Eighteen percent of principals leave their posts annually, according to the most recent federal data. Departing principals cite inadequate preparation and professional development as a key reason for leaving. Yet principal preparation programs have been slow to keep up with the changing demands of the profession. This policy update shares how…

Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont and Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker announced the expansion of the northeastern reciprocity agreement to include certified educators throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and beyond. As of April 21, 2022, "educators in Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New…

An effective, well-prepared teacher workforce is central to students' mastery of deeper learning skills such as critical thinking and teamwork. This National Association of State Boards of Education (NASBE) policy update urges state boards of education to invigorate relicensure policies by embracing multiple tiers that support teachers throughout…

The authors believe it is time to expand the term school climate to reflect an intention of giving all children access to positive school environments. Their expanded definition recognizes that equitable school climates are central to education equity, and it calls on educators and policymakers to deepen awareness of race, ethnicity, gender,…

Although Employers and colleges want candidates who are motivated and adaptable, are able to work well in teams and communicate effectively, have a strong work ethic, have solid interpersonal skills, and are strategic in their planning skills. Schools need to place a greater emphasis on social and emotional skills for students to prepare them for…

As the United States has struggled to answer the question of what education for the 21st century must look like, most states have now responded by signing onto the Common Core Standards. Drawn from lessons learned from a generation of standards-based education and research on what high-performing countries do to enable young people to prosper, it…

Educators nationwide confront a troubling phenomenon: Increasingly, students leave high school unready for college, as evidenced by high rates of placement into remedial courses and low rates of college completion. Many students also lack either the attitudes or skills essential to succeed in a postsecondary setting, or knowledge of how to apply…

This article presents the story of Wilson College, the only college in the United States where a group of alumnae took the trustees to court over the issue of the announced closing and won the case. The court reversed the trustees' decision on the grounds that the college had failed to seek approval from the court before announcing the change in…

Figuring out how to pay for college is a common challenge for many students across the country. But in Pennsylvania, where tuition at public two- and four-year institutions is among the highest in the country, state officials are revisiting a topic that has long frustrated students and officials alike. This article reports that with the meltdown…

Cyber schools, also known as virtual schools, are noteworthy charter school developments that provide viable options for education. Charter schools in general and cyber charter schools in particular are not "revenue neutral" to local school districts. Nationwide, hundreds of millions of dollars allocated for education are being routed…

In this article, the author features the lawsuit, which Americans United filed jointly with the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania asserting that the Dover School Board has violated the constitutional separation of church and state. He traces that the controversy stems from Tammy J. Kitzmiller's and other concerned parents' strong…

One purpose of this paper was to describe the present process of machine government and private-regarding practices in local school government. Another purpose was to theorize from these data, based on selected conceptual notions, about the political process in educational governance. Data for the study came from a Pennsylvania superintendent…

To meet the demand for control of emotional outbursts and angry confrontations at public hearings, this school district developed guidelines giving the school board a stance of deliberation and utilizing a strong, neutral moderator to limit debate and still meet the public's right to be heard. (WTH)

Assistant executive director of the Pennsylvania School Boards Association argues that local school districts, not the state legislature, should develop policies to allow home-schooled students to participate in extracurricular activities. (PKP)

The Wilkinsburg (Pennsylvania) School Board's decision to hire Alternative Public Schools, a private company, to manage a failing elementary school has alienated the teacher union and many town residents. If teachers lose their court challenge, Turner School will become the only U.S. public school to be both privately staffed and managed. (MLH)