Grow-your-own programs can aid in teacher recruitment, but LEAs must be realistic about limitations

Grow-your-own (GYO) programs have the potential to solve multiple teacher workforce challenges by increasing local teacher supply, reducing teacher shortages, promoting teacher diversity and improving teacher retention and effectiveness, according to a recent analysis from the Brookings Institution. However, researchers noted, these programs may not […]

Improving equity by overhauling the reclassification process for English learners

Reclassification is an important part of the academic journey for English learners (ELs), as English fluency is critical to so many aspects of daily life. Like many local educational agencies, Menlo Park City School District found that too many of its EL students were not […]

Guidance calls for ‘shared responsibility’ among LEAs and edtech providers in developing AI tools

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Education Technology published guidance for developers of artificial intelligence (AI) for educational settings in July outlining ways in which edtech providers can build trust with local educational agencies as they integrate AI into products and platforms. The guidance […]

New report details rise in number of school districts combatting misinformation

Nearly all members of the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) — 96 percent — consider the spread of false information a problem for school districts, up from 81 percent in 2020. The latest NSPRA survey compiled responses from 364 school communication professionals in January […]

Survey finds expanded learning opportunities are reaching the students most in need

New survey findings show 97 percent of California local educational agencies and 88 percent of community-based organizations (CBOs) used Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELO-P) funds to serve more students either by opening new programs or expanding existing ones. Based on more than 100 surveys and […]

LEAs serving high-need students utilized federal Emergency Connectivity Fund but need more support

While too early to fully gauge the impact of the Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) on some of the state’s highest-need students, a June 20 brief from the Public Policy Institute of California found that there was an “impressive response from districts serving high-needs students” in […]

San Bernardino County: Increasing transparency and action through data

The San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools (SBCSS) office has made significant strides in recent years overhauling the ways in which the county presents data and resources to district leaders, educators, families and other stakeholders vital to supporting the SBCSS’s Cradle to Career Roadmap initiative. […]

New report provides snapshot of the state of English learners in California

Californians Together released an inaugural The State of English Learners in California Public Schools report on June 12 that summarizes key demographic and outcome data for English learners using a variety of data sources to examine how they are being served in the education system […]