Supporting Students to be Independent Learners: State and District Actions

This report features actionable insights to help state policymakers encourage culturally and linguistically responsive education during the COVID-19 pandemic. The report asserts that culturally and linguistically responsive education helps students build a sense of connection to school and become independent learners. The skills that are hallmarks of independent learners – confidence, competence, and interpersonal skills… Read More ›

Three Ways to Scale Student-Centered Reforms in Your System

Since 2014, New Hampshire educators can meet academic accountability requirements through a statewide Performance Assessment for Competency-based Education (PACE) system. Aimed at capturing a more authentic assessment of content knowledge, educators have developed and scored performance tasks with levels of reliability and validity comparable to state level standardized tests. As part of a William and… Read More ›

Racial Equity Tools

Racial Equity Tools is designed to support individuals and groups working to achieve racial equity. This site offers tools, research, tips, curricula and ideas for people who want to increase their own understanding and to help those working toward justice at every level – in systems, organizations, communities and the culture at large. The resources… Read More ›

A Plan to Safely Reopen America’s Schools and Communities

This detailed “Plan to Safely Reopen America’s Schools and Communities” was designed to help communities chart a path to safely and responsibly reopen school buildings and other institutions. It features five core pillars based on science as well as educator and healthcare expertise. The document shows how to effectively respond to the crisis, especially emphasizing… Read More ›

Horizons

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Hosted by Jobs for the Future, this 4-day virtual learning experience will focus on how to lay the foundation for an equitable economic recovery amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The interactive online experience will feature networking sessions, virtual chats and a design challenge. Industry leaders will also give presentations exploring the ways in which education and… Read More ›

10 Questions for Equity Advocates to Ask About Distance Learning

This report from Digital Promise and Education Trust explores the biggest equity challenges that districts face from school closures due to COVID-19. The report outlines each of 10 challenges and offers suggestions to address them. The report discusses challenges related to continued online learning that may occur through the summer and into the next school… Read More ›

Unleashing Your Innovative Genius: A Conversation with Deborah Olatunji

This is a transcript of an interview with Deborah Olatunji, a high school student from Delaware who recently authored a new book, Unleashing Your Innovative Genius: High School Redesigned, with the goal of igniting young people across the country to realize they have the power to transform education. The interview covers her educational journey including her… Read More ›

A New Way Forward Series: Building a Learner-Centered Future

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The COVID-19 pandemic has presented myriad challenges on multiple fronts but it has also provided a unique opening to reinvent how the education system serves our nation’s youth. Learner-centered leaders have been reinventing education in small pockets around the country for decades, and their expertise can help to transform education for every single child in… Read More ›

Bridging Digital Divides Between Schools and Communities

The paper looks at the gap between internet connectivity at schools and within under-resourced, low-income communities, which is often referred to as the homework divide. The author looks at data collected from schools in two different cities—Marion, Alabama, and Phoenix, Arizona, where access at school is high due to participation in the ConnectED initiative, a… Read More ›

COVID-19 Racial Equity & Social Justice Resources

This portion of the Racial Equity Tools website was put together to help community leaders address the COVID-19 pandemic with social justice and equity lens. It features links to resources on analysis of the big picture, community care, organizing and solidarity, resource building and rapid response and virtual work and engagement. It also includes links… Read More ›

Scaling is All the Rage, but How Do You Make It Happen?

It’s fall 2017 in New Hampshire. The state’s Performance Assessment for Competency-based Education (PACE) system is entering its third year. Using this alternative state accountability system, 150 teachers in nine school districts have created 14 performance assessment tasks in mathematics, English language arts (ELA) and science. The tasks have been validated against standardized state tests… Read More ›

Quality Counts 2020

Every year, Education Week releases a Quality Counts report which examines state-level efforts to improve public education and pulls together a large number of statistics to create a picture of progress in each state. A National Summary Report and State Highlight Reports rank each state using the Chance-for-Success Index, which looks at 13 family, school,… Read More ›