49 of 50 States Now Enable Competency-Based Education

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The Aurora Institute (previously iNACOL) released the updated CompetencyWorks map, a snapshot of K-12 competency education state policy across the United States. Since 2012, iNACOL’s CompetencyWorks initiative has published an annual snapshot map of the United States, categorizing states into levels at which their policy environments and state activities support competency-based education. In 2012, nearly Read more about 49 of 50 States Now Enable Competency-Based Education[…]

March Issue Brief: Whole Child Approaches

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Educators have long known that focusing on academics alone is not enough. Children need support to develop academically, physically, cognitively, socially, and emotionally. Whole child approaches attempt to integrate these needs into a coherent whole. In Core Education’s March issue brief, we explore whole child approaches, look at alternatives for defining student success, and review Read more about March Issue Brief: Whole Child Approaches[…]

2Revolutions: Message to Community with Resources

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With over a decade of experience working to support educator and leader learning through blended learning, 2Revolutions has assembled helpful resources to support the transition to virtual/blended learning. These resources are intended for district leaders and teachers navigating this unprecedented time.  LearnNext: 2Rev co-developed LearnNext with a range of phenomenal national partners. This platform includes Read more about 2Revolutions: Message to Community with Resources[…]

Imparting Wisdom: HBCU Lessons for K-12 Education

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UNCF has released a new report, Imparting Wisdom: HBCU Lessons for K-12 Education, which details historically black colleges and universities’ (HBCUs) longstanding efforts to provide quality educational experiences for their students and how their success may be translated in K-12 schools.  For decades, public education has implemented reforms specifically targeting students of color, but the Read more about Imparting Wisdom: HBCU Lessons for K-12 Education[…]

Report Identifies Strategies for Scaling Work-Based Learning

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Despite a low unemployment rate, many new workers are unable to secure stable employment due to lack of skills. A new report from the National Governor’s Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) aims to narrow the gap between what employers need and the type of skills employees entering the workforce possess, identifying core elements Read more about Report Identifies Strategies for Scaling Work-Based Learning[…]

Boosting Soft Skills is Better than Raising Test Scores

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Writing for the Hechinger Report, Jill Barshay reviews a Chicago analysis that finds that schools that foster social-emotional development get better results for students. Excerpts of the piece appear below: We hear the phrase “failing schools” a lot but what really defines a failing school? Generally, we look at test scores. Schools that aren’t getting Read more about Boosting Soft Skills is Better than Raising Test Scores[…]

The Role of Advanced Placement in Bridging Excellence Gaps

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Writing for the Fordham Institute, Chester E. Finn, Jr. and Andrew Scanlan recently reviewed their research on the role of advanced placement courses in narrowing achievement gaps. Excerpts from the piece appear below:  This report presents key findings from Learning in the Fast Lane: The Past, Present, and Future of Advanced Placement, a book by Read more about The Role of Advanced Placement in Bridging Excellence Gaps[…]

Associate Degrees and Certificates are More Valuable Than you may Think

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As its name suggests, the middle-skills pathway sits between a high school diploma and a bachelor’s degree. There are a wide variety of credentials associated with this pathway, but certificates and associate degrees are the most popular. In general, associate degrees include a mix of general education courses and career preparation, while certificates are almost Read more about Associate Degrees and Certificates are More Valuable Than you may Think[…]

Early College High Schools May Pay for Themselves in the Long Run

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Some solutions in education are expensive. Take early college high schools, which give students a head start on their college degrees but cost about $3,800 extra per student. Are they worth it? New research suggests that these schools might actually pay for themselves in long-term benefits to both students and the public as a whole. Read more about Early College High Schools May Pay for Themselves in the Long Run[…]

Is Listening the Antidote to Teacher Turnover? Research Shows It Could Be

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Writing for The 74, Brenda Tanner, a former school administrator and superintendent, explores the promise of gathering valuable information from teachers through customized surveys in order to improve retention. Excerpts from her piece appear below: District leaders have little access to the authentic, unvarnished perspectives that determine whether a teacher leaves or stays. This is Read more about Is Listening the Antidote to Teacher Turnover? Research Shows It Could Be[…]

Retaining Teachers: Fostering Conditions Where Talent Thrives

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Over the last year, Education Evolving published a series of blog posts focused on the growing problem of teacher turnover, and uplifting the stories of schools, strategies, programs, and leaders that buck the trend.  This series has now wrapped up. Check out some of the top posts: Why Teachers Leave: What the Data Say How Read more about Retaining Teachers: Fostering Conditions Where Talent Thrives[…]

Attendance Playbook: Smart Solutions for Reducing Chronic Absenteeism

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The increased emphasis on chronic absenteeism at the federal and state level has left educators searching for evidence-based solutions that can bring students back to school. In Attendance Playbook: Smart Solutions for Reducing Chronic Absenteeism, FutureEd and Attendance Works offer nearly two dozen practical strategies for improving attendance that have strong track records and are Read more about Attendance Playbook: Smart Solutions for Reducing Chronic Absenteeism[…]

Solutions to Build a 21st Century Connected Credentialing System

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As automation, AI, and other technological advances continue to disrupt jobs, more Americans will need to upgrade their skills throughout their lives to stay competitive. Right now, however, the postsecondary credentialing system is fragmented. It doesn’t acknowledge or connect the learning that happens through different sources of education–from school to work to the military. And Read more about Solutions to Build a 21st Century Connected Credentialing System[…]

Equity Maps App Tracks Student Discussions for Better Understanding of Dialogue Skills

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Writing for The 74, author Tim Newcomb reviews a new iPad app that tracks student discussions to facilitate student growth of dialogue skills, including conversation flow and inclusion. Excerpts of the piece appear below: Educators can think of the iPad app Equity Maps as a digital ball of yarn, one that tracks data on in-class Read more about Equity Maps App Tracks Student Discussions for Better Understanding of Dialogue Skills[…]

In Case You Missed It!

February Issue Brief: Dual Enrollment

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Whether you call it early college high school, dual enrollment, or college acceleration, the line is blurring between high school and college, and for good reason. Students who earn college credit in high school are more likely to graduate high school as well as earn a four-year degree, and they do so earlier in life Read more about February Issue Brief: Dual Enrollment[…]

How Teacher Preparation Programs Can Help All Teachers Better Serve Students With Disabilities

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The Center for American Progress recently released recommendations to states, teacher preparation programs, and districts to improve the preparation of teachers to serve students with disabilities. Excerpts of the piece appear below: Roughly 7 million students in the K-12 public school system–14 percent–are identified as students with disabilities. Of these, more than 62 percent spend Read more about How Teacher Preparation Programs Can Help All Teachers Better Serve Students With Disabilities[…]