The Education Policy Hotlist
Top News in US Education Policy for the Week of February 28th
THE WEEK AHEAD
On Monday, February 28th, at 11:00 AM PST, the US Department of Education hosts a webinar on A Systemic Approach to Support Black Student Mental Health. Register to attend here.
On Friday, March 4, at 2:00 PM EST, the Center on Education & Labor at New America is hosting a discussion titled Community College Bachelor’s Degrees: Cultivating Career Opportunities with Local Roots. The meeting will cover the basics of CCB programs and how they are reconnecting students with post-secondary opportunities. Register to attend here.
CASEL is hosting a series of webinar discussions on Demystifying SEL in the coming weeks. Register for one or all events here.
FEDERAL EDUCATION POLICY
USED | The US Department of Education released a new resource highlighting state and local CTE investments using federal pandemic relief funds.
USED | The US Department of Education released a call for the Teacher Quality Partnership program applications. The TQP program includes four competition priorities: educator diversity; student social, emotional, and academic needs; and student equitable access to opportunities and resources.
NATIONAL EDUCATION POLICY
K12Dive | AASA President Domenech explains that AASA and NSBA benefit from aligning with policy goals.
“One of the concerns we have as we see what's happening, to some extent, is the fear that if there are going to be two school boards associations … one perhaps at this end of the spectrum and the other somewhere over here. That is going to be very difficult for us.”
IES | The 2020-21 National Teacher and Principal Survey data were released this week. And, private school teachers reported nearly double the amount of in-person interactions compared to their public school peers.
STATE AND LOCAL EDUCATION POLICY
ECS | Governor Kim Reynolds, the new Chair of the Education Commission of the States, provided remarks about COVID-19 recovery and strengthening America’s workforce.
TN | Last week, Tennessee proposed legislation that outlines the new statewide funding model. The new funding proposal will allow schools to receive more money for “student-generated outcome” incentives, including financial rewards for high reading scores or strong college and career readiness outcomes.
ID | The Idaho State Board of Education voted to waive SAT requirements for high school graduation.
GA | Gwinnett County Public Schools are replicating an after-school tutoring program to accelerate student learning.
AK | The Region 16 Comprehensive Center is sharing an opportunity to study evidence-based practices for teaching reading.
COVID-19 FEDERAL RELIEF SPENDING
FutureEd | In their latest analysis on COVID-19 spending, FutureEd notes that most district spending is on academic recovery, facilities and operations, and staffing.
Edu Recovery Hub | A new feature of the Education Recovery Hub goes deep into a handful of states making transformative investments with their pandemic relief dollars.
PANDEMIC RESPONSES IN SCHOOLS
The Atlantic | Oster argues that COVID policies should not address kids last.
The74 | A new simulation model published in JAMA Network estimates COVID transmission rates if schools go mask-optional. This type of predictive modeling can help school leaders make important decisions about removing masks.
TEACHING AND LEARNING
Brookings | Teacher evaluations need major shifts to develop and support teachers’ career advancement while ensuring high-quality instruction.
CRPE | The first national review of pandemic learning pods reveals a lot about future innovations emerging from these experimental moments.
Annenberg | A new study using a nationally representative sample of teachers, finds that hybrid teaching during COVID increased teachers’ considerations of leaving the profession.
STUDENT WELL-BEING
K12Dive | Home visits were a silver lining and can be pulled into a recovery era.
C4C | Chiefs for Change released a new tool to help state leaders advance policies for system-level student wellbeing.
VA | Sixty-five percent of respondents in a survey about elementary school mental health services reported providing fewer services in the 2020-21 school year. These data add to the growing concern about students’ mental well-being.
MS | The Mississippi Department of Education awards the University of Mississippi Medical Center a $17.6 million grant to create a free telehealth services program for all students.
CO | Aurora schools are implementing a new mental health support program for students. Hazel Health will support kids in need of coping skills for common challenges in pandemic times: anxiety, depression, sadness, anger, and reconnecting with the world.
Ed Source | California pushes for peer counseling, a less expensive way for students to reconnect and receive the mental health services they may need.
Ed Surge | Educators are precisely the right people to advance bipartisan support for SEL in schools.
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
The74 | A new study from the University of Chicago Consortium reveals that full-day preschool can improve enrollment and attendance.
ASSESSMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY
IES | IES awarded three new grants for states using longitudinal data to support pandemic recovery policies:
NCDPI aims to use its research to set better recovery targets.
TN Board of Regents will use the data to inform college and career pathways for students transitioning out of high school during the pandemic.
TEA will evaluate the influence of their Additional Days School Year on student outcomes.
K12 Dive | A new study using DIBELS data reveals that 48% of first-graders were ready for grade-level literacy instruction, down from 58% in 2019-20.
DID YOU MISS IT?
CRPE | The Center on Reinventing Public Education presented their learning hubs partnerships at AASA alongside a stellar panel of leaders.
Dr. Christine M. T. Pitts serves as Resident Policy Fellow at the Center on Reinventing Public Education, overseeing policy leadership for research, advocacy, and government relations. A former teacher and administrator, she previously led research and evaluation for Portland Public Schools. She also served as Policy Advisor at NWEA, where she oversaw state and federal policy to advance equity and innovation in educational assessment. Follow her on Twitter @cmtpitts.