A recent national survey of 1,000 teen girls ages 13 to 19 found that many have missed school because they lacked access to menstrual hygiene products. This was especially true among low-income students. The study, conducted by Harris Insights & Analytics on behalf of Period. […]
Author: Alisha Kirby
Leaders call for increased funding and K-14 partnerships to promote equity in schools
A recent Public Policy Institute of California event brought together two of the state’s education heavyweights, State Board of Education President Linda Darling-Hammond and California Community Colleges Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley, for a discussion on improving opportunities and enhancing outcomes for all students, and how […]
Federal funding to improve school-based mental health access for students
Roughly $71 million in new federal funding will be available to enhance school safety and improve student access to mental health resources, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos announced earlier this month. The money — allocated through four grants to schools, districts and county offices […]
Study shows importance of helping children understand different social identities
The results of a recent nationwide survey show that many teachers believe different social and demographic identities have an impact on children’s success in school, but far fewer feel comfortable discussing these in the classroom. Researchers from NORC at the University of Chicago and Sesame […]
New resources to help districts smooth transition from pre-K to kindergarten
Research has long linked student participation in high-quality pre-K programs to increased college attendance rates, higher levels of academic achievement, improved cognitive and social-emotional development and the ability to better adjust to different social environments. Participation in average or low-quality programs, meanwhile, has been shown […]
Small District Spotlight: Big Sur Unified School District
Eleven students were enrolled in the single K-12 school that comprises Big Sur Unified School District during the 2017–18 school year. The feeling that everyone is family is so ingrained that officials often have to remind students who have been there almost their entire lives […]
Districts can further increase young voter turnout by providing strong civics education
Teenage voting hit a historic high in the 2018 midterm elections, with voter turnout rates for 18- and 19-year-olds reaching 22 percent. High School Voter Education Weeks, officially designated as Sept. 17–29 this year, presents another opportunity for school and district leaders to spread awareness […]
California initiative breeds new generation of leaders to support English learners
There were close to 1.2 million English learners in California public schools during the 2018–19 school year, constituting more than 19 percent of total student enrollment. While the social and political landscapes are ever shifting around these children, advocates continue to push to ensure these […]
Report finds dearth of available housing for Bay Area teachers, calls for inspired solutions
Most teachers in San Francisco and San Mateo counties don’t make enough to pay for market-rate rent or purchase a home near their schools yet make too much to qualify for housing assistance programs, according to a new report by the Council of Community Housing […]
Report: Creating safe and engaging school environments can boost student attendance
Creating an engaging, supportive, welcoming and culturally responsive school environment can help to reduce absence rates — something on the minds of all school and district officials with Attendance Awareness Month in full swing. A new report from Attendance Works calls on school boards and […]