Kaya Henderson will step down in September as chancellor of the District of Columbia Public Schools after serving in the position for more than five years. She says she will spend time with family before considering other offers in education, published reports state. During Henderson's tenure, the once-troubled district has stabilized and seen marked improvements […]
Meeting students' psychological needs, improving STEM programs and fueling college and career access exemplify innovative solutions increasing student achievement nationwide. The 24 school systems honored in this round of District Administration's Districts of Distinction national recognition program found creative ways to raise graduation rates and to build up administrative effectiveness. These districts, representing 16 states […]
English language learners remain the least represented group in gifted programs—meaning districts do not sufficiently tap the talents of the growing number of immigrant students entering U.S. schools. "It's a shame because these are kids who have enormous potential not only to be among the next generation of scientists and entrepreneurs, but to be upwardly […]
Beth Schiavino-Narvaez has led Hartford Public Schools in Connecticut for two years. But it's been two decades since a landmark state court case—Sheff vs. O'Neill—ruled that Hartford schools had violated the U.S. Constitution by isolating children based on race and socioeconomics. And despite new budget woes, Schiavino-Narvaez continues to fight for better schools. The school […]
Technology is a vital part of students' lives: 92 percent of teens say they go online daily and 24 percent say they are logged in "almost constantly" according to a 2015 report by the Pew Research Center. Most of that involves social media (Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram), which is sometimes used to bully, make […]
In Florida, parents flock to after-hours tours of the Hillsborough County Public Schools' kitchens. In Arizona, the Facebook page dedicated to the food and nutrition department of the Chandler Unified School District has over 58,000 followers—more than the school system's total enrollment. And all across the country, parents and students use smartphones to access school […]
Meria Carstarphen is a team player—literally. She has played football in the hot summer sun alongside varsity players at Atlanta Public Schools. The district superintendent also gives her personal cell phone number to staff and students alike. They can text her or call her—any time. In addition, they follow each other on Twitter. Meria Carstarphen […]
Fears of lead-tainted water in U.S. schools surged this year at the same time a report found the nation spends $46 billion less on annual school construction and maintenance than is necessary to ensure safe and healthy facilities. The federal government contributes about 10 percent to districts' annual operating budgets, but almost nothing to school […]
Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo plans to bring computer science courses to every school in the state by the end of 2017. To ease concerns over a lack of teachers trained to teach the subject, the state has formed the Computer Science for Rhode Island (CS4RI) initiative to supply the needed PD. That professional development […]
Xenia Community Schools in Ohio faced a crisis in 2012 that forced administrators to slash $10 million from its annual budget. The district signed a five-year contract with a transportation contractor and saved $458,000. Still, such a move can be a challenging—and sometimes controversial—issue for many districts. Xenia Community Schools in Ohio faced a crisis in 2012 that forced administrators […]
