In March 2016, The Atlantic magazine article "When Social and Emotional Learning Is Key to College Success" stated, "While test scores can predict academic success, self-management and relationship skills may better prepare students to thrive and graduate." In September, The Aspen Institute formed the National Commission on Social, Emotional, and Academic Development, to advance "the […]
District Administration welcomed education policy expert Robert Balfanz for this web seminar about what the last 10 years of research has found when it comes to improving the most challenged and lowest-performing schools, as well as the implications of the Trump administration and Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos on these efforts. Balfanz is research professor […]
Traditionally, many school districts have focused on learning, testing, and meeting educational standards to prepare their students for college. Schools have cut many practical programs like shop class, which build valuable skills and work experience, and replaced them with advanced academic courses like AP Calculus. Many forward-thinking educators, however, are now renewing interest in helping […]
The road hasn't always been easy, but Atlanta Public Schools has a proud history of bringing communities together to address academic and social challenges. The road hasn't always been easy, but Atlanta Public Schools has a proud history of bringing communities together to address academic and social challenges. We've made great strides as a district, […]
Is cursive writing doomed to become a long-lost art? Not if some educators have anything to say about it. After decades of remaining a main component of elementary education, cursive is up for debate under the Common Core standards. Its detractors argue that cursive is an antiquated form of writing that's not necessary in the […]
After the Great Recession, the Metropolitan School District of Lawrence Township in Indianapolis knew it had to prepare students for a new world of work skills and knowledge. Leaders decided that the district's McKenzie Career Center had to morph from a traditional vocational training facility into a school that would equip students with future-ready skills, […]
What: Fairmount Kindergarten Center Where: Mukilteo School District, Washington The Fairmount Kindergarten Center near Seattle hopes to use innovative design to maximize classroom learning time when it opens in September for the 2017-18 school year. The new standalone building at the Mukilteo School District will accommodate 550 students. Challenge: Faced with growing enrollment and a […]
As superintendent of the Franklin County Public Schools, I am always pleased when our programs successfully support our mission, which is "To prepare students for college and career readiness and to become contributing citizens." While we certainly cannot force our students to succeed in school or in life, we certainly can work to prepare them—to […]
Think back to what made you successful in college and career. In my case, what comes to mind are the ability to think critically, ask deep questions and apply lessons from the classroom to real-world settings. These are all so-called 21st century skills that are increasingly essential for children to learn—and to use as a […]
Barely 5 miles from the hustle and bustle of LaGuardia Airport in Queens, students at John Browne High School in Flushing are plowing and tilling a field, tending to chickens and picking apples to sell. While John Browne is the only New York City high school with a dedicated agriculture department, many other urban schools—such […]
