Ironically, our best efforts to continue educating our students through distance learning may serve to widen the opportunity and achievement gaps between our student groups, says DA guest columnist Gustavo Balderas, superintendent of Eugene School District 4J in Oregon.
A COVID-19 slide could mean some students could return in fall with 70% of a typical year's learning gains in reading, and less than 50% in math, which is nearly a full year behind, NWEA researchers say.
While it's imperative we teach children to be competent learners and users of technology, we must also emphasize social-emotional learning, says DA guest columnist Michelle VandyBogurt, who uses coding and robotics to teach problem-solving and perseverance at Northwest Community Schools in Michigan.
Closing school buildings accelerated one rural school district's journey toward student-driven learning and digital equity in online instruction that is designed to prepare students for post-graduation success.
Equity is driving many schools toward pass/fail, "floor grades" and other grading methods to ensure online learning doesn't derail students' academic progress during coronavirus closures.
"Zoom bombing" is a growing cybersecurity concern as hackers infiltrate online classes to heckle teachers while displaying pornography and racist images.
A bill that would have given Montgomery County school board members a raise for the first time in six years failed in this year's abbreviated state legislative session. The proposed $10,000 raise would have increased board members' salaries to $35,000 per year.
