For Chicago to be a strong and vibrant city, it needs to invest in communities, families, and children. Access to a high-quality education and the opportunity to be healthy is key for all children to realize their full potential and contribute to a vibrant city. Studies have consistently documented the powerful connection between health and…

Statewide performance assessments have gone in and out of vogue for over 30 years. While embraced as authentic representations of student work, they often prove burdensome for standardized assessment purposes. They can be a strong addition to a balanced assessment system--when implemented well for the right purposes. State policymakers looking to…

This policy brief identifies three key principles Local Education Agencies (LEAs) can take to increase parental engagement through better data-use practices. While California identifies parental engagement as one of 10 priority areas under the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) and provides access to school data through the Local Control…

In keeping with the provisions of Tennessee Code Annotated 49-1-201(12), this Annual Statistical and Financial Report for the scholastic year ending June 30, 2015, provides a numerical record of information describing the condition of education in the state of Tennessee. The report provides the following information: (1) Public School Officers;…

As anyone would readily agree, no child should be trapped in a persistently failing school. When the author was appointed New Mexico's secretary of education in 2011, she committed to never settle for failure and never stop pursuing equity and opportunity for all students. Many of New Mexico's students live in poverty or are students of color and…

This report describes the core standards process for Utah Public Schools. During fiscal year 2017-2018, the Utah State Board of Education (Board) continued revisions to core standards for Health Education, K-5 and 9-12 Science, and Early Childhood Education. The Health Education Core is currently out for 90 days of public review which closes…

In this month's interview, Kappan's editor talks with high school English teacher and researcher Lisa Scherff about the ongoing struggle over who gets to define the English language arts curriculum. Dating back to the creation of the subject area, more than a century ago, classroom teachers have advocated for a varied course of study that helps…

As 21st century school systems continue to emerge, low-income parents will continue to regard public charter schools as the means through which their children have equal access to quality education. This report is a response to the National Education Association's (NEA's) policy statement on charter schools. In the statement, the NEA calls for a…

"We Dare Say Love" takes up the critically important issue of what it means to educate Black male students in a large urban district. It chronicles the development and implementation of the African American Male Achievement Initiative in Oakland Unified School District, following a small group of Black male educators who changed district…

The Illinois State Board of Education crafted their Strategic Plan as a roadmap to equity, defining the steps their agency will take to improve and increase opportunities and supports for Illinois students, especially those in the greatest need. They adopted the plan in November 2020, nine months into a global pandemic that continues to shape the…

Fifty years ago, John G. Davis published an article on Teacher Dismissal on grounds of immorality and the "new morality" of the 1970s. While much has changed in terms of morality and moral turpitude in 50 years, this article reviews the current case law and reasons teachers continue to be fired today over issues of immorality and sexual…

Turning around low-performing schools is hard. Strategies financed by federal dollars have shown disappointing results, and states have avoided fundamental reforms even as they hired specialists and retrained school staff. State leaders can adopt or adapt three approaches already in use if they want to go beyond cosmetic remedies for troubled…

Homelessness often is accompanied by poverty, stress, and instability. As a result, children and youth in homeless situations frequently must overcome many educational challenges. The McKinney-Vento Act requires local educational agencies (LEAs, hereafter "school districts") to identify children and youth experiencing homelessness, and…

As groups representing local and state education players struggle to remain relevant in a policy conversation often dominated by foundations, think tanks, new advocacy groups, and political and business figures, a shift in leadership has been under way at major associations. Most of the changes have come as part of the natural churn; former…

This paper presents states and districts with guidelines and recommendations for improving systems that support instructional practices. Because the quality of teaching is the most important school-based factor for student learning, a focus on instruction is essential for turning around struggling schools and districts and cultivating conditions…