DA Staff

California elementary school evacuated over bomb threat after right wing harassment

Chabot Elementary in Oakland was targeted online by extremists over a weekend playdate event organized for the school’s Black, brown, and Asian and Pacific Islander families.

Empowering Diverse Students in Mathematics: A Pathway to Equity and Excellence

Date & Time: Thursday, October 05 at 2 pm ET

In this 20-minute DA Ed Talk, the Coordinator of Educational Technology from the Birmingham City Schools in Alabama will outline some actionable strategies and insights for leveling the playing field in mathematics education in any school district through engagement, motivation, and support.

Online Learning vs. Remote Learning: Strategies for Success in Each Model

Date & Time: Thursday, September 28 at 2 pm ET

This 20-minute Ed Talk will outline the pros and cons of synchronous online learning and asynchronous remote learning, how to successfully implement each model to better meet the needs of students, and highlight some of the solutions, tools and platforms that can help to create effective online or remote learning environments. 

Did Vermont officials quash local school mask mandates? Inquiring feds want to know

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights is investigating allegations that Vermont state officials improperly prevented school districts from requiring masks to slow Covid-19 transmission.

Conservative groups warn voucher school financial data could be misinterpreted

School Choice Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty say an online dashboard to display public school finances is necessary for transparency, but the groups are fighting against the inclusion of data from voucher schools.

Terms of Tulsa superintendent’s separation released with incoming leader’s employment agreement

Deborah Gist will receive a lump sum severance payment of $199,913.36, equal to nine months of her current base salary.

Houston ISD’s Mike Miles doubles down on open-door classroom policy

Miles said requiring teachers to leave their doors open during class time is about administrators observing the quality of instruction.

American classrooms need more educators. Can virtual teachers step in to bridge the gap?

Most observers, including some providers of these very services, agree this isn’t ideal. Students with virtual teachers often say they like the classes but would prefer the instruction to be in-person.

Over 30 new LGBTQ education laws are in effect as students go back to school

Students and teachers have to contend with a variety of restrictions on LGBTQ content and bathroom and pronoun use.

Going Beyond Robocalls and Emails: Effective District Communication That Builds Equity and Increases Engagement

Date & Time: Tuesday, September 26 at 2 pm ET

Attend this webinar with a panel of school communications experts to learn how to use more effective district communication strategies that build genuine engagement and meet the needs of everyone in the community.

Iowa school district asking for parental consent for student nicknames

What’s in a name? In the Urbandale Community School District, a student going by a nickname other than what is on their birth certificate will need to be signed off by a parent.

Police departments pull school officers due to Minnesota restraint law

School employees and school resource officers can’t physically restrain students in a way that impacts their ability to breathe or voice distress—including holds that put students face down on the ground.

As more teens overdose on fentanyl, schools face a drug crisis unlike any other

Three teens thought they were taking prescription pills for pain and relaxation, drugs like Valium or Percocet, that they bought from friends or from social media. But the pills they took were counterfeits.

Teachers predict wave of violence with a return to classrooms

“I’m exhausted and we’re only three weeks into the school year and I’m already burnt out,” said Las Vegas teacher Kristan Nigro.

New school safety chief aims to ‘professionalize’ security at all Texas schools

As Texas schools face new security and safety requirements, a former U.S. Secret Service agent has been put in charge of making sure the state's more than 8,000 campuses are in compliance. In the days after the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Governor Greg Abbott called on the state's education department to create a new position, Chief of School Safety and Security.