Strategies to improve attendance among American Indian/Native Alaskan students

An increasing number of American Indian/Native Alaskan (AI/NA) students were considered chronically absent since the pandemic, 47 percent in the 2021–22 academic year compared to 30 percent in 2017–18. WestEd’s recent brief, “Missing More Than School: Reducing Chronic Absence for American Indian and Alaska Native Students,” explores the issue and offer strategies for improvement.

CSBA webinar breaks down the basics of behavioral threat assessment

Creating a sense of trust within an education setting so community members feel comfortable reporting concerning behaviors is a key component to stopping potential incidents and keeping campuses safe, according to panelists at CSBA’s Nov. 21 webinar, “Spotting the Signals: Understanding behavioral threat assessment.”

Commission makes selections for new math instructional materials reviewers

At its last meeting of 2024, the Instructional Quality Commission (IQC) on Nov. 20 considered applications for instructional materials reviewers (IMRs) and content review experts (CREs) for the 2025 Mathematics Instructional Materials Adoption and voted on the list of individuals it is recommending to the State Board of Education (SBE).

Prioritizing outdoor learning in state-funded preschool programs

The National Institute for Early Education Research’s (NIEER) policy brief “State Policies and Guidance Relating to Outdoor and Nature-Based Experiences in Preschool” explores the potential academic, developmental and health benefits that outdoor and nature-based experiences can have for preschoolers.

Pediatricians recommend a trauma-informed approach to reduce suspensions, expulsions

To avoid the potential long-term negative impacts suspensions and expulsions can have on youth, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) is advocating that schools implement a multidisciplinary, trauma-informed approach to support students and reduce the use of exclusionary discipline.

Updated school facilities can have short- and long-term benefits for students

Upgrading school facilities can have financial, academic and environmental benefits, according to a new brief from the U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee. At an average age of 50 years old, many public school buildings are in desperate need of renovations. As it stands, an estimated 53 percent have never gotten any major work done. Investing in infrastructure is essential to ensuring the best outcomes for students.