One way to address the teacher shortage crisis is to create policies and systems to support teacher recruitment and retention. Some are addressing it through increasing teacher pay to be on par with other highly desirable professions. Others are coordinating national investments to target in-need geographic areas or subject matter areas.

EarthEcho International announced its newest, complementary suite of classroom tools with materials to help identify and tackle the plastics pollution plaguing our oceans. Sponsored by the Northrup Grumman Foundation, the tools are now available and kicking off with a virtual field trip.

A bill introduced would require public schools to filter drinking water at the source on campuses built before 1986. The filters would have to remove lead. The bill extends beyond water fountains to sinks used in the kitchen for food preparation or cooking.

The two words, “these kids,” frustrate Superintendent Carla Santorno more than any other phrase. It's used by some educators as a kind of secret code and a flimsy excuse for academic failure among marginalized students, she says.