Many school districts have morphed from education centers into community centers, providing medical care, housing assistance, free meals and other social services.
NXTBoard has announced a new partnership with Mesquite ISD in Texas, where the district will use NXTBoard's board management software to ensure effective roll-out of its Accreditation Evaluation System.
Polk County Schools launched a new program intended to teach students more about life in construction. Another Florida district in Pinellas County is investing $158.5 million in construction projects across nine campuses. In Oklahoma, the Amber-Pocasset School District is proposing a $23.49 million bond to help with construction and security projects.
Often it's the incremental changes, not the huge innovations, that ultimately transform systems. So while competency-based education in its most radical form may not end up being a viable solution for many schools, elements of the reform may make a big difference for educators and students where these conversations are happening.
Innovation in education can range from adding makerspaces to using artificial intelligence tutors. Education technology solutions abound. That's why taking the right approach to innovation is important, and has implications not just for student outcomes, but also for tactical purchasing decisions and student, teacher and leader development.
Facing declines in enrollment, funding and hiring pools, many rural K12 districts work to employ creative solutions to fill gaps and provide the necessary educational resources for students.
The proposed $1.65 billion operating budget for Baltimore County Public Schools includes $56 million for administration, $603 million for instructional salaries and wages, and $209 million for special education. The plan also calls for cutting the number of computers available for K2 students by half.
The Digital Citizenship Curriculum for grades 6-8, available for free to all schools through the Common Sense Education platform, takes on the authentic concerns that students face in their lives, giving them the skills they need to succeed as digital learners and leaders. The concerns include sexting, tech addiction, cyberbullying and more.
Illinois education officials may propose creating more scholarships or making more student data available to public universities, in an effort to stanch the flow of freshmen choosing to attend colleges outside the state.
