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The U.S. Department of Education is considering changes to the types of information that schools nationwide must report about the experiences of students with disabilities. Federal officials are updating plans for its upcoming civil rights data collection on information regarding enrollment, student access to courses and teachers, discipline, restraint and seclusion. At the request of disability advocates, the agency is evaluating whether to start collecting information on so-called “informal removals,” or situations when schools ask students to leave a program or activity without making any record of the incident or providing written notice. “We know that there are many ways that kids are removed from class: sent home, to the office, to the hall, and other ways that they are denied the opportunity to learn that don’t raise to the level of suspension,” said Denise S. Marshall, chief executive of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates. “However, students nonetheless are not receiving instruction, implementation of their individualized programs or related services. That needs to be counted.” The Education Department, which is accepting comments on the proposed changes through December 16, is also considering whether to ask about the experiences of students that districts have placed in private schools, including whether they are subject to restraint and seclusion.

 

Disability Scoop

Math Learning Gaps Persist. What’s the Answer?

As pandemic achievement gaps persist, and in some cases widen, it's important to stop and think about why this is happening. In the seminal book Visible Learning for Mathematics, Grades K–12, John Hattie et al. explain that a “fundamental part of understanding mathematics is to realize how concepts grow and expand over time” (2016, p. 209). Making sure all students have a solid foundation in mathematical concepts like numeracy, fractions, multiplication, and division is the key to ensuring algebra readiness and success in high school. And when students fall behind, early and effective intervention is crucial.

Learn about the "rocket science" of effective intervention and access free resources on this site created for math intervention educators.

Access Free Resources

 

As speculation mounts regarding the future of Chicago Public Schools chief executive Pedro Martinez, nearly 700 school administrators have voiced their support for him. A letter, initially circulated in August, has been re-released with additional signatures, urging the Board of Education to retain Martinez. The letter highlights that over 670 principals and assistant principals—almost two-thirds of the 1,100 in the district—have praised his leadership and requested that the board “not make any personnel decisions impacting the senior CPS leadership.” The decision on Martinez's fate will be made before a new board is seated in January.

 

Chicago Sun Times

Chicago Tribune

The Cincinnati Public Schools Board of Education is reconsidering a controversial restructuring plan that would shift thousands of students to different schools. Following a special meeting, most board members expressed reluctance to support the proposal as it stands. Board member Kendra Mapp stated: "While I think that there are maybe great recommendations, I do have concerns... with the process and fidelity of the plan being implemented." The board has directed Superintendent Shauna Murphy to break the plan into smaller parts for future votes. Community feedback has raised concerns, with parents and teachers arguing that the district has not adequately engaged them in the decision-making process. Teachers like Natalie Coyle warned that changes could harm the Montessori program at Clark Montessori High School, stating: "Don't break it apart. It's working." The board is set to vote on the plan next Monday.

 

Cincinnati Enquirer

Schools in Albany, Oregon will reopen today following a prolonged teacher strike that lasted nearly three weeks. The school board approved a new contract late Monday, which was ratified by the Greater Albany Education Association. Superintendent Andy Gardner expressed optimism, stating that the new contract "will make us a better district.” The agreement includes provisions for smaller class sizes, cost-of-living adjustments between 11.8% and 15%, and additional prep time for teachers. The district plans to make up nine of the ten missed school days by adjusting the schedule. The contract aims to address ongoing issues in Oregon's education system, including teacher workload and student behavior support.

 

The Oregonian

The Los Angeles Times reports on efforts to regulate cellphone use in schools, with California schools required to have phone plans by July 2026. Gov. Gavin Newsom has said he is in favor of “a ban throughout” the entire school day, lunch included, at schools across the state, but local school leaders are free to decide how best to implement the ban. Newsom stated that “You got a crisis in this country that predated COVID... issues of social isolation, this sort of unmooring in society and people feeling more lonely than ever the more connected they are on their devices." Los Angeles USD board member Nick Melvoin commented: “Middle school is probably the fertile ground for this... High school will be hard.”

 

Los Angeles Times

Tom Deignan shares his journey as a high school teacher struggling to engage students with literature. Initially overwhelmed, he found success with August Wilson's plays, particularly "The Piano Lesson" and "Fences." Deignan recalls a pivotal moment when a student asked whether a particular character was "a good parent" This question sparked meaningful discussions about family, forgiveness, and generational trauma. Over the years, he learned to connect with his students, fostering a classroom environment where they could explore complex themes. Deignan emphasizes that Wilson's works helped both him and his students confront significant societal issues, saying: "These astonishing writers helped a generation of Brooklyn students... wrestle with some of America’s most terrifying and formidable ghosts." He continues to teach and inspire students in Brooklyn while working on a book about the 1920s.

 

Chalkbeat

The U.S. Supreme Court is currently deliberating a significant case regarding the regulation of flavored vaping products, which the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) deems harmful to youth. Deputy U.S. Solicitor General Curtis E. Gannon highlighted that “seven percent of youth are still using open-tank systems,” equating to over 114,000 middle and high school students. Although e-cigarette use among this demographic has decreased, concerns persist, prompting lawsuits against manufacturers like Juul Labs. The case, Food and Drug Administration v. Wages and White Lion Investments, centers on the FDA's 2021 denial of applications from two companies to market flavored products. The FDA argues that flavored vapes attract youth, while the companies claim their products are not appealing to younger users. The Supreme Court's decision, expected by late June, could have significant implications for the vaping industry and youth health.

 

ABC News

Education Week News

Los Angeles Times

Washington Post

Public school teachers in Washington have won an appeal of a district court decision in a 2015 lawsuit filed against Tracy Guerin, director of the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems. This is the second time such an appeal has succeeded, with the appeals court stating: “The district court violated our mandate and exceeded its jurisdictional limit by allowing the DRS to amend her answer on remand to raise the statute of limitations defense.”

 

Plansponsor

EdSurge features an interview with Laura C. Chávez-Moreno, assistant professor in the César E. Chávez Department of Chicana/o and Central American Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles who has written a book titled How Schools Make Race: Teaching Latinx Racialization in America. She discusses the benefits of bilingual education classes, and states that "Schools make race because race is not something that's just inherent in society. So how does our society make [race]? It makes it through our institutions, and schools are really important institutions in our society. So schools contribute to making ideas about what is race and what are the racialized groups in our society."

 

EdSurge

Andrea Lovanhill of the Committee for Children writes in eSchoolNews proposing a solution to rising rates of absenteeism. She suggests that social-emotional learning (SEL) programs address the core reasons that students disengage from classroom learning. With 14 states recently committing to a five-year pledge to reduce chronic absenteeism rates by 50%, she notes that "while this pledge is a big step forward, schools need actionable classroom strategies to make a real dent. That’s where social-emotional learning comes in." She advises that "Students who see their ideas valued and turned into meaningful action are more likely to feel invested in their school and motivated to engage in classroom and school activities."

 

ESchoolNews

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has named Teresa Ramos, the first assistant deputy governor for education, as the first head of the state’s new Department of Early Childhood, an agency that will consolidate functions currently under the state’s Department of Human Services, Board of Education, and Department of Children and Family Services. It is expected to begin managing programs such as early intervention for young children with disabilities and the Child Care Assistance Program to support low-income families by July 1. Ramos has worked in the governor's office since 2022, prior to which she served in roles including vice president of public policy, research, and advocacy at Illinois Action for Children, a nonprofit that focuses on child care and early childhood education, and director of Community Engagement for Advance Illinois, a nonprofit education advocacy organization.

 

Chalkbeat

Chicago Tribune

China's Ministry of Education has issued a notice to strengthen artificial education (AI) education in primary and secondary schools emphasizing the need to cultivate creativity, scientific interest, and digital skills among students. Students are expected to gain hands-on experience with AI technologies in their early primary school years. As they progress to senior primary school grades and junior high school, they will focus on understanding and applying these technologies, before engaging in AI project creation in senior high school. The notice also encourages collaborative efforts between urban and rural schools, emphasizing the sharing of teaching experiences and collective efforts to enhance the overall quality of AI education.

 

China Daily

Global Times

The New York Times has a feature as part of its Election 2024 Student Conversation Challenge, with students and teachers responding to questionnaires on having conversations with those who do not share their views and how to overcome the challenges this presents. The recent election, the coronavirus pandemic and war are among topics discussed. One teacher states that educators "have a legitimate fear that difficult topics may trigger students and result in real backlash from parents, students and school admin."

 

New York Times