ChatGPT turns one today: Seven reasons why education leaders should step up on AI
It’s been a year since OpenAI released ChatGPT. Educators (and the rest of the world) were caught off guard by this new technology that could write college essays, plan vacations, and even compose a new poem or song based on the style of an original author. As we said back in May, “This changes everything.” […]
A reality check on the community school dream
No shortage of ideas abound about how to address post-pandemic learning loss, mental health problems and low school attendance. But the best-sounding ideas may make demands on schools and other public agencies that they often can’t meet. Both high-dose tutoring and learning acceleration generated enthusiastic support when schools reopened in 2021. However teachers who were […]
‘Just slow it all down’: School leaders want guidance on AI, new research finds
This piece was originally published in The 74. New generative artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT, which can mimic human writing and generate images from simple user prompts, are poised to disrupt K-12 education. As school and district administrators grapple with these rapid advances, they crave guidance on how to incorporate AI tools into teaching and […]
AI is already disrupting education, but only 13 states are offering guidance for schools
More states are acknowledging the implications of artificial intelligence technology for our society and institutions, particularly our school systems. However, the emerging state-level guidance for districts is broad and avoids regulatory language, according to CRPE’s latest review of state education department actions on AI. While generative AI rapidly advances, many states continue to defer to […]
Don’t engage families: Liberate them
I set out to reflect on parent engagement as we settled into another school year in the U.S. where 84% of Black eighth-graders lack proficiency in reading. And then something happened. On the evening of Sept. 19, more than 30 Oakland, Calif. mamas, grandmas, dads, and uncles graduated from the Oakland REACH’s Literacy Liberator fellowship. […]
Are unconventional learning environments serving special populations?
The pandemic created further opportunity and accelerated a movement toward nontraditional learning environments, such as independent microschools, homeschool cooperatives, and hybrid or virtual schools. Though nationally representative research on this movement is scarce, research reports and media accounts suggest that the number of these learning environments operating outside of public schools is continuing to grow. […]
Intergenerational learning: Proven benefits for both elders and youth
Inevitable demographic shifts are about to create a fast-growing population of skilled older workers: in a decade, adults over age 65 will outnumber children under age 18. At the same time, advances in public health and medicine make it likely that more of those adults will live longer and stay healthy long enough to work […]
Bargaining for the ‘common good’ meets parent pushback in Oakland
Last spring, three weeks before the end of the school year, Oakland teachers walked off their jobs, causing the cancellation of eight days of instruction. The Oakland Education Association charged that the school district was not bargaining in good faith, but both sides had already agreed to the same pay and benefits package that the […]
What will teachers’ union militancy produce? And will it last?
Unionized teachers in Fresno – California’s fourth largest district – are threatening to strike. In addition to pushing for increased pay and better benefits for staff, the Fresno Teachers Association is asking for additional student supports, particularly for homeless families. But those ideas go beyond the teachers contract and shouldn’t be a part of bargaining, […]
Near-peer mentors: Learner guides model success, improve outcomes for younger students
In the U.S. and around the world, young people in the wake of the pandemic are struggling with depression, anxiety, stress and other mental health challenges, and schools are often unable to find enough counselors and support staff. But recent graduates and other young adult mentors trained to coach students may be able to provide […]
