Modernizing the Teaching Workforce for Learner-Centered, Competency-Based, Equity-Oriented Education: State Policy Recommendations

This issue brief discusses opportunities in state policy to modernize educators’ professional learning to support a mastery-based k-12 education system. In particular, it challenges state leaders to: Convene state task forces to craft a unifying vision and roadmap Increase the diversity of the educator workforce Prepare teachers for learner-centered, competency-based equity-oriented education Redesign teacher licensure… Read More ›

Teaching Students to Think About Thinking

The articles in this issue of ASCDExpress explore metacognition, the ability to understand ones own mental processes and to monitor and influence them. The authors provide both general suggestions for promoting metacognitive awareness and regulation, as well as specific ideas tailored to particular subject areas. Read as a whole this collection of articles offers many… Read More ›

Transforming Teaching: What University Presidents and Deans of Colleges of Education Need to Know about Modernizing the K-12 Educator Workforce

This issue brief outlines how university presidents and deans of colleges of education can use their influence to advance changes in the teaching profession to support more student-centered learning. In particular, it challenges institutions of higher learning to: Diversify the educator workforce Modernize teacher preparation Promote continuous professional learning and development This brief builds on… Read More ›

Measuring SEL

This collection of resources can help schools, districts, and states determine how to measure students’ social emotional learning (SEL). Compiled by the Center on Standards and Assessment Implementation (CSAI), a partnership between WestEd and the Center on Standards and Assessment Implementation (CRESST), it includes overviews of relevant ESSA regulations, links to guiding documents, and a… Read More ›

The State Education Agency’s Role in Supporting Equitable Student-Centered Learning

This guide was designed to help state education agencies empower local districts to create student-centered learning environments. State agencies have a large role to play in the transformation process and this tool provides guidance and relevant examples, highlighting ways to gather support for a state-wide vision, align curriculum, assessment and funding policies with practice; and… Read More ›

Dear Educators, Stop Being Jerks and Amplify Student Voice

Sometimes educators can be jerks, particularly when youth are trying to teach decision-makers (school board members, school administrators, or lawmakers) about the lived experience of young people in schools. Decision-makers can be dismissive, calling youth “cute” or “cool.” They can also be downright rude and ignore student voice altogether. In fact, the more the voices… Read More ›

We’re Thankful for our Educators, Researchers and Funders

The end of November is always crunch time. Between finishing projects, producing research, educating students, fighting for social justice and planning for the holidays, it’s never quiet. Recognizing this reality makes the team at KnowledgeWorks’ Student-Centered Learning Research Collaborative especially grateful for our inspiring Distinguished Fellows, researchers and funders who came out to New York City to ask and answer some of the biggest questions about student-centered learning. We were lucky… Read More ›

iNACOL Symposium 2019: Shining a Light on the Future of Learning

The iNACOL national conference this year will be held on October 28-31, 2019, at the Palm Springs Convention Center in Palm Springs, California. At this event, experts, practitioners, educators, policymakers and researchers gather and work to transform education. This year’s theme is “Shining a Light on the Future of Learning” and we’ll be presenting alongside many… Read More ›

State Policy Framework for Personalized Learning

This framework will help states and stakeholders define and navigate their pathway from the exploratory phase of system design, where a limited number of districts engage in personalized learning practices, to statewide transformation. The State Policy Framework for Personalized Learning includes: Four strategies for systems design Four core commitments states should be mindful of for quality… Read More ›

Developing a Modern Teacher Workforce

This report, Developing a Modern Teacher Workforce: Federal Policy Recommendations for Professional Learning and Supporting Future-Focused, Competency-Based Education Systems, addresses how policymakers can support the development of a teacher workforce with the skills and support systems needed to embrace the student-centered, competency-based, and diverse learning environments of the future. Specifically, this brief describes a vision for… Read More ›

From a Nation at Risk to a Nation at Hope

The National Commission on Social, Emotional, and Academic Development was created to engage and energize communities in re-envisioning learning to encompass its social, emotional, and cognitive dimensions so that all children can succeed in school, career, and life. This culminating report draws on the information gathered over two years from conversations, meetings, and site visits… Read More ›

International Conference on Student Voice

This international seminar, Student Voice: Deepening Relationship between Youth Research and Practice, will convene experts from education, research, and policy realms from around the world to consider the pressing questions of the inclusion of student voice and the development of the youth-adult research paradigm. The event will take place on Tuesday, May 28, 2019 –… Read More ›