Teaching and Learning: Page 2

What’s the best way to measure a school’s quality? 5 factors to consider

More than test scores, a comprehensive set of research-based metrics would provide a richer understanding of a school's success.

The graduation speech no one gives: What school leaders really want to tell students

Students need to hear what will prepare them for a world where change is constant, growth requires vulnerability, and the most important problems resist simple solutions.

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College and Career Readiness

Many states picked diploma pathways over high school exit exams. Did students benefit?

The ESSA tasked K-12 schools nationwide with getting students more prepared for college and career, but many are still figuring out how to do the "career" part well.

A student in the Toppenish School District waters flowers in a plant and greenhouse science class. The Washington state district offers a wide range of career and technical education classes that smaller and more rural districts struggle to provide. (Courtesy of Toppenish School District)

Teaching and Learning

More schools are adopting a 4-day school week. One Montana town tried to fight it

Rural districts consider 4-day school weeks a way to lure teachers, but research shows they might not work for student learning.

Parent Jason Breckenridge, pictured here with his wife Megan, sued Montana’s Florence-Carlton school district over its plans to shift to a four-day school week. They felt the school district disregarded negative aspects of the shortened week. (Credit: Sarah Mosquera for The Hechinger Report)

Report: Districts continue to invest in summer learning

A new RAND/Wallace Foundation study looked at the prevalence and quality of summer learning programs being run by districts across the country.

Figure 2 Page 4 Districts Continue To Invest In Summer Programs

Beyond the prompt: Why computer science education remains essential in the age of AI

CS isn't primarily about training future programmers—it's about developing minds equipped to think systematically and creatively in an increasingly complex world. That's needed more than ever.

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New research explores the rise of micro-credential programs in K-12, offers recommendations

The FutureEd report traces the rise of micro-credentialing in K-12, examines how it’s being used today, and explores whether it can live up to its promise of transforming the high school experience.

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School principals play a unique role in setting the tone for their schools. We should all pay attention

Community school leaders are key to improving our education system during these challenging times of funding loss and shifting federal mandates.

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Teacher turnover spiked during COVID. But it’s now fallen for 2 years in a row.

Rural and low-income schools and special ed are still suffering. But state documents and research reports shows consistent patterns overall.

Teacher Turnover Rates By States

Untangling who should take algebra — and when

A new study looks into the research about access, readiness and placement in Algebra I and offers recommendations for states and districts.

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NWEA: Middle school STEM gender gap returns, widens post-pandemic

The disparity between boys' and girls' middle school scores slowly narrowed for years and had disappeared altogether by 2019. But the latest assessments have found the gap has reopened even wider.

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Five ways high-performing schools use data to help students succeed

53 school leaders agree that data is key in areas ranging from daily instruction and extra help to absenteeism and family engagement.

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