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| | LATEST NEWS FOR PRINCIPALS |
eSchool News
The move to blended learning has been labelled as "disruptive" by many, such as Clayton Christensen in his book "Disrupting Class." It is a significant shift in the teaching and learning paradigm. Thus, it would seem obvious that substantial professional development should be available to staff involved in this change. Some of the aspects of professional development that need consideration are covered in this article. A radar graph is provided to allow an organization to determine its understanding of and commitment to the changes that are needed.
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The Atlantic
Parents in Newark are wondering whether their children have been exposed to dangerous amounts of lead. Since early March, more than half of the 67 district schools have tested positive for high lead levels in the drinking water, and documents show that the school administration knew about the problem for more than a year.
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Education DIVE
In honor of National Robot Week, Education Dive took a look at two ways robots are being used in K-12 classrooms: one that helps inspire student interest in coding and another that helps children on the autism spectrum learn social-emotional skills. Robots can certainly teach students, but can students teach robots? That's the idea behind a new competition called the Vermont Robot Rodeo, currently unfolding in the Green Mountain state.
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Meet the Complete Testing System. Advantage is everything you need for scanning, analysis & reporting in one convenient bundle. Experience the benefits of our most popular scanner, answer sheets, and easy-to-use reporting software, packaged together. Learn more!
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NPR
Of the 3 million students identified as gifted in the U.S., English language learners are by far the most underrepresented. And nobody knows that better than 17-year-old Alejandra Galindo. "It's just kind of hard to not see people who look like me in my classes," she says. "I'm a minority in the gifted world." Alejandra is a senior at North Canyon High School in Phoenix. Before she was identified as gifted, she was identified as an English language learner, or ELL. You know, those kids who are often assigned to separate classrooms while they learn English. That was Alejandra.
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The Conversation
Globally, the U.S. is at risk of declining economic competitiveness due to its continuing lower levels of educational attainment in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The U.S. currently ranks 44th according to the quality of its mathematics and science education. A "leaky STEM pipeline" — in which factors such as lower expectations, discrimination, and a lack of interest make it less likely that racial or ethnic minorities, women or those from low-income families will pursue STEM careers — makes many adults less likely to be employed in these types of positions. Yet STEM positions are often high-paying and provide greater economic well-being and employment stability, especially as the U.S. transitions to a knowledge-based economy.
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Education World
One of the major concerns in modern-day education is that kids are being exposed to too much stress to soon. High-stakes testing, lack of play in early grades, minimal resources to address complex trauma- all of these things concern educators and parents as being reasons why today's students experience higher levels of stress. In honor of National Stress Awareness Day this month, do your part in easing students' nerves this testing season with these activity recommendations.
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The Washington Post
Students across New York have been taking the 2016 state-mandated standardized Common Core tests — first in English Language Arts and later this week in math — and from the beginning of the administration of the exams, trouble has been reported. Wrongly printed test booklets, poorly constructed questions, etc. In this post, one teacher does her best to explain the problems with the ELA test that third-grade students have taken — at least within the limits of what is legal for her to say. Teachers are not allowed to disclose the material on standardized tests — and in some places are at risk of losing their jobs and certification if they do.
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MindShift
Nearly all kids learn how to count using their fingers. But as kids grow older and math problems become more advanced, the act of counting on fingers is often discouraged or seen as a less intelligent way to think. However, educators, parents and students who frown on kids for using their fingers may be cutting short a greater opportunity: the strengthening of brain networks.
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Education Week
Schools in this city, known for its aging casinos, are using a comprehensive social-emotional learning strategy to tackle student engagement and academic success. The 64,000-student Washoe County district wants to raise its graduation rate, which reached a record 75 percent in 2015, to 90 percent by 2020, an ambitious goal in a state where young adults can make a middle-class salary valet-parking cars without a diploma, Superintendent Traci Davis said.
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Playworks.org
Creating a culture of safe, healthy play transforms children's social, emotional, and physical health. And that has a big impact on the classroom. Kids who get healthy play at recess come back to class ready to learn. In one study, teachers reclaimed 21 hours of class time each through a healthy play culture at recess. Healthy play means fewer conflicts spilling over into the classroom and smoother transitions back to class. But the impact for schools goes beyond productive class time.
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The Conversation (commentary)
The spring legislative season is well underway, and, as has been the case for the last several years, a number of states are again considering and passing amendments to their anti-bullying laws. This year, Florida and Kentucky, for example, saw amendments to their anti-bullying laws introduced in their general assemblies. Florida's bill, which has been signed into law by Governor Rick Scott, requires schools to review and revise their anti-bullying policies at least every three years. And Kentucky's bill has come up with a clear definition of bullying so schools better recognize bullying when it occurs.
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K-12 TechDecisions
IT networks are as important to schools now as classrooms and libraries and offices. Networks give teachers access to course content and students access to assignments — and they allow everyone to learn collaboratively. Yet most school districts still depend on spreadsheets for IP address management and Microsoft for DNS and DHCP — legacy tools unsuited for the technology revolution taking place in education today.
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Medical Xpress
Adding natural elements like sand, bricks and bamboo can transform a dull outdoor play space into an imaginative playground for children and even reduce depression signs, according to a new UBC study. The study, conducted over six months in 2014, involved adding things like sand, grasses and water features to the outdoor play facilities of two daycare centers in East Vancouver, and observing children's behavior before and after the change.
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| | FEDERAL ADVOCACY AND POLICY |
Education Week
U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr. isn't backing down on the department's stance on how a wonky spending provision — supplement-not-supplant — should play out under the brand new Every Student Succeeds Act, despite a heated debate with GOP lawmakers, including Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., an architect of ESSA and the chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.
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Choose from 87 digital, conceptual K-8 science units, with STEM, in grade-level bands, to meet evolving standards. Email for free sample and details: rseela@seelascience.com MORE
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USA Today
U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander angrily accused the U.S. Department of Education of blatantly ignoring part of the new school reform law that Congress passed last year with overwhelming bipartisan support. In an unusual public scolding, Alexander told Education Secretary John B. King Jr. the department is not adhering to a key section of the law that relates to funding for low-income schools. "Not only is what you're doing against the law," Alexander said during a Senate committee hearing, "the way you're trying to do it is against another provision in the law." King tried to assure Alexander the Education Department is not circumventing the law, but is merely proposing regulations to give guidance to states and local school districts. But Alexander was not convinced.
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The Huffington Post
Later, healthier, sleep-friendly school hours are a change whose time has come in Massachusetts. In the past month at least three districts have announced plans to delay the start of the school day to give students a chance for healthier sleep. While several Massachusetts districts have moved their bell times in the past decade, the rate of change is picking up rapidly as educators, health professionals, parents and students increasingly work together.
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Norwich Bulletin
In the years from 2001 to 2013, eight Eastern Connecticut schools and daycare centers had unsafe levels of lead in their water, according to reports from The Connecticut Mirror based on data from the U.S. Environment Protection Agency. Since the discovery of high levels of lead in their drinking water, the schools have taken action to prevent further water contamination, including increasing testing and installing various monitoring and filtration systems.
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WPRI-TV
If Rhode Island wants to improve educational outcomes, it should follow Massachusetts' lead by increasing state-level influence over large-sale school policies, make standardized testing part of its high school graduation requirements and give principals more power over everyday classroom decisions, according to a new study from the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council. In a 57-page report, RIPEC makes the case that state policy — not funding or socioeconomic factors — is one of the key reasons Rhode Island lags far behind its neighbor to the north when it comes to student performance.
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NAESP
Twitter turned 10 this month, and the social network was abuzz with cheer and reflections on its evolution. For principals, the past decade has ushered in a plethora of new ways to connect, but social media and new tools are just one avenue for communicating with students, parents, staff and community. And if we've learned anything in the past decade it is this: Principals must fine-tune the purpose for deciding to use a platform, and always customize for the specific audience. This process often reveals the need for a combination of both high- and low-tech communication strategies. Use this menu of tools to differentiate your message to meet your school community's needs.
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NAESP
Did you know that by virtue of your membership in NAESP you can cover your dog or cat for accidents, illnesses, wellness care and more? The cost of veterinary care is rising as more sophisticated treatment options becomes available for animals. However, with NAESP's group discount insurance program, you can minimize your costs and provide your dog or cat (or both) with quality veterinary care.
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ZipKrooz™ brings zip line-like adventure to the playground in an exciting, inclusive and safe way!
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