Pandemic pods show the value of designing for individual needs. Will we learn from them?
Pandemic pods were born out of necessity, as schools shuttered around the country last spring and families cast out in search of urgent solutions to childcare and remote learning support. But in a year characterized by unprecedented disruption and loss, families and educators participating in pods discovered something important: students, educators, and families benefit from […]
In thousands of districts, 4-day school weeks are robbing students of learning time for what amounts to hygiene theater
Earlier this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention made clear that good ventilation and consistent mask wearing are far more effective at preventing the spread of COVID-19 than disinfecting surfaces. This clarification was long overdue. Scientists have long suspected that the virus is mainly airborne. They recognized that measures like deep cleaning and temperature checks […]
The summer puzzle: Summer plans to date are lacking in key areas
CRPE’s review of 100 urban and large school districts for summer plans finds that, similar to last year, most summer school plans are vague. A significant majority lack explicit learning supports and feature incomplete or confusing messaging.
Why students could look forward to summer school this year
CRPE’s data on school districts’ summer school plans is cited.
Politics, Race Were Key Factors in When Washington Schools Reopened for In-Person Learning During Pandemic
Bree Dusseault is quoted by the Daily Chronicle on Washington school districts’ responses to the pandemic and the reluctance of some commmunities to return in-person.
As urban districts prepare to reopen, most are not doing enough to communicate how they will keep students and teachers safe
As districts move to offer more in-person learning this spring, many teachers, parents and students remain hesitant, worrying whether schools — and their specific campuses and classrooms — are safe.
5 reasons experts think kids will be in school full time this fall
Robin Lake is quoted in Vox on what to expect from schools this fall.
COVID-19 has upended education. How will schools solve for learning loss?
Robin Lake is quoted in the Philadelphia Inquirer on how schools should address learning loss.
Learning hubs: A shovel-ready strategy for spending federal dollars
The just-passed American Rescue Plan includes $123 billion in new help for schools and hundreds of billions more for state governments. How state and local leaders use this unprecedented infusion of federal funding will be a critical question in the coming weeks and months. School districts have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to use this money to […]
We can’t afford to love learning acceleration to death
As children return to school after as much as a year away, schools and districts have a new strategy for helping them make up for lost time. Often called acceleration, the strategy’s essence is to: Teach kids the ideas and skills that are intellectually demanding and interesting for individuals of their age. Expect they […]