New data provides national, state and local trends on youth homelessness

SchoolHouse Connection and Poverty Solutions at the University of Michigan updated data profiles on child and youth homelessness in January to include four years of federal homelessness data, as well as state-, county-, local educational agency-, U.S. Congressional district- and state legislative district-level data. New […]

US Department of Education report highlights importance of supporting rural educators

The U.S. Department of Education recently released a report, Raise the Bar: Supporting Rural Communities — Boldly Improve Learning Conditions, Eliminate Educator Shortages, highlighting ways to better support educator workforce preparation for rural communities. “Eliminating the educator shortage is especially urgent for rural schools, which […]

How states are working to address school principal pipeline and effectiveness

Research shows that school leaders play a pivotal role in school and student success, with effective principals boosting attendance, academic achievement and other educational outcomes. However, like the teacher pipeline, the staffing pipeline for principals is facing significant challenges. A recent policy snapshot released by […]

Report finds Native youth face disproportionate rates of discipline

American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) students nationwide often face disproportionately high rates of exclusionary discipline. A recent report from WestEd examines the negative consequences of exclusionary discipline; shares examples of how some states address problems of suspension and expulsion; and offers policymakers recommendations to […]

Report identifies key elements of successful student-centered learning models

As local educational agencies continue to reexamine and reimagine education models to support student achievement, many are exploring learner-centered strategies. Education Reimagined, a national nonprofit, released a report in November examining the experiences of young people already learning in these environments through surveys, questionnaires and […]

Despite room to improve, more plant-based school meals are available than ever in California

California’s largest school districts have made significant inroads in providing culturally diverse, plant-based school meals to students, according to a recent report from Friends of the Earth, a nonprofit that advocates for environmentally sustainable practices. Plant-Based Trends in California’s School Lunches shows that availability of […]

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.

Survey shows school shooter drills do not make teachers feel safe or prepared for a real incident

One in six teachers nationwide works in a district impacted by gun violence since the 2019–20 school year, according to a Rand Corp. report released Sept. 18. Additionally, teachers were more concerned about being victims of gun violence in the 2023–24 school year than in […]

New report details reasons for charter school closures, recommendations for improvement

More than a quarter of charter schools close within the first five years of operation, according to a recent report by the National Center for Charter School Accountability that examined charter school closures from 1998 to 2022. By year 20, the rate reaches 55 percent. […]