SXSWedu Conference Highlights: Virtual Reality, Equity, and Next-Gen Educators

Today, we continue ahead on the theme of innovation in K-12 education. Earlier this month, the 2017 SXSWedu Conference and Festival in Austin brought about a number of discussions on how to foster innovation in learning, bringing together experts from both K-12 and higher ed communities on pertinent topics: expanding leadership in public schools, improving equity and access to education, innovating learning spaces, and supporting a new generation of teachers. Check out some of the highlights from the SXSWedu conference below. The Next Phase of Virtual Reality Technology The big question remains: Will students always end up being the consumers,…
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Lessons on Innovation from the 2017 Leaders to Learn From

Creating change is not an easy thing for educators – particularly the kind that can last (and not just another trend that leaves as quickly as it came in). What does successful change look like? Each year, Education Week profiles the most innovative district leaders in the country, who are moving schools forward. Many are inspirational trailblazers able to find new ideas to tackle the oldest problems in the education system today – navigating rigid regulations, leveraging technology to enrich (and not disrupt) learning, and overcoming racial achievement gaps in the classroom. In today’s post, take a look at a…
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College Readiness: What’s Missing from Exams, the Common Core, and Other Teaching Practices

Are public school seniors ready for college? According to the past decade of research, most of them aren’t there yet. In 2014, the college admissions test was overhauled by the College Board, in an effort to respond to the harsh criticisms of the SAT. Only, the average scores of the Class of 2015 showed a massive decline, marking the lowest composite score in 10 years of SAT testing. And last spring, the most alarming data came to light from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), which is conducted by the U.S. Department of Education, and holds up as one…
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March ESSA Update: Rule Changes and Challenges for States

The month of March has brought around some major news for education. While state leaders have been waiting to hear about the new direction of the Education Department, the changes in Washington have created a shift that will impact how the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) will be applied over the next year. In today’s post, we’ve highlighted some of the big changes made since the start of the year, including potential budget challenges that the experts anticipate states and their schools may soon face, as they move forward with implementing ESSA. Congress Overturned Accountability Rules In May 2016, the…
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The Student Life Cycle: What K-12 Can Learn from Higher Ed

On the college campus, educators frequently toss around the buzz phrase “student life cycle.” What exactly is it? This approach helps academic leaders analyze, anticipate, and seek ways to improve a freshman student’s success in their first year of college. The life cycle model suggests looking at a student’s first year in a well-rounded way, taking into consideration a variety of factors that could either positively or negatively contribute to a student’s persistence and achievement through the rest of their college years: the state of the student-teacher relationship, physical environment, student participation, vocational interest or direction, personal development, and academic…
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Survey: K-12 Teachers Concerned with ESSA’s Impact on Their Classrooms

Over the past couple of weeks, we’ve talked about the next phase of the ESSA transition. Today, we examine the perspective from the classroom, as many teachers have been voicing their concerns on how the ESSA transition in the next year might change their ability to support students. Last week, Education Week released the results of a new survey on ESSA readiness, which revealed both teachers and district leaders shared concerns over measuring student success, the support they need in the classroom, and where the priorities for funding should be. We examine some of the key research findings and what…
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Experts Weigh in on ESSA at Education Week Summit

As the ESSA transition takes shape this year, there is anxiety and uncertainty at both the state and district levels. ESSA implementation has already begun, as some states have submitted their plans early (or they’re close to finalizing) for the U.S. Education Dept. How can educators better prepare for the next step of ESSA, and how will the shake-up on the federal side impact them in coming months? On February 1, Education Week hosted a virtual summit on ESSA, bringing together their top journalists and a handful of speakers/moderators from state education department leaders, district curriculum and CAOs, accountability and…
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Superintendents and Their Double Bottom Line

Superintendents have a tough road. They’re leaving the field in “unprecedented numbers,” cracking under the political and fiscal pressures placed on them. In Pennsylvania, superintendents spend an average three years on the job before leaving, according to a 2014 survey. The role has changed a lot in recent years, and the expectations are even higher now to move mountains – raising test scores and other student performance numbers, increasing their teaching talent, and adding new technology capabilities. And all without spending more money. It’s a delicate balance for them to manage their district’s financial health and student achievement. Some pressures seem…
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4 Important Things Educators Can Learn from Other Industries

Many of the struggles for school leaders are nothing new outside of the education world. They’re the most universal questions faced by other industries – banking, healthcare, retailers, law enforcement, and business – how can you meet the rapidly-changing demands of the people you serve? How do you create a balance of quality and efficiency? What role can technology serve to improve how you work? There are a few important lessons that education could borrow from other industries that have faced similar barriers to change. In this post, we take a look at some of the ideas and practices that…
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First Look at How States Will Get ESSA Off the Ground

The Every Student Succeed Act (ESSA) is finally ready to be implemented in schools across the country, after the past couple of years spent reaching out to educators and creating detailed plans on how to handle effective hiring of teachers, school ratings, education quality, and accountability. 17 states and the District of Columbia are expected to submit their ESSA state plans to the Department of Education between January and April – many of them have already started filing their plans. However, there’s one hitch: On his first day in office, President Trump decided to push back on ESSA. What Could…
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