Every spring, Graham Local Schools fourth- and fifth-graders hatch and release trout during a unit that covers aquaponics, hydroponics and conservation. Older students raise corn and soybeans on a sustainable farm operated by the rural district in southwest Ohio. Teachers in the Jim Thorpe Area School District in Pennsylvania have incorporated software such as GarageBand […]
When we talk about the “deaths of despair”—those from alcohol and drug misuse and suicide—we tend to overlook an important fact. While media reports often focus on adults, young people are also dying from the same causes, and caregivers, family and friends suffer from the trauma of these events. Suicide is the third leading cause […]
What are the top transportation challenges at school startup? The biggest challenges are routes, drivers and buses. School bus routing is more complex than other routing. District routes can be affected by ongoing school enrollment and by families moving. During the summer, districts experience higher turnover in bus drivers, which can impact startup. Lastly, readying […]
Books represent just a part of the early literacy equation. Districts and community organizations now provide transportation, meals, summer lessons and family activities to prepare children for kindergarten reading. “The biggest challenge for closing the literacy gap is to address its cause: an opportunity gap” says Nell Duke, professor of literacy, language and culture at […]
The “4 C’s” smart model is a tool for school brand builders who are on the path to “telling, not selling.” While our students strive for A’s in the classroom, school administrators can focus on the “4 C’s.” This smart model from Jez Frampton, CEO of global marketing leader Interbrand, brings a tight structure from the […]
Faced with tight budgets and the expanding use of electricity-hungry technology, districts are turning to energy efficiency solutions that don’t sacrifice learning power. “Academic achievement is always foremost in everyone’s mind, and parents, teachers and administrators all want to be first in that space where you’re providing the latest tools—the tablets, laptops and phones that […]
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 […]
Finding innovative ways to make math matter to students is key to improving competency in all grades. At Ridgewood Community High School outside Chicago, students are building a home on campus. The project, part of a Geometry and Construction class, reflects administrators’ efforts to make math relevant through real-world applications. “Our thought was, ‘It’s not […]
In Oakland USD, girls who were chronically absent and suspended frequently told researchers in a 2015 study that sexual assault and harassment were among the biggest barriers for them at school. Every Friday, for example, boys in fourth and fifth grade and in middle school would make a game of slapping girls’ butts. But those […]
Colleges blame high schools. High schools blame middle schools. Middle schools blame elementaries—and everyone tends to blame funding, poverty, bad parenting and other factors for low student achievement. A new movement that promises closer cooperation between higher ed and K12 aims to end this legacy of passing the buck. Educators from New York City to […]
