policies for equity

Richland School District Two is reviewing consistency in grading and the measurement of homework assignments, among other practices.

By Kara Arundel • June 15, 2021

Will daily school health checks continue in the fall?

Daily home-based health questionnaires helped contact tracing efforts for in-person learning this year, and some districts plan to continue the practice.

By Kara Arundel • June 11, 2021

Ed Dept report documents pandemic's toll on underserved students

New maintenance of equity guidance aims to prevent disproportionate budget cuts for high-poverty school districts.

By Kara Arundel • June 9, 2021

Schools must provide assessments to see where students stand after pandemic

The superintendent of San Antonio ISD writes that exams are more crucial than ever to target supports and help students gain lost ground.

By Pedro Martinez • June 8, 2021

Ed Dept makes case for $102.8B proposal for FY 2022

Pandemic recovery and equitable practices are highlighted in the budget plan, which calls for a 41% boost in education funding over the current fiscal year.

By Kara Arundel • June 1, 2021

Why having too many or too few special education students matters

With a predicted rise in the number of referrals, schools should have tiered supports in place and monitor for inappropriate identifications.

By Kara Arundel • June 1, 2021

Ed Department details limits, flexibilities of ESSER funds

The FAQ provides examples of allowable allocations and the flow of relief funding from states to districts.

By Kara Arundel • May 27, 2021

To meaningfully address learning loss, schools must use federal funds to reform education

A former chief academic officer for Delaware writes that achieving long-term results from relief funding will require a comprehensive rethinking of how school works.

By Michael Watson • May 27, 2021

Decoding the Divide: The struggle to make 21st century learning equitable for all students

A year of unprecedented disruption prompted significant investment to expand digital equity, but gaps persist in a number of areas.

By Roger Riddell , Naaz Modan , Kara Arundel • May 25, 2021

Decoding the Divide: Closing the digital gap rests on effective policies, practices

Educators seek sustainable and reliable solutions to make internet access a permanent part of education on school grounds and in students' homes.

By Kara Arundel • May 25, 2021

States delay federal aid distribution, hampering district budgeting, programs

Delays have been especially noticeable in ESSER I and II, impacting plans for summer school and leaving superintendents to fly blind when budgeting.

By Naaz Modan • May 21, 2021

Census Bureau: 2019 had largest annual ed spending increase in a decade

Historical spending trends may be helpful as school systems focus on the appropriate, equitable allocation of emergency relief funding.

By Kara Arundel • May 20, 2021

How are districts planning to spend American Rescue Plan funds?

Considering relief funds will last approximately three years, superintendents are anticipating a fiscal cliff and being strategic with investments.

By Naaz Modan • May 18, 2021