The following resources focus on the educational climate and betterment of those serving the K–12 educational community.

EDUCATION 360 A platform built for educators, by educators.  As part of the Illinois ESSA plan, the agency is releasing a new education data platform designed to help educators make data-based decisions to guide improved student learning.

ESSA:  Quick guides on top issues  This report by ECS provides insight into key areas of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

Making the Most of ESSA: Opportunities to Advance STEM Education  Education First, with the support of Overdeck Family Foundation, just released a new report, Making the Most of ESSA: Opportunities to Advance STEM Education. The publication recommends concrete practices to help ensure that four of the most common STEM policies in state ESSA plans best support student success.

CA Law Could Change Everything for the Start School Later Movement  A landmark school start time bill crossed a major hurdle this week, passing out of the California Assembly’s Education Committee with bi-partisan support. Already passed by the state senate, this bill stands to make California the first U.S. state to ensure that middle and high schools start at times that allow for healthy sleep. (HuffPost)

Social-Emotional Learning Boosts Students’ Scores, Graduation Rates, Even Earnings, New Study Finds  According to new research from the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), the University of Illinois at Chicago, Loyola University, and the University of British Columbia, social-emotional learning programs have positive long-term effects. Findings show that SEL programs help students well into their futures in areas like college completion, sexual and mental health, and lifelong earnings. (The 74)

On Education, The States Ask: Now What?  Claudio Sanchez, a speaker at the 2017 National Forum on Education Policy and a correspondent at National Public Radio (NPR), wrote a blog post on the NPR blog about what’s happening next for states regarding the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

Do State ESSA Plans Really Represent Reform?  On this week’s podcast, special guest Chad Aldeman, a principal at Bellwether Education Partners, joins Mike Petrilli and Alyssa Schwenk to discuss his organization’s recent review of state ESSA plans. Which states stood out and which areas need work? (Fordham Institute)

Many Schools Now Urge Kids to Bring Their Own Screens  Policies known as BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) or BYOT (Bring Your Own Technology) initially raised eyebrows among parents and teachers, who feared they would open the door to addictive video games and social media in class. But many of those skeptics are being won over, saying BYOD expands educational opportunities, saves money, and reduces technical headaches. (Houston Chronicle)

When School Can’t Offer Physics, Rural Students Head Online  Schools in rural school districts often don’t have the budget or the teachers to offer students all the courses they would like to take. One rural district in a Missouri county decided to offer credit for online classes to give its students the educational opportunities it can’t otherwise afford. (KBIA 91.3 FM)