2017 State of the States: Connectivity

This report was compiled by EducationSuperHighway, a nonprofit focused on upgrading Internet access in every public school classroom in America to ensure equal access of all students to digital learning opportunities. The report looks at ways to connect the remaining 6.5 million students in 40 states that still have limited access. The authors detail three main… Read More ›

Personalized Learning for All: Actions for States to Make Aspirations a Reality

This report by the National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD) looks at the potential of large scale shifts to personalized learning for students with disabilities. Based on interview with close to 100 leaders in Colorado, New Hampshire, and North Carolina, including expert practitioners, researchers, policy leaders, parents, and others, NCLD identified benefits and associated challenges… Read More ›

Competency-Based Education: Staying Shallow or Going Deep?

This report examines what it means to be competent in the 21st century. It begins with an overview of competency-based education. It then explores the competencies needed for career and college readiness with attention given to existing personal and deeper learning competency frameworks. The report concludes that competency in the 21st century must include academics as well as… Read More ›

Culturally Responsive Positive Behavioral Support Matters

This report, developed by Equity Alliance, discusses ways to make the Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) model more culturally responsive.  In contrast to punitive disciplinary models, PBIS uses prevention, data-based decisions making, and research-based interventions to nurture positive student and adult behaviors. Race-based disparities in discipline and behavioral outcomes is a continuous issue in schools… Read More ›

Informing Progress Insights on Personalized Learning Implementation and Effects

This report and accompanying research brief, written by the RAND Corporation and funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, synthesizes findings from a study of the personalized learning (PL) practices at schools in the  Next Generation Learning Challenges (NGLC)’s Breakthrough School Models program. Researchers identified the PL strategies used and implementation challenges faced by these schools… Read More ›

Student-Centered Learning: Functional Requirements for Integrated Systems to Optimize Learning

This paper illustrates the technical requirements and functionalities that learning management systems need to shift toward student-centered instructional models. This comprehensive framework will help districts and schools determine what systems to use, and integrate, as they begin their journey toward student-centered learning. It also addresses how systems integration aligns with their organizational vision, educational goals,… Read More ›

Relationships First: Creating Connections that Help Young People Thrive

This report looks at the importance of building strong relationships to create a thriving student-centered culture. It includes an overview of the Search Institute’s Developmental Relationships Framework which defines the elements of an effective relationship, as well as the actions and dispositions adults should display, written from the student perspective. It examines results from a 2016… Read More ›

Building Competencies for Careers

This report draws on information from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Information Network (O*NET) to better understand the value of deeper learning competencies in the labor market. O*NET compiles surveys of employees and occupational experts to determine key characteristics and requirements of more than 900 occupations. Using this database, researchers from the Center on Education Policy (CEP)… Read More ›

Levers2Learn

Levers2Learn is a web-based research report which shares findings on barriers to, and enablers of, deeper learning in high schools. The Business Innovation Factory Student Experience Lab (SXL) and The Hewlett Foundation interviewed educators from the Deeper Learning Network which brings together more than 500 public and charter schools dedicated to providing deeper learning experiences nation-wide. Throughout the report short video clips of… Read More ›

Online Courses for Credit Recovery in High Schools

This report, prepared by The University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute for the Nellie Mae Education Foundation (NMEF) examines promising practices for online credit recovery programs. These programs help underserved students achieve a diploma through a more personalized approach with the flexibility to work anytime and anywhere and progress based on mastery. This report draws on a study of… Read More ›

Technology Counts 2017

Technology Counts 2017: Classroom Tech: Where Schools Stand is Education Week’s 20th annual report on education technology. The report’s feature story reveals concern that technology is not being used to its full potential in K-12 schools across the country. It points to continued gaps in access to broadband networks and inadequate teacher training which raise… Read More ›

The MyWays Initiative

MyWays is an initiative of Next Generation Learning Challenge (NGLC). It is an effort to synthesize a broader, deeper definition of student success: success for learning, working, and living in the fast-changing world facing today’s youth. The initiative seeks to help school communities address big questions in education today by: Fully understanding why a changing world requires reimagining… Read More ›