Digital learning is defined as "any instructional practice that effectively uses technology to strengthen a student's learning experience and encompasses a wide spectrum of tools and practices." This "School Leader Digital Learning Guide" is a resource to help school leaders consider, plan, fund, implement, maintain, and adapt…

The "Practical Guide to Blended/Remote Learning and Children with Disabilities" was created by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in response to the situation created by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in 2020. However, it is applicable to other circumstances when blended or remote learning might be necessary,…

As part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), the U.S. Department of Education made available almost $3 billion for the Governor's Emergency Education Relief Fund (GEER). Governors across the nation must be strategic with their use of GEER funds to support education in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. This brief…

Questions often arise about how accessible educational materials (AEM) might be included in Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). The two purposes of this article are to (1) help families and educators understand the importance of including AEM in the IEPs of students who require them, and (2) to discuss locations in the IEP where it may be…

Technology, when used appropriately, can empower learning, engage and motivate students, and help make learning interactive. Students can benefit from educational technology because it can personalize instruction and adapt to their strengths and weaknesses. Today's digital tools and resources support and enhance learning at home and in the…

On April 27, 2020, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos clarified that although COVID-19 school building closures create significant challenges for the special education community, she would not recommend any waivers affecting the core tenants of IDEA, which guarantees a free, appropriate public education to students with disabilities. As the…

Many previous reports demonstrate that there is a significant need to drive innovation in adult learning and that there can be advantages to entering the market. There are 36 million low-skilled adults in the U.S. who can benefit from new approaches to learning. The effects of low rates of literacy, numeracy, and basic skills are widespread.…

The overarching purpose of this document is to define a new vision for mathematics instruction that explicitly attends to the needs of English Language Learners (ELLs), addressing the interdependence of language and mathematics. The sections in this report are devoted to (1) making clear that the grade-level college- and career-readiness…

When K-12 schools in California closed for in-person instruction in response to COVID-19 in March 2020, few would have predicted that most schools would remain physically closed for more than one year. Throughout this period, California's educators and students have continued teaching and learning remotely for the most part, demonstrating…

The purpose of this brief is to help families and educators understand the right of students with disabilities who need accessible educational materials to receive these materials in a timely manner. This right is based on provisions in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), as well as in the disability civil rights statutes…

This special education reopening guidance has been developed as a companion resource to "Reopening Washington Schools 2020: District Planning Guide" (ED606044) to provide information and resources for supporting students with disabilities throughout the school reopening process. The intent of this document is to offer guidance for all…

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has exacerbated existing inequities and inadequacies across a range of social structures, including our nation's education system. The pandemic has also had a more damaging impact on communities and people of color, including many who already faced health challenges. Congress has provided significant federal…

As the nation grapples with the COVID-19 pandemic, the families of English learners (ELs) have experienced disproportionate distress with the shuttering of schools and the economic crisis. The reality of what many EL and immigrant families have faced during the pandemic must be incorporated at the outset into any planning for the reopening of…

To slow the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Washington state, Governor Jay Inslee announced on March 13 that all public and private K-12 school facilities in the state were to close through April 24. On April 6, he extended the directive through the remainder of the school year. Although school facilities are closed to traditional…

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, as of this writing, 21 states and three U.S. territories have ordered or recommended school building closures for the rest of the academic year, with closures impacting at least 124,000 U.S. public and private schools and affecting at least 55.1 million students. In addition, districts in nearly all other states…