The following resources focus on the educational climate and betterment of those serving the K–12 educational community.
Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA): The Collaborative for Student Success created UnderstandingESSA.org that lists public hearings, listening tours, state committee meetings and informational state websites related to the implementation of ESSA.
ESSA: Quick guides on top issues. This report provides insight into key areas of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) that have prompted questions and concerns from education leaders and policymakers as they prepare to implement this new law.
Plenary Session Video: Every Student Succeeds Act 101: Putting states on track to success. Education Commission of the States’ 2016 National Forum on Education Policy.
No Time to Lose: How to Build a World-Class Education System State by State. (National Conference of State Legislators). A bipartisan group of 28 veteran legislators and legislative staff, along with several partners from the private sector, began an 18-month study in 2014. They focused on the highest performing countries on PISA to discover commonalities across their policies and practices. They met with education leaders from these countries, along with national and international experts who study their systems. This report explains why there’s no time to lose in rebuilding state education systems.
The Illinois Report Card is a great source for information about public schools across Illinois. This online school report card goes beyond test scores to present a complete view of schools and school districts.
New Science Standards Urge Shift From ‘Learning About’ to ‘Figuring Out’. Students who grow up in classrooms organized by the Next Generation Science Standards see a natural phenomenon that sparks their curiosity and then are guided along a path of inquiry, engaging in the activities real scientists do to make sense of it. (Education Dive, August 3).
Home Visits Help Memphis, TN Teachers Know Their Students Before the First Bell Rings. Early home visits are part of the foundation for teacher training at Memphis Delta Preparatory, a 300-student, K-4 charter school that will open this month under a contract with Shelby County Schools. One of the charter’s 18 teachers will have visited the homes of each student by the time school starts on Aug. 8. (Chalkbeat, August 2).
Student Mobility: How It Affects Learning. (Education Week, August 11). For more than 6.5 million students nationwide, being the new kid can be a frequent occurrence—and one that exacts a cost to their social and academic development and that of their classmates. As more states begin to use longitudinal data to improve schools under the Every Student Succeeds Act, a growing body of research suggests student mobility may be a key indicator to identify vulnerable students and keep them on a path to academic achievement.
Rural Schools Improving Despite Continued Obstacles. Rural school districts in the U.S. are plagued by many obstacles when it comes to providing a quality education. But a new report says progress has been made over the last decade and stands to continue, largely through the expansion of broadband internet and a recent recognition by government officials that rural schools need increased flexibility to make the most of what they have. (U.S. News & World Report, August 1).
Education Dept. Tells Schools to Rethink Discipline for Students With Disabilities. Schools move too quickly to suspend or expel students with disabilities, rather than take measures to avoid such situations before they arise, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Now, new guidance from the department emphasizes the requirement that schools provide behavioral supports for students with disabilities. (StateImpact Indiana, August 4).
Indianapolis, IN Public Schools Considers Letting High Schoolers Sleep In. Tired Indianapolis teens may soon be able to sleep in. With research increasingly pointing to health and academic benefits for teens who are able to sleep later, some Indianapolis Public Schools board members are calling on the district to explore the possibility of starting high school later in the morning. (Chalkbeat, August 4). Related ECS Resource: Later School Start Times in Adolescence: Time for Change.
ESSA: Key Provisions and Implications for Students with Disabilities. In ongoing efforts to support states in implementing the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), CCSSO, in collaboration with our partners at the National Center for Systemic Improvement (NCSI) at WestEd, developed a resource for states that focuses on key provisions and implications for students with disabilities (SWD) in ESSA.
