Evidence-Based Improvement: A Guide to the Evidence Requirements of ESSA

Posted on January 25, 2017January 23, 2017 by coreeducation

One of the broad intents of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is to encourage evidence-based decision-making as standard practice. This new, free publication from WestEd, Evidence-Based Improvement: A Guide for States to Strengthen their Frameworks and Supports Aligned to the Evidence Requirements of ESSA, provides an initial set of tools to help states Read more about Evidence-Based Improvement: A Guide to the Evidence Requirements of ESSA[…]

Rubric for Evaluating Reading/Language Arts Instructional Materials for Grades K-5

Posted on January 24, 2017January 23, 2017 by coreeducation

Selecting instructional materials based on rigorous research and standards is an important and time-consuming job at the state, district, and school levels. To facilitate this process, Regional Educational Laboratory Southeast has developed a rubric for evaluating reading/language arts instructional and intervention materials for use in elementary grades (K-5). The rubric is organized by content area Read more about Rubric for Evaluating Reading/Language Arts Instructional Materials for Grades K-5[…]

Evidence Review of School Leadership Interventions Under ESSA

Posted on January 18, 2017January 13, 2017 by coreeducation

Recognizing that effective leadership is essential to most school improvement efforts, the new federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) enables states and districts to use certain major funding sources to help achieve their school improvement goals by supporting principals and other school leaders. Because those funding streams urge consideration of evidence of effectiveness, Wallace commissioned Read more about Evidence Review of School Leadership Interventions Under ESSA[…]

Nation’s Schools Get Middling Grade on Quality Counts Report Card

Posted on January 12, 2017January 8, 2017 by coreeducation

As a new political and policy era dawns in Washington, the status of the nation’s schools remains stable, though still earning a grade of C from Quality Counts 2017, the 21st annual report card issued by the Education Week Research Center. The C corresponds to a score of 74.2, which is nearly identical to the Read more about Nation’s Schools Get Middling Grade on Quality Counts Report Card[…]

Really Ready: Preparing ALL Middle and High School Students for College, Work and Life

Posted on January 4, 2017March 3, 2020 by coreeducation

What does it mean to be really ready for college, work, and life? The staff at Getting Smart worked with Apex Learning to publish Really Ready: Preparing ALL Middle and High School Students for College, Work and Life. The report finds that there is a direct connection between increasing graduation rates and student readiness. Students Read more about Really Ready: Preparing ALL Middle and High School Students for College, Work and Life[…]

The Good News in Education

Posted on December 22, 2016December 16, 2016 by coreeducation

In a sea of bad news, Dick Startz, writing for the Brown Center Chalkboard at Brookings, reflects on the good news in American education: Graduation rates are up Over the last fifteen years, high school graduation rates have risen. The vast majority of adults have a high school diploma. White, Black, and Hispanic graduation rates Read more about The Good News in Education[…]

21st Century Learning Exemplar Programs

Posted on December 21, 2016March 3, 2020 by coreeducation

The 21st Century Learning Exemplar Program highlights best practices in schools and districts across the country that are preparing students for college, career and life by embedding critical 21st century competencies into the learning environment. Currently there are 75 exemplars across the country. P21 will accept applications to be part of the 2017-2018 21st Century Read more about 21st Century Learning Exemplar Programs[…]

ESSA Essentials for Educators: Make your Voice Heard!

Posted on December 16, 2016December 9, 2016 by coreeducation

The enactment of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) last year provides educators with a unique opportunity to exercise their voice in education policy. Although it is expected that under the new presidential administration, some of the regulations will be revisited, states are moving forward with the development of new state and district policies required Read more about ESSA Essentials for Educators: Make your Voice Heard![…]

The Many Flavors of School Choice

Posted on December 13, 2016December 9, 2016 by coreeducation

There are many flavors of school choice—vouchers, education savings accounts, tax-credit scholarships, and charters, to name a few. Voucher is the word on everyone’s mind at the moment and it’s a politically loaded term. Many of the other types of choice people hear about—education savings accounts and tax-credit scholarships—are just variations. But the differences between Read more about The Many Flavors of School Choice[…]

How States should Redesign their Accountability Systems under ESSA

Posted on November 30, 2016November 22, 2016 by coreeducation

David Griffith and Michael Petrilli have put their minds together to produce an ideal ESSA accountability system as a model for state education agencies. Below are excerpts from their recent blog post: States are now putting pen to paper on their accountability plans and many of them want advice about what to do. So no Read more about How States should Redesign their Accountability Systems under ESSA[…]

New Report Examines Measures Used in New Jersey’s Principal Evaluation System

Posted on November 18, 2016November 12, 2016 by coreeducation

A new study finds both strengths and limitations in the measures used for New Jersey’s new principal evaluation system. The study, released by the Institute of Education Sciences, was conducted by Regional Educational Laboratory Mid-Atlantic and focused on the statewide principal evaluation system that was fully implemented by the state of New Jersey during the Read more about New Report Examines Measures Used in New Jersey’s Principal Evaluation System[…]

New Toolkit and Crosswalk for Leadership Standards Alignment

Posted on November 15, 2016November 12, 2016 by coreeducation

The Center on Great Teachers & Leaders at AIR has released a new toolkit and crosswalk, Aligning Leadership Standards to the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders. Many states are transitioning or considering a transition to the new Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (PSEL), developed by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). Developed in Read more about New Toolkit and Crosswalk for Leadership Standards Alignment[…]

Advancing Equity through ESSA: Strategies for State Leaders

Posted on November 10, 2016October 28, 2016 by coreeducation

The Aspen Institute’s Education & Society Program and the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) have released a new report, Advancing Equity through ESSA: Strategies for State Leaders. This framework is designed to help states make the most of the opportunities provided in ESSA to advance eight equity priorities that states already are pursuing. Read more about Advancing Equity through ESSA: Strategies for State Leaders[…]

How ESSA Can Help States Improve College and Career Readiness

Posted on October 25, 2016March 3, 2020 by coreeducation

The College and Career Readiness Center at AIR has released a College and Career Readiness and Success (CCRS) Organizer Scorecard. This tool is a self-assessment that can provide a snapshot of where your district or state is in integrating the multiple elements that impact college and career readiness and success for students in the K-12 Read more about How ESSA Can Help States Improve College and Career Readiness[…]