Instructional materials are central to students’ educational success, and local governing boards play a critical role in ensuring the smooth adoption of materials the reflect the diversity in their communities. A new CSBA brief, “Instructional Materials Adoptions: State and Local Governing Board Processes, Roles, and […]
Author: Alisha Kirby
National survey provides look at the state of school facilities
Survey findings released Feb. 15 by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) provide a snapshot of the state of aging school facilities nationwide. Of the 1,625 public schools surveyed in December, the average age of the main instructional building is 49 years, with 38 […]
Report highlighted renewed fervor among state policymakers in supporting CTE
Advance CTE and the Association for Career and Technical Education released their 11th annual review of CTE and career readiness policies from across the country in February, finding that in 2023, 47 states enacted 115 policies, marking the second-highest number of states taking action to […]
Preparing students with disabilities for the workforce
San Joaquin County Office of Education has long prepared students with disabilities for jobs that would allow them to lead more independent lives upon graduation, and by overcoming recent obstacles including the COVID-19 pandemic, county officials have developed additional programming that has further benefited students. […]
Students experience lack of exposure to key career fields
A new report shows that while young people today have the aptitude, or natural talent, for some of the most in-demand career fields nationwide — including healthcare, manufacturing, technology and finance — they are not inclined to pursue those occupations due to a lack of […]
Better oversight of support and improvement plans is needed at all levels, GAO finds
Oversight of comprehensive support and improvement (CSI) plans meant to serve as a guide for underperforming schools’ improvement processes is lacking, according to a Jan. 30 study released by the federal Government Accountability Office (GAO). Just 42 percent of CSI plans were found to be […]
State Board looks ahead on Dashboard and accountability; adopts revised instructional materials guidance
During a jampacked meeting of the California State Board of Education (SBE) on March 6, the board reviewed the 2024 Accountability Workplan, approved a revised document providing guidance for reviewing and piloting instructional materials, and more. Dashboard and accountability The board reviewed the 2023 California […]
Community building is necessary to establishing healthy school cultures
Creating school cultures that support young people and minimize violence and bullying requires ongoing work — a topic explored by experts in a Feb. 14 webinar hosted by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Safe and Supportive Schools, […]
New look at federal attendance data shows need for increased state support
Every state is experiencing a significant increase in high and extreme levels of chronic absenteeism across schools and districts, according to a nationwide analysis of 2021–22 federal data released Jan. 31 by Attendance Works and Johns Hopkins’ Everyone Graduates Center. About two-thirds of students attended […]
New survey emphasizes need to retain Black educators
As local educational agencies seek to diversify their teaching staff, a new survey shows recruitment isn’t enough — steps must also be taken to retain these educators. In its first annual survey, the Black Educator Advocates Network found that while nearly half of Black educators […]