Ensuring all students have equal access to educational technology—both in the classroom and at home—often requires innovation. Educators can find cost-effective solutions in new technologies such as open-educational resources and by partnering with the business community. "The vast majority of superintendents agree with the premise that digital equity is a problem, but when we ask […]
In New York, an aggressive opt-out movement—wherein about 60 percent of third- through eighth-graders skipped high-stakes tests—has forced many districts to rethink their assessment methods. Hauppauge Public Schools on Long Island set out to become "self-sufficient" on testing through the use of adaptive learning software and 20-minute, in-class assessments given on iPads and other devices, […]
Educators in a school district that conducts well-designed formative assessments should be able to accurately predict how students will perform on midterms, finals and high-stakes exams. A growing number of experts and administrators insist that if a district excels at formative assessment, its students shouldn't have to sit through so many high-stakes tests. "We don't […]
When Deer Creek School District in Edmond, Oklahoma, was asked to participate in a pilot program for Marzano High Reliability Schools, there was an immediate buy-in from Grove Valley Elementary School principal Kelly McCoy. "We were very excited to see what it could do and if it could make an impact at our school" McCoy […]
Superintendents who want to reduce testing time should perform an assessment audit, says Bob Schaeffer, public education director at the National Center for Fair & Open Testing. Link to main article: States begin shedding standardized tests in K12 Key steps include: Determine every test required by the federal government, the state, the district, and at […]
In just the last few months, several districts and states have eliminated tests and cut assessment time to make room for instruction and reduce stress. The average student takes 112 mandated standardized tests from pre-K through grade 12, according to the Council of the Great City Schools. "It allows superintendents and other policymakers to experiment […]
Joseph V. Erardi Jr. served as superintendent of Newtown Public Schools in Connecticut from 2014 until his retirement in August. During his tenure, the district implemented NaviGate Prepared as a component of a broad safety and security initiative undertaken in the aftermath of the 2012 tragedy there. Talk about preparation versus prevention when it comes […]
The race to offer a rigorous pre-college curriculum to K12 students, even in elementary school, is heating up, with the move by one of the nation's largest districts to introduce a curriculum of international standards to its students in grade 3 through 5 this fall. Florida's Collier County school district, with 47,000 students, will use […]
Over a span of two years, Warren Township Schools in Warren, New Jersey, first hired a new superintendent and then replaced the principal at Warren Middle School. Both came from other districts. While Matt Mingle is the K8 district's third superintendent in roughly seven years, George Villar succeeded a principal who retired after 23 years […]
Mold may raise images of sick students and rotting buildings, but in reality, it's an easy—and most times inexpensive—problem to solve if dealt with quickly and effectively. Mold may raise images of sick students and rotting buildings, but in reality, it's an easy—and most times inexpensive—problem to solve if dealt with quickly and effectively. Many […]
