The Education Policy Hotlist
Top news in U.S. education policy for the week of September 18 - 22
Welcome back to the Education Policy Hotlist. This week, the Hotlist includes many new education reports and policy updates.
So far, I’ve been to two of my kids’ back-to-school nights, and, honestly, I am worried. Some schools are struggling to rebuild their community vibe like before Covid. Some folks I’ve heard from say we’re all too swamped and exhausted to do more, while others want more chances to be together. I don’t think this tension is the real issue.
Our communities are different after the pandemic, and we can’t just run the same PTA calendar we did in the 2018-19 school year. We must understand how challenges have changed, rebuild our relationships, discuss the hard stuff, and establish new community ideals and norms. We can’t hold potlucks and hope that everything will be fine. That won’t solve anything.
Our teachers don’t have a contract for this school year in Portland. The district is spending a lot of capital to make transformative changes to improve teaching and learning (and seeing gains), yet many of our community partners aren’t sure how to help their people get what they need. I can only speak for my little neighborhood, but I want something different for my kids’ education and our city.
Onto some professional news: I wrapped up my time with the Center on Reinventing Public Education last week. I’m thankful to the CRPE team for bringing me squarely into the education reform community. I’ve made lifelong friends and am humbled to be working toward a modern reform agenda. I hope to find ways to bring more conversations about transforming schools to my own Oregon community.
So, what’s next? In my sixteenth year in education, I’m taking a bet on myself for a little while and working on the issues I care about most — now as a consultant. You can contact me anytime to learn how we can partner. I’m thankful to my colleagues and this community for our aligned values and missions, especially those who have already invited me to join their efforts toward bright new North Stars. I hope to partner with more of you soon — we have a lot of work to do!
Warmly, Christine
The Weeks Ahead
Tuesday, September 26th at 3:30 p.m. (EST), the Collaborative for Student Success is sponsoring an event with The Hill titled, “Solving the U.S. Math Problem: How to Accelerate Learning for All Students”. Learn more here.
Thursday, September 28th at 12:00 p.m. (EST), join RAND for their webinar, “Building the U.S. Workforce Through Stackable Credentials.” Register here.
Tuesday, October 3rd at 3:00 p.m. (EST), “Taking Action: Accelerating Equitable Learning Recovery” will include panelists Bruno Manno, Walton Family Foundation, Michael Petrelli, Thomas B. Fordham Institute, and others. Register here.
A Call and Response to Youth Needs
Education Advocates Call for Bold Action to Support Students After the Pandemic
The Building Bridges Initiative released a new report resulting from a year-long collaboration among education advocates from different political backgrounds who came together to discuss the challenges and opportunities for American education in the wake of COVID-19. A Generation at Risk urges policymakers, educators, and families to take immediate and dramatic steps to improve learning outcomes for all students, especially in marginalized communities. The report also proposes a vision for a more responsive and equitable education system that can prepare future generations of students for the changing world.
The State of the American Student: Fall 2023 - A Report on the Impact of Covid-19 on Education and the Path to Recovery
The second annual State of the American Student Report by the Center on Reinventing Public Education (CRPE) examines the challenges and opportunities for American education after the COVID-19 pandemic. The report focuses on the experiences and outcomes of older students who are nearing or have completed high school, and how the pandemic disrupted their academic, social, and emotional development. The report offers bold ideas and recommendations for policymakers, educators, and families to improve learning and equity for all students and reinvent the future public education system.
Biden-Harris Administration Launches New Initiatives to Boost Student Achievement
ED announces new actions to help schools improve instruction and accelerate academic success for all students. The actions include:
funding literacy interventions
recruiting tutors and mentors
reducing chronic absenteeism
and supporting students’ mental health and safety.
These efforts are part of the department’s “Raise the Bar: Lead the World” effort to advance educational equity and excellence.
Equity in Education
New Federal Funding to Enhance Post-School Outcomes for Students with Disabilities
U.S. Department of Education announces a new grant program to support 20 model demonstration projects that aim to improve the economic self-sufficiency of students with disabilities. The grant program, called Pathways to Partnerships, will provide nearly $199 million to foster collaborative partnerships between state vocational rehabilitation agencies, state and local educational agencies, and centers for independent living. The program aims to help students with disabilities transition smoothly from school to independent living, competitive integrated employment, and community integration.
Equity in Education: A Data Resource from NCES
NCES updated its indicators that measure and compare the educational opportunities and outcomes of different groups of students in the United States. The indicators are based on national surveys of students, parents, teachers, and principals. The dashboard covers access to high-quality education, academic achievement, social and emotional well-being, and college and career readiness.
New Funding Opportunity for Research on Special Education Teacher Workforce
IES announces a new competition for a research and development center on the K-12 special education teacher workforce. The center will conduct a program of research, provide national leadership and capacity building, and conduct supplemental activities on issues affecting the special education teacher workforce.
Student Well-Being
First 5 South Carolina: A Statewide Initiative to Support Early Childhood Development
South Carolina launched a new resource for parents, caregivers, educators, and policymakers who want to ensure that all children in South Carolina are healthy, safe, and ready to learn. It provides information, tools, and services to promote children's physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development from birth to age five.
How to Reduce Student Misbehavior: Evidence from Research
New research sheds light on the effects of different discipline policies and practices on student misbehavior, school safety, and academic achievement. It argues that suspension-promoting policies are ineffective and harmful, while alternative approaches like restorative justice and Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports are promising.
BARR Center Receives NGA and Maine DOE Support for Student and Staff Wellbeing Initiative
The BARR Center, a nonprofit organization that promotes student and staff well-being through a research-backed model, has received recognition and support from the National Governors Association (NGA) and the Maine Department of Education. NGA selected Maine as one of five states to participate in a new initiative to improve the mental health and well-being of students and school staff, and the Maine Department of Education announced that 71 schools across Maine will implement the BARR model with funding from the NGA. The BARR model focuses on strengthening relationships, reducing high-risk student behavior, and improving academic achievement. The announcement also features a video with testimonials from Maine school partners and Education Commissioner Pender Makin, who attended last year’s BARR National Conference.
Student Achievement
The Widening Gap Between High-Achieving Students of Different Races and Classes
A new article from Fordham examines the trends and patterns of excellence gaps, which are the differences in the percentage of students who reach advanced levels of academic performance across groups of students, especially those defined by race and socioeconomic status. It uses data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) to analyze how excellence gaps have changed over time and across states. It finds that excellence gaps are large, pervasive, and growing in most subjects and grades. It also explores the implications of excellence gaps for educational equity and social mobility.
KIPP Students Achieve Remarkable College Success, Study Finds
A new study shows that students who attended both KIPP middle and high schools have much higher college enrollment and completion rates than students who did not participate in KIPP. The Mathematica study compared the outcomes of students selected by lottery to attend KIPP schools and those who did not.
Education Finance
How to Avoid the K-12 Budget Fiscal Cliff: A Guide for District Leaders
Whiteboard Advisors provides practical advice and strategies for district leaders to prepare for the looming budget crisis that will hit schools when the federal COVID relief funds expire. Their guide draws on the insights and expertise of Marguerite Roza and covers topics such as how to estimate the size of the fiscal cliff, how to prioritize spending, how to communicate with stakeholders, and how to plan for the long term.
How the End of ESSER Funds Will Hurt High-Poverty Schools
A new piece from Brookings warns about the looming financial crisis that will hit states and districts when the federal pandemic relief funds (ESSER) expire in September 2024. It shows that high-poverty communities will face more significant budget cuts and disruption than low-poverty ones because they received more ESSER funds per student and used them to maintain or increase staff levels. It also suggests that leaders must plan and find ways to protect equity and student outcomes in the transition.
Wonder which states may be under more duress than others? ERS released a report identifying 15 states facing the most complicated fiscal challenges.
Career and Technical Education
How States Fund Secondary Career and Technical Education Programs
Education Commission of the States updated its 50-state review of funding models and approaches to support secondary career and technical education (CTE) programs, which prepare students for postsecondary education and the workforce. The review identifies four standard models: student-based, resource-based, cost-based, and hybrid. It also provides examples of how states apply these models and the factors influencing their funding decisions.
How Stackable Credentials Can Help Build the U.S. Workforce
Attend a RAND event to learn about the evidence and implications of the stackable credential movement in higher education. Stackable credentials are short-term certificates that can be combined and applied toward longer-term degrees, allowing working students to gain skills and credentials that match their needs and goals. The event will explore how stackable credentials can help students advance in their careers, increase their earnings, and contribute to the U.S. economy.
Education Technology
State EdTech Trends: How States are Adapting to a Digital World Post-Pandemic
SETDA presents the results of a survey and report that track state education agencies' and policymakers' priorities and challenges regarding technology and education in the aftermath of COVID-19. The survey and report are conducted in collaboration with Whiteboard Advisors and include responses from 45 states, the District of Columbia, the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA), and Guam. The study also features state spotlights that showcase the work states are leading to support cybersecurity, ed-tech tools, and AI policy.
Postsecondary Pathways
Guaranteed Admission for 3.0 GPA Students at 10 Michigan Universities
A new initiative from 10 public universities in Michigan aims to admit any state high school graduate with a 3.0 GPA or higher. The Michigan Assured Admission Pact (MAAP) initiative seeks to encourage more students to pursue higher education and boost enrollment across the state. The initiative will start in the fall 2024 admission cycle and does not affect the cost of attendance.
Civic Engagement
New Evidence on Trickle-Down and Trickle-Up Influences in Civic Education and Engagement: Implications for Education Leaders
A new Sandra Day O’Connor Institute report shows significant relationships between civic engagement and various demographic factors, including race and socioeconomic status. School leaders can use these findings to inform targeted interventions and policies with community partners to increase civic engagement among students and their families. By understanding the trickle-down and trickle-up influences on civic engagement, education leaders can work towards creating more equitable and inclusive civic education programs that empower all students to become active and engaged citizens.
ICYMI
The United States Department of Education Announces Liquidation Extension for ARP Act ESSER and EANS Funds
The Department of Education has announced a liquidation extension process for the American Rescue Plan Act's Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief and Emergency Assistance to Non-Public Schools funds. The extension is designed to ensure that every possible resource is available to continue addressing the pandemic's impacts on schools and students, particularly the urgent need to accelerate student learning.
Dr. Christine Pitts is an executive leader, advancing public policy for social impact. Follow her on LinkedIn and Instagram for more updates.