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 […]
Reopening checkup: Filling the leadership vacuum will help schools focus on engaging students, addressing learning loss
The latest update of our analysis of 100 of the nation’s highest-profile school systems suggests districts have been adapting as they go, but there is much work ahead.
Can public education return to normal after the COVID-19 pandemic?
Regardless of how long or short a time the current pandemic lasts, the “normal” in politics and schooling is unlikely to return anytime soon.
A Puget Sound-area charter school couldn’t open as planned—but it still found a way to support students
Like many students across the country, Walter Lopez started falling behind on his work when schools suddenly shifted to remote learning this spring. But this year, he gained access to a new support system that helped him catch up. He’s now a ninth grader at a charter school in Seattle, but two days a week, […]
We reviewed the school reopening plans for 106 districts around the country. Here’s how they square with reality
Perhaps as to be expected, districts’ already lackluster plans for the start of school have been beset by execution challenges, confusing and tardy federal guidance, and barriers to student access.
Special education must no longer be an afterthought
When districts closed last spring, students with disabilities were suddenly cut off from receiving legally mandated therapeutic services that allow them to participate in school. Some families reported not even hearing from their child’s special education teachers for the remainder of the school year. Facebook groups filled with stories from parents at their wit’s end, […]
What we learned from deep dives into six school systems’ COVID-19 response
For an analysis we published last week as part of the American School District Panel project, we looked closely at six districts and charter management organizations, hoping to understand why they took particular approaches to remote learning and how their experiences last spring affected their plans for the fall.
Like the dinosaurs, public education as we know it is facing a meteor moment. We must adapt to a new model beyond what we know as ‘school’
Before the COVID meteor knocked them for a loop, school districts were the primary providers of child care, nutrition, recreation and education — not to mention the largest employers of adults — in their communities. By the time our crisis has passed, families, school staff and district administrators will have spent at least a full […]
More districts should seize the opportunity to improve professional learning for teachers
Our nationwide scan found some promising efforts by school districts to support professional learning despite massive logistical hurdles and a tangle of red tape. But we also see significant missed opportunities to improve support for teachers.