The following resources focus on the educational climate and betterment of those serving the K–12 educational community.
What Are the Trending Education Topics in States in 2019? By now, you know we track much of the information around state education policy—from introduced proposals in state legislatures to priorities mentioned in governors’ State of the State addresses. We also hear a lot from lawmakers about what’s weighing on their minds during our hundreds of visits to states each year.
The latest installment in a study of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America is out It tracks efforts to bring the 10 principles of high-quality arts education to a large multiservice youth organization. Designing for Engagement: The Experiences of Tweens in the Boys and Girls Club’s Youth Arts Initiative suggests that these best practices—such as professional teaching artists, high-profile culminating events and well-equipped dedicated spaces—appear to draw young people and keep them engaged.
Identifying the Gaps in Access to Technology and Rigorous Coursework Between Rural and Non-Rural Students This guest post comes from Michelle Croft, principal research associate at ACT. Views expressed in guest posts are those of the author.
How Did State Policies Change Under Former Federal Guidance on School Discipline? After much speculation, the U.S. Department of Education officially rescinded Obama-era guidance on school discipline in December. Prior to the decision, the Federal Commission on School Safety, led by Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, discussed the possibility of rescinding, or at least altering the guidance, under the idea that the guidance may hamstring schools’ ability to address concerns with disruptive or potentially violent students.
Education Innovation and Research (EIR) New Funding Opportunity for K-12 Innovation, Also Seeking Peer Reviewers The U.S. Department of Education’s EIR program provides funding to create or take to scale entrepreneurial, evidence-based, field-initiated innovations to improve the achievement and attainment of high-need K-12 students. There are three types of grants available: early-phase, mid-phase, and expansion. This unique three-tiered grant structure links the amount of funding that an applicant may receive to the quality of evidence that supports the efficacy of the proposed project. Funds available for awards are $125 million, and 25 percent of these funds will be reserved for rural applicants serving predominantly rural students. In addition, EIR aims to award at least $60 million for STEM education projects. In both of these cases, this funding will be contingent on the receipt of a sufficient number of applications of sufficient quality. Applications are due April 2, 2019.
