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Oct. 22, 2020

SCHOOL LEADERS NEWS

Ed leaders say finances, politics remain hurdles in COVID-19 response Education DIVE Few administrators felt prepared for the coronavirus pandemic that shut down schools in the spring, although many said they felt most prepared to equip students with laptops or tablets and to provide meals and other essential resources for families in need when schools shut down in spring, according to the Education Dive: K-12's COVID-19 Preparedness Survey. READ MORE

Safe Schools Week: Keeping students, faculty secure during pandemic District Administration Magazine Safe Schools Week is here, and there have been few more complex times to remain hazard-free and violence-free, than in 2020. Yet K-12 schools across the board are doing well with safety and security measures, especially in their communication and planning, according to experts from the Partner Alliance for Safer Schools. READ MORE

SPONSORED VIDEO Now, Coding is Elementary BootUp is dedicated to empowering elementary teachers and students by establishing computer science programs in districts across the United States. Elementary students are inspired through creative and interactive lessons that allow them to explore personal interests at an age when they are just beginning to formulate ideas about their futures. WATCH VIDEO

How RFID can help in a school reopening eSchool News As schools prepared to reopen this past August and September, administrators had to consider more than usual. In order to ensure the safety of students returning to school, administrators had to evaluate school reopening strategies, social distancing efforts, cleaning policies and how to quickly identify symptomatic students. READ MORE

COVID-19 could help us reinvent public education eSchool News The COVID-19 pandemic exposed the fundamental insufficiencies and inequities of America's education system, shaking its foundations in ways that make it abundantly clear we must take this opportunity to rebuild from the ground up, according to Real Clear Education. There is now urgency to create a more resilient, flexible system centered on learners' unique needs, circumstances, aspirations and interests, rather than institutions. We must reinvent our public education system so it can powerfully and equitably support each child in accessing rich learning resources and opportunities. READ MORE

FEATURED ARTICLE Here's how to act on growth scores Promoted by Renaissance Learning Given the new accountability models driven by ESSA, it’s no longer enough to focus solely on proficiency. We’re also required to show that students are growing within and across school years—and that they’re developing the knowledge and skills they’ll need for success in an increasingly competitive world. In this webinar for education leaders, an assessment expert shares insights on analyzing student growth scores, along with tips for using growth data to enhance curriculum in your school and across your district. Watch now READ MORE

5 lessons learned after PD paid for by CARES Act funds District Administration Magazine Professional development courses on how to implement distance learning are in high demand. School districts across the country are looking for ways to meet that need. Many are supporting professional development with federal funds and improving practices along the way. READ MORE

Want to enter a school building? Get scanned first EdTech Magazine Interactions at schoolhouse entrances look a bit different during a major health crisis. At some schools, there no longer are packs of students crowding through doors or parents lingering to say goodbye. Instead, school officials stand by — or drones fly over — scanning the temperatures of those seeking to enter the building. Infrared thermometers are a key technology K–12 schools are starting to use as part of efforts to prevent the spread of illness in school buildings. READ MORE

Planning the Return to School: 7 Questions School Boards Must Ask Is your school board ready for this fall’s unprecedented challenges? This guide reveals the critical questions boards need to ask. MORE INFO

TECHNOLOGY

The fundamentals of zero-trust security for schools EdTech Magazine When technology leaders encounter the term "zero trust" for the first time, they often find it off-putting. In a cybersecurity context, zero trust sounds like a paranoid approach, embracing the "trust nobody" philosophy that forms the basis for many negative stereotypes of cybersecurity teams. READ MORE

Linking literacy and computer science in elementary school Edutopia It has been my experience that many teachers perceive computer science a content area that only a CS educator can support. However, with the right training and mindset, any educator can teach CS — and all should be aware of the broader implications of CS concepts and content. READ MORE

9 ways to expand computer science equity in high school District Administration Magazine Almost half of U.S. high schools now teach at least one computer science course. That means, however, students at a majority of high schools don't have access to computer science, according to a new report. And Black, Latinx and Native American students are less likely to attend a school where computer science is taught, according to "State of Computer Science Education: Illuminating Disparities" by Code.org, the Computer Science Teachers Association, and the Expanding Computing Education Pathways Alliance. READ MORE

With most US students still learning online, parents say they want better virtual instruction Chalkbeat The majority of America's public school students are learning exclusively online, according to a new national poll of their parents — and most of those parents want school officials to focus on improving that experience. The poll, released by the National Parents Union, a group that backs school choice and a comprehensive educational response to the pandemic, paints one of the most complete pictures to date of parents' feelings about this school year. It also offers hints to school officials about what parents want as debates about when to open school buildings continue. READ MORE

POLICY CORNER

CDC offers cautions, guidance for schools' COVID-19 testing strategies Education Week New guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gives a framework for school-based testing for COVID-19, detailing who should be tested first and how such screening should be incorporated into schools' overall strategies for controlling the spread of the virus. It suggests schools prioritize symptomatic individuals and those who've had close contact with those who may be ill with the virus. READ MORE

EDUCATION HEADLINES

More than 70% of CPS bilingual programs fall short WBEZ Christopher Perea Ortega, an eighth grader at John Spry elementary on Chicago's Southwest Side, loves to play guitar and the bass, especially when he is anxious. Lately, that's been happening a lot to deal with the stress of sitting at his computer for remote school and trying to understand his teachers in English. Christopher's parents only speak in Spanish to their children at home. The shy 14-year-old with a quirky sense of humor was in his school's transitional bilingual program from kindergarten to fourth grade. He received language support to help transition from learning in Spanish to learning fully in English. READ MORE

Isolated students may struggle to stay mentally healthy Edutopia The COVID-19 pandemic has had a detrimental impact on many students' mental health. In a May 2020 survey, seven out of 10 teens reported mental health struggles, 61% said they had experienced an increase in feelings of loneliness, 43% said they had experienced depression and 55% said they had experienced anxiety. READ MORE

When school is home and home is school, which rules prevail? The Associated Press Toys that look like weapons. Barefoot students. Disruptive imagery in the background. Pets roaming the room. All a clear violation of rules inside most American classrooms. But that was when most American students were actually inside schools. How do standards like these translate when everyone is logging on from home? Schools are struggling to figure it out this fall — yet another adaptation demanded of educators during the coronavirus pandemic. In the learn-from-home world, teachers and experts can easily imagine the friction of extending regular classroom discipline into young people's previously private spaces. READ MORE

MULTIBRIEFS EXCLUSIVE Ensuring progress and knowledge retention among ESL students By Douglas Magrath As they prepare for and move on to college life, students undergo many transitions. The most important are the social and academic changes that new students will face in addition to dealing with a new language if English is their second language. Students need to make connections that will help them adjust to this new life. International students especially may feel isolated as they are far away from home, and the initial excitement may wear off quickly. READ MORE

Choosing culturally responsive images to connect with students Edutopia (commentary) Lidia Aguirre, a contributor for Edutopia, writes: "If you've heard the term culturally responsive teaching, you know the importance of creating a culturally rich classroom environment. However, if you're an educator who is new to CRT (also known as culturally relevant teaching), it can seem overwhelming. When I attended my first AVID Summer Institute and received in-depth training on how to become a more culturally relevant educator, I came away completely inspired and ready for the school year ahead." READ MORE

CAREERS

New Postings Every Week on ALAS Website! ALAS 10/21/20 — Chief Executive Officer, Nevada State High School, Henderson and Las Vegas, NV 10/19/20 — Jorge Paulo Lemann Professorship for Brazil Studies, Harvard Graduate School of Education, Cambridge, MA 10/19/20 — Superintendent of Schools, Champaign Unit 4 School District, Champaign, IL 10/16/20 — Director of Talent, Transcend Education, Flexible (Domestic travel when safe to do so) 10/16/20 — Superintendent, North Wasco County School District 21, The Dalles, OR 10/16/20 — Usable Knowledge Associate, Transcend Education, Fully Remote/Virtual Team 10/15/20 — Superintendent of Schools, Monroe County Community School Corporation, Bloomington, IN 10/12/20 — Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership (PK-12), California State University, Long Beach, Long Beach, CA 10/12/20 — Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, Durham Public Schools, Durham, NC 10/12/20 — Assistant Superintendent of the Department of Human Resources, Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax, VA 10/12/20 — Partner, School Design, Transcend Education, Multi-Region 10/12/20 — Project Manager, Hopkintin School District, Hopkintin, NH 10/12/20 — Superintendent of Schools, Dover-Sherborn Public Schools, Dover, MA 10/02/20 — Deputy Chief of Schools, Chicago Public Schools, Chicago, IL 10/02/20 — Executive Director of Technology, Kermit Independent School District, Kermit, TX 10/02/20 — Superintendent, Seminole County Public Schools, Seminole County, FL 10/02/20 — Superintendent, DeKalb Community Unit School District No. 428, DeKalb, IL 09/23/20 — Chief Communications Officer, Judson Independent School District, Live Oak, TX VISIT ALAS WEBSITE FOR MORE CAREER OPPORTUNITIES & INFORMATION!!

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