Tools for Using Student Perspectives for School Improvement

Posted on October 31, 2019January 28, 2022 by coreeducation

Listening closely to what students say about their school experiences can be beneficial to educators for understanding and addressing school-related topics and problems and for rethinking policies and practices. A new toolkit from REL West provides educators a purposeful and systematic means to gather and analyze local data by eliciting and listening to student voice Read more about Tools for Using Student Perspectives for School Improvement[…]

Using Expanded Measures of Student Success for School Improvement

Posted on October 30, 2019October 27, 2019 by coreeducation

New Schools Venture Fund has released a new insight brief, “Using Expanded Measures of Student Success for School Improvement.” Nearly five years ago, in 2015, NSVF began investing in a national portfolio of innovative public schools that all embrace what they call an expanded definition of student success. So far, the organization has invested in Read more about Using Expanded Measures of Student Success for School Improvement[…]

Do Kids Fall Behind in Math Because There Isn’t Enough Grade-Level Material, or Because There’s Too Much? It’s Both

Posted on October 24, 2019October 20, 2019 by coreeducation

Writing for The 74, Joel Rose and Daniel Weisberg recently reviewed an apparent paradox in education. Math instruction is both too rigorous and not rigorous enough. See below for excerpts from their piece: Walk into almost any classroom in America, and you’ll find at least some students who’ve fallen behind the academic standards for their Read more about Do Kids Fall Behind in Math Because There Isn’t Enough Grade-Level Material, or Because There’s Too Much? It’s Both[…]

Brain Fitness and Executive Function: Evidence-Based Interventions

Posted on October 22, 2019October 20, 2019 by coreeducation

BrainFutures recently released a report that makes a clear case for integrating proven brain fitness programs into all U.S. classrooms. Over a decade of research has shown that evidence-based programs can improve students’ executive function skills and prosocial behaviors, which are more accurate predictors of academic readiness and life success than IQ or any other Read more about Brain Fitness and Executive Function: Evidence-Based Interventions[…]

Educating the Whole Child: Improving School Climate to Support Student Success

Posted on September 18, 2019March 3, 2020 by coreeducation

Each year in the United States, 46 million children are exposed to violence, crime, abuse, homelessness, or food insecurity, as well as a range of other experiences that cause psychological trauma. These experiences create toxic stress that can affect children’s attention, learning, and behavior. Research on human development shows that the effects of such trauma Read more about Educating the Whole Child: Improving School Climate to Support Student Success[…]

Elevating Student Voice in Education

Posted on September 13, 2019March 3, 2020 by coreeducation

Students have the greatest stake in their education but often little to no say in how it is delivered. This lack of agency represents a lost opportunity to accelerate learning and prepare students for a world in which taking initiative and learning new skills are increasingly paramount to success-that’s where “student voice” comes in. The Read more about Elevating Student Voice in Education[…]

Three Persistent Myths about School Integration, 65 Years after Brown v. Board

Posted on September 12, 2019September 1, 2019 by coreeducation

On May 17, 1954, the Supreme Court ruled in the landmark Brown v. Board decision that school segregation was unconstitutional. Yet 65 years later, schools in major US cities remain more segregated than neighborhoods, and many students attend classes filled mostly with students who look like them. At the same time, opportunity and achievement gaps Read more about Three Persistent Myths about School Integration, 65 Years after Brown v. Board[…]

DC Public Schools release scores showing four years of steady gains

Posted on August 29, 2019August 26, 2019 by coreeducation

FutureEd has published a piece about how changes to curriculum and instruction in DC have made a difference: During five and a half years as chief of teaching and learning at the District of Columbia Public Schools, Brian Pick led one of the nation’s most comprehensive—and successful—overhauls of a school district instructional system. Pick introduced Read more about DC Public Schools release scores showing four years of steady gains[…]

The Path to Instructional Excellence and Equitable Outcomes

Posted on August 14, 2019August 8, 2019 by coreeducation

The Path to Instructional Excellence and Equitable Outcomes explores District of Columbia Public Schools’ innovative approach to supporting teaching instruction, called Learning Together to Advance our Practice, or LEAP. LEAP is based on research that has found the most effective professional learning is school-based and content-specific, grounded in the instructional materials and strategies that teachers Read more about The Path to Instructional Excellence and Equitable Outcomes[…]

Principal Pipelines: A Feasible, Affordable, and Effective Way for Districts to Improve Schools

Posted on August 13, 2019August 8, 2019 by coreeducation

Rand has released a new report on The Wallace Foundation’s Principal Pipeline Initiative (PPI). Students performed up to 6 points above the median percentile on state tests in schools that implemented the program, which is aimed at improving school leaders. Research across the decades has confirmed that effective school leadership is associated with better outcomes Read more about Principal Pipelines: A Feasible, Affordable, and Effective Way for Districts to Improve Schools[…]

Attendance Activities Year-Long Planning Calendar

Posted on August 7, 2019August 3, 2019 by coreeducation

Attendance Works has developed year-long planning calendars for districts and schools seeking to improve student attendance. The calendars include example activities to do before the start of class (July-August) through year end (May-June). Activities are provided for staff, Tier 1 (universal) intervention, Tier 2 (targeted) intervention, and Tier 3 (intensive) intervention. The calendars can be Read more about Attendance Activities Year-Long Planning Calendar[…]

Selecting Evidence-based Practices to Improve Schools

Posted on August 1, 2019July 30, 2019 by coreeducation

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires the use of evidence-based practices to improve outcomes at low-performing schools-but how can education leaders and policymakers make sure they are choosing the right ones? A new AIR guide provides concrete action steps and resources that state and district leaders can use to ensure they choose the right Read more about Selecting Evidence-based Practices to Improve Schools[…]

Reimagining the Teaching Profession for the 21st Century

Posted on July 25, 2019March 3, 2020 by coreeducation

In a new issue brief, iNACOL outlines five key opportunities for state policymakers to transform the teaching profession to enable it to support the shift toward student-centered learning models in K-12 education. Modernizing the Teaching Workforce for Learner-Centered, Competency-Based, Equity-Oriented Education: State Policy Recommendations makes five recommendations to leverage the unique role of state policymaking: Read more about Reimagining the Teaching Profession for the 21st Century[…]

Real Strategies from Real Districts

Posted on May 8, 2019May 4, 2019 by coreeducation

Education Resource Strategies (ERS) has developed detailed profiles of eight school systems that have transformed how the central office supports schools and have seen student results. The new Districts at Work series looks specifically at how districts achieved their strategic priorities through: A clear theory of action that included both school-level changes and central office Read more about Real Strategies from Real Districts[…]

To Improve Rural Schools, Focus on their Strengths

Posted on May 7, 2019May 4, 2019 by coreeducation

Writing for Education Next, authors Michael Q. McShane and Andy Smarick explore the challenges facing rural education as well as recommendations for a path forward. Excerpts of their piece appear below: A consistent criticism of education reform is that much of the agenda has been based on what some call a “deficit mindset.” That is, Read more about To Improve Rural Schools, Focus on their Strengths[…]