Don’t force square-peg students back into wrong-shaped holes
While President Biden has promised to have most public schools open within his first 100 days, new data indicate it will be a daunting challenge. Spiking virus rates and intense opposition from teachers unions is causing many school districts to revert to all-remote instruction. The benefits of in-person contact with friends and teachers are real. […]
Five lessons on how community-driven learning hubs could change school districts long-term
In the final months of 2020, we sat in on nearly three dozen conversations with teams of district leaders and community-based nonprofits that are collaborating to run learning hubs. Learning hubs provide in-person learning environments or intensive virtual support to students—often in small groups. They offer school systems promising opportunities to rethink how they work […]
What does ‘attendance’ mean for remote learners in a pandemic? How 106 districts are dealing with absenteeism, student engagement & grades
Our analysis of reopening plans in 106 large, high-profile districts finds that they have taken student engagement and attendance far more seriously this fall than they did after schools first closed last spring. But many school systems have struggled to create consistent rules, especially for remote learners.
Thinking forward in 2021: We must safely reopen schools, but the goal cannot be a return to normal
What a year! Since early in March, the CRPE team has been operating at full steam to try to be helpful in the pandemic. In the first few months we pushed for urgent action to prepare schools to move to remote learning. I am incredibly proud of the CRPE team. We were often exhausted, but […]
One size fits no one: Meeting the varied demands and needs of students
CRPE sought examples of districts providing outlets for students to provide feedback, and students taking advocacy into their own hands.
Any school can start building the key ingredients for effective special education
For many parents of students with disabilities, last spring’s sudden interruption of schooling was a disaster. Cut off from teachers and forced to go without essential special education services, parents saw years of social and academic progress slip away. For many, this fall hasn’t been much better. Health, safety, and reopening have become all-consuming for […]
Learning pods: Providing education equity for all families
Parent advocacy groups are empowering families to reimagine public schools. But sometimes parents are simply opting out as the ultimate form of empowerment. Chemay Morales-James was working as an equity coach providing consulting services to public school districts when she decided to homeschool her own children. A former teacher and mother of two from Watertown, […]
It’s time for a new grand bargain that ends school funding based on seat time
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed fatal flaws in the way states fund education—based on the time students sit in school, rather than on the quality of instruction. It is time for a new grand bargain in which states offer schools much greater flexibility on where, when, and how students are taught, and, in exchange, states fund […]
Understanding the learning pods landscape
We are looking for more examples of learning pods and hubs. If you know of any, please let us know by filling out this short form. In October, 100 Black Men of Valdosta, in Georgia, transformed their space into a free virtual learning site for students who lack stable internet or have other needs. They […]
Mapping the landscape of learning in New England
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted public education in ways that were unimaginable at the beginning of the year. Students, parents, and teachers have struggled to make remote learning work. Many classrooms remain closed and schools have lost touch with scores of students. We also saw remarkable examples of innovation, ingenuity, strength, and commitment to supporting student […]
