School district administrators hate it when they stumble across closets full of unused computing devices or visit classrooms where whiteboards are being used as very expensive chalkboards. Technology leaders at Dysart USD in the Phoenix suburbs had real-world experience with this phenomenon and were determined to make changes, says Diana Hawari, chief information officer. “Buying […]

Homework. Students dread it. Parents have a love/hate relationship with it. Teachers feel they need to give it. There are arguments on all sides. Some cite studies which show that homework doesn’t help students, while others defend it to the bitter end. What if… We thought differently about homework? It wasn’t as painful for parents […]

New California laws make the state first in the nation to adopt human trafficking and sexual abuse prevention education and training for students and teachers. The California Healthy Youth Act, passed in 2016, requires districts to provide comprehensive sexual health and HIV prevention education, including lessons on sex trafficking. In 2017, the governor amended the […]

Today’s more sophisticated visitor management systems allow K12 leaders to get a better handle on who’s trying to enter (or leave) their buildings—including tardy students. Lobby kiosks can perform automated and instant background checks, screen guests, and issue badges. This process can immediately identify registered sex offenders and alert staff to parental custody issues, among […]

Too many students graduate high school unprepared for college and career. There is a disconnect between what they know when they leave high school and what they are expected to know when they enter college and the workplace. They lack vital communications and critical thinking skills as well as real-world experiences. So, how do you […]

In Florida’s Collier County Public Schools, educators’ use of social media to connect with parents and the broader community started with “a coalition of the willing” says Greg Turchetta, executive director of communications and community development. “Resistance is at every turn. We started with school administrative teams and school accounts.” Once the administrators became comfortable […]

Striving to ensure the implementation of best practices that support all learners is critical to academic achievement for diverse populations. Dearborn Schools is committed to ensuring that all students reach academic success. With a population of 20,907 of which 50 percent are English learners (several refugees and newcomer students), 8 percent special education and approximately […]

Margaret Petkiewicz says the adoption of Common Core State Standards in California created a need for a support program for teachers in kindergarten through second grade who instruct in Spanish for the San Josˆš© Unified School District. Petkiewicz, the manager for Bilingual Programs and EL Services, pre-K through 5 for San Josˆš© USD, says there […]