The Oakland Education Week in Review 11.25.2024

It’s time for the Oakland Ed Week in Review!  

We’re back with our roundup of education news from around The Town, the Bay Area, State, and Nation for your weekend reading. This is a Dirk favorite and one of the last blogs he published for Great School Voices.  

A Thanksgiving Message to the Oakland Education Community

As we gather with loved ones this Thanksgiving, Great School Voices extends heartfelt gratitude to the incredible students, parents, educators, and school leaders who make our Oakland education community vibrant, resilient, and inspiring.

To our students, thank you for your curiosity, creativity, and determination to grow and learn every day. You are the heart of our schools, and your dreams fuel our collective purpose.

To our parents and guardians, we deeply appreciate your unwavering commitment to your children’s success. Your partnership with schools and dedication to their growth anchors the foundation of our shared educational journey.

To our educators, thank you for your passion, patience, and tireless work in nurturing young minds. Your influence extends far beyond the classroom, shaping futures and uplifting entire communities.

To our school leaders, we recognize the challenges you navigate and the vision you bring to creating equitable, thriving learning environments. Your leadership empowers all of us to dream bigger for Oakland’s students.

This Thanksgiving, we reflect on the collective strength of our community and the possibilities that lie ahead when we work together. We are grateful for each of you and your unique contributions to Oakland’s bright future.

Wishing you and your loved ones a joyful and restful holiday season!

With Gratitude & In Solidarity,
The Great School Voices Team

Here’s what’s been going on: 

Here in Oakland |  OUSD is grappling with a $95 million budget shortfall, declining enrollment, and lead contamination in school drinking water, pushing the board to consider merging 10 schools into five and planning for a new superintendent search. Leaders emphasize these changes are necessary to address systemic inequities and financial challenges, but families and educators raise concerns about the potential harm to student health, academic outcomes, and small school communities. The district faces mounting pressure to balance urgent reforms with community trust and engagement.

In the Greater Bay Area |  The East Side Union High School District in San Jose reports nearly 1,000 unhoused students, with Independence High alone supporting 100 students seeking essentials like food and clothing. Rising homelessness, fueled by skyrocketing housing costs, strains resources and highlights systemic inequities. Meanwhile, governance challenges persist in Marin County, where a Black campus supervisor at Tamalpais High School alleges inadequate communication regarding a racist incident that led to his injury, and in Santa Clara County, where superintendent turnover reflects ongoing board conflicts. Lawsuits across the Bay Area spotlight antisemitism and civil rights violations in schools, with families accusing districts of failing to address hostile environments. Amid these tensions, community resilience shines, as Santa Rosa High’s canceled play tackling social issues found new life at an off-campus venue with overwhelming support.

Throughout the State of California |  California schools are showing progress post-pandemic, with chronic absenteeism falling to 18.6% and graduation rates rising to 86.4%, according to the 2024 California School Dashboard. However, disparities in suspension rates and outcomes for long-term English learners persist, emphasizing the need for tailored interventions. As the state expands pre-K and transitional kindergarten, challenges in retaining bilingual educators due to credentialing requirements threaten to undermine efforts to serve its multilingual student population. Policymakers are urged to create flexible pathways to maintain teacher diversity and enhance support for vulnerable students, ensuring equitable and effective education for all.

National News & Perspectives |   A RAND Corporation study reveals persistent pay gaps between Black and White teachers, with Black educators earning nearly $6,000 less annually on average, exacerbating inequities and driving turnover. President-elect Trump’s proposed abolition of the Department of Education sparks debate over federal influence on school performance, while ESSA’s changes to accountability systems reduce the number of schools identified as low-performing. Pandemic-era policies like remote learning and waived exit exams have had mixed effects on graduation rates, highlighting the need for tailored interventions. Across the U.S., advanced education programs face scrutiny over inequities, with advocates urging reforms to expand access for marginalized students. Meanwhile, bilingual education programs risk reinforcing racial disparities despite their potential to promote biliteracy. National trends reflect growing attention to issues like teacher pay, instructional time, and equitable education policies, emphasizing the importance of systemic reforms to address long-standing challenges and emerging needs in K-12 education.

City & State Roundup |  Strikes in Massachusetts made progress as Gloucester teachers reached a tentative deal, while NYC grapples with a paraprofessional shortage disrupting special education and concerns over student data privacy revisions amid a federal probe. Financial strains dominate debates, with Harford County, MD, considering tax hikes to cover a $60M school budget deficit and Denver Public Schools approving closures due to declining enrollment. Illinois launched “Vision 2030” to stabilize funding, while Ohio voters push for universal free school meals to address food insecurity. In Texas, voters rejected most school bonds but approved a controversial Bible-infused curriculum offering $60 per student, fueling debates over church-state separation. Meanwhile, Arizona faces budget concerns over no-limit school vouchers, and Alabama leads challenges to Biden’s Title IX rules as legal and policy battles over education persist nationwide.

Classroom Connections | Teachers are calling for more support to address adolescent reading struggles, citing fragmented approaches and a lack of resources. A survey by the Project for Adolescent Literacy revealed educators often create their own materials due to limited options, while struggling to provide differentiated instruction for students with reading levels ranging from 3rd to 12th grade. Addressing literacy gaps in secondary education is critical to academic success, with educators urging investment in evidence-based programs, teacher training, and tailored reading interventions to bridge these gaps effectively. Meanwhile, inequities in eighth-grade Algebra 1 access persist in low-income schools, with underprepared teachers and less effective instruction limiting opportunities for students to pursue advanced math. Early interventions in elementary math and better teacher support are recommended to close these gaps.  Other innovations include using “subitizing” to build early number sense, integrating culturally responsive teaching (CRT) with trauma-informed practices (TIP), and adopting strategic scaffolding to help English Language Learners (ELLs) thrive academically. Effective SEL programs and targeted technology are also helping address challenges, particularly for neurodivergent students. These approaches emphasize systemic improvements, equity, and holistic support, enabling schools to foster inclusive, effective learning environments and long-term academic growth.

What did we miss?  Hit us up in the comments below: 

OAKLAND

Homework for the Next Oakland School Board: Fixing a System in Crisis By Ashley McBride | The Oaklandside |  Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) faces a $95M budget shortfall, declining enrollment, and lead contamination, prompting the school board to plan significant restructuring, including merging 10 schools into five, addressing budget cuts, and preparing for a new superintendent search with two new board members joining two incumbents. These challenges threaten student health, academic performance, and community trust, exacerbating systemic inequities driven by family displacement, uneven school enrollment, and outdated policies. As Chief Budget Officer Lisa Grant-Dawson noted, “We lost 3,000 students… that’s at least $33 million we would have.”

Troubled Oakland Charter School on the Rocks Again By Jill Tucker | San Francisco Chronicle |  The Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) Board has raised concerns about governance and equity issues at American Indian Public Charter School II (AIPCS II), a K-8 institution known for high test scores and past controversies. The school has been given 30 days to address issues such as low special education enrollment, employment of uncredentialed teachers, and allegations of pushing out low-performing students. This situation adds to AIPCS II’s history of scandals, including previous fraud investigations, and highlights the challenges of effectively and equitably serving underserved populations. Potential closure could displace hundreds of students and raises broader questions about charter school oversight and community impact in Oakland. 

Oakland Teacher Fired for Wearing ‘Free Palestine’ Pin By Bigad Shaban, Michael Bott, Michael Horn, and Alex Bozovic | NBC Bay Area |  An English teacher at Bishop O’Dowd High School in Oakland, Erin Donevan, was fired for “insubordination” after refusing to remove a “Free Palestine” pin worn in solidarity with grieving students, though she did not discuss the conflict in class. The school cited student discomfort and complaints as reasons for her termination, sparking debates about the limits of political expression in educational settings. Advocacy groups and Donevan herself raised concerns about unclear policies distinguishing political statements from social justice actions, with Donevan stating, “It’s problematic when there’s no clear policy on what is ‘political’ versus ‘social justice.’”

THE BAY AREA

Unhoused Student Population in San Jose School District Approaches 1,000 By Damian Trujillo | NBC Bay Area |  The East Side Union High School District in San Jose faces a growing crisis as nearly 1,000 students are unhoused, with Independence High School alone supporting 100 students in need of essentials like clothing and food. The district sees an increase of 50 unhoused students monthly, reflecting the broader socio-economic inequities and housing challenges in the Bay Area. Homelessness significantly hinders students’ ability to focus and succeed, placing immense pressure on schools to provide stability despite strained resources. To support these vulnerable students, the district is fundraising to provide holiday gift baskets with $75 gift cards, aiming to show they are valued and supported.

Marin County High School Withheld Details of Racist Video from Black Employees, Lawsuit Says By Bob Egelko | San Francisco Chronicle |  A Black campus safety supervisor at Tamalpais High School filed a lawsuit claiming school officials failed to inform him of a racist video that led to a violent fight, during which he was injured.  Kenneth Wayne Price suffered lasting injuries while breaking up a fight between Black and white students in October 2023, a conflict he argues could have been prevented had he been informed of the racial tensions on campus.

Notable quote: “It is beyond question that he would have approached the situation differently had he been provided the information.” – Aaron Fischer and Tamarah Prevost, Attorneys for Kenneth Wayne Price

Latest superintendent firing points to a decade of turnover at Santa Clara County Office of Education By Molly Gibbs | Mercury News Group |  Dewan, the fifth superintendent in 17 years at the Santa Clara County Office of Education (SCCOE), was dismissed amid ongoing governance conflicts, with a 2018 civil grand jury report citing frequent turnover due to board-superintendent disputes over issues like charter school approvals. Her firing has drawn backlash from educators, former board members, and activists, who argue it undermines trust and progress in the county’s education system. The instability has reignited calls for transitioning to an elected superintendent model to improve accountability and reduce conflicts. As the grand jury noted, “The high turnover rate stems from persistent disagreements between the board and superintendents.”

➤  In other Bay Area News:   

  • Editorial: San Jose School Districts Struggle to Stay Afloat By Moryt Milo | San José Spotlight | The author argues that San Jose school districts should close under-enrolled schools and lease the properties to generate revenue for improving curricula, programs, and resources in remaining schools.
  • Lawsuits Charge Antisemitism, Civil Rights Violations at California Charter School and High School District By John Fensterwald | Ed Source |  Two lawsuits have been filed in California against University Prep Academy in San Jose and the Sequoia Union High School District, alleging antisemitism, civil rights violations, and administrators’ failure to address bullying and discrimination, including claims of hostile classroom environments, swastikas on school grounds, and harassment after the October 2023 Hamas-Israel conflict.

➤  In related Coverage:  

  • Lawsuit Filed Against Bay Area School District for Alleged Antisemitism on Campuses By Suzanne Phan | KGO ABC7 News |  A lawsuit accuses Sequoia Union High School District in San Mateo County of failing to address a “hostile environment” for Jewish students, including alleged harassment and anti-Semitic incidents. 
  • Jen Corn, Ana Vasudeo win Berkeley school board race By Joyce Tsai and Iris Kwok | Berkeleyside |  Incumbent Laura Babitt, who went unendorsed by the powerful teachers union, trails by over 3,600 votes. Not enough 16- and 17-year-olds voted to affect the race’s likely outcome.
  • Santa Rosa High Play Carries On with a Full House Despite District Cancellation By Alyssa Goard | NBC Bay Area |  SR High School’s production of “Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead” was canceled by the district over concerns about mature content but resumed at an off-campus venue with strong community support.  The play, a reinterpretation of Peanuts characters tackling issues like bullying, homophobia, and gun violence, was initially halted due to complaints about profanity and a homophobic slur, despite parental waivers acknowledging mature themes.

➤  In related Coverage:  

THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

California Schools Recovering From Pandemic, Dashboard Shows By Diana Lambert, Zaidee Stavely, and Daniel J. Willis | EdSource |  California’s K-12 schools report progress in chronic absenteeism, graduation rates, test scores, and suspension rates, according to the 2024 California School Dashboard.  Chronic absenteeism dropped to 18.6% from a pandemic peak of 30%, and high school graduation rates rose slightly to 86.4%, with more students earning the State Seal of Biliteracy, reflecting improvements in post-pandemic recovery efforts.  The inclusion of long-term English learners (LTELs) as a distinct group highlights systemic challenges in meeting their academic needs, while disparities in suspension rates and university eligibility rates persist among vulnerable student groups.  While fewer districts require state support overall, 215 districts were flagged for improving LTEL outcomes, signaling a need for tailored interventions and teacher training to boost English proficiency and academic performance.  School districts will focus on using Dashboard data to refine Local Control Accountability Plans (LCAPs) and target resources toward vulnerable student groups, while further enhancing college readiness and language proficiency programs.

➤  In Related News & Coverage:

  • Attendance Is a Bright Spot in the Latest California School Dashboard By Carolyn Jones | CalMatters |  Chronic absenteeism among California students dropped to 20% in the 2023-24 school year, a significant improvement from the pandemic peak of 30%, though still higher than the pre-pandemic rate of 12%.  
  • Search and Compare Data from the California School Dashboard, 2024 By Justin Allen, Daniel J. Willis, and Yuxuan Xie | Ed Source |  The CDOE has updated the 2024 School Dashboard, providing color-coded insights into chronic absenteeism, suspension rates, test performance, graduation rates, and outcomes for English learners across schools and districts statewide.  For more information about how the performance levels were calculated, go to the California Department of Education’s website here.  For the full dashboard for each school or district, go here.
  • California Students Show Continued Progress in Academic Achievement and Graduation Rates, Decline in Chronic Absenteeism with Release of 2024 School Dashboard By Tony Thurmond, State Superintendent | California Department of Education |  The 2024 California School Dashboard reveals significant statewide improvements in graduation rates, academic outcomes, and attendance, with chronic absenteeism declining by 16.7% year-over-year.  

Teacher Diversity Challenges in California’s Expanding Early Education By Conor Williams |  LA School Report |  California is expanding public pre-K and transitional kindergarten (TK) to serve 400,000 4-year-olds but faces challenges in retaining bilingual educators due to new credential requirements.  Nearly 60% of children under five in California live in multilingual households. Despite a historically diverse early education workforce, new requirements, including bachelor’s degrees and unpaid student teaching, may exclude experienced bilingual teachers.  Without reforms, California risks sidelining qualified bilingual educators, undermining its early education expansion and failing to serve its diverse student population. Policymakers must provide financial support for teacher training or create flexible credential pathways to retain and recruit bilingual educators.

In other California News:

  • Feds Charge Once-Lauded AllHere AI Founder in $10M Scheme to Defraud Investors By Mark Keierleber | LA School Report |  AllHere founder Joanna-Smith Griffin was named to Forbes “30 Under 30” for being an education technology innovator before her AI chatbot company went bankrupt and she was arrested on federal fraud allegations. 
  • LAUSD unanimously affirms support for immigrant and LGBTQ+ students leading up to Trump’s inauguration By Mallika Seshadri | Ed Source |  The school district board affirmed its commitment to members of these communities by unanimously passing four resolutions on Tuesday.
  • LAUSD students approach pre-pandemic achievement levels, outpacing state By Howard Blume | Los Angeles Times |  The latest release of state data indicated positive trends for the state’s largest school system, with improvement that outpaced the state as a whole.

NATIONAL NEWS & PERSPECTIVES

Study Highlights Persistent Pay Gaps for Black Teachers Compared to White Colleagues By Anna Merod | K-12 Dive |  A RAND Corporation survey reveals that Black K-12 teachers earned an average salary of $65,013 during the 2023-24 school year, trailing behind White teachers’ average salary of $70,695. Black teachers also received lower average raises, deepening pay inequities and potentially driving higher turnover rates among Black educators.  Pay disparities coincide with broader underrepresentation of teachers of color, despite a majority-minority student population nationwide. RAND researchers found Black teachers disproportionately work in states without collective bargaining rights, contributing to lower salaries and benefits. Nearly half of Black teachers cited low pay as a significant stressor, surpassing last year’s rate, highlighting the urgency of addressing wage gaps. The findings come amid ongoing teacher shortages, with 74% of public schools struggling to fill vacancies. Addressing pay inequities is a critical step to improving teacher retention and combating workforce instability, especially in underserved communities.  RAND recommends tracking and publishing detailed, disaggregated teacher pay data to highlight disparities and guide equitable policy solutions. While transparency alone won’t solve pay inequities, it is a necessary step toward systemic change.

How Much Blame Does the Federal Government Deserve for America’s Mediocre Schools? By Michael J. Petrilli |  Thomas B. Fordham Institute | The federal government faces criticism for fostering mediocrity in schools through compliance-heavy programs like Title I, IDEA, and ESSA, which prioritize regulations and grade-level testing over student-centered outcomes, hindering personalized instruction and effective growth measurement. While federal mandates shape funding and accountability, they contribute to inefficiencies and limit innovation, teaching quality, and academic progress. However, deeper systemic issues—such as union-driven school boards, outdated teacher preparation, and resistance to innovation—pose more significant barriers to improvement. Reform advocates argue for structural changes, including governance overhauls, better teacher training, and expanded charter school models. Though dismantling the Department of Education is unlikely, policy shifts to reduce compliance burdens and focus on student outcomes could drive meaningful reform.

What Might Happen if the Education Department Were Closed? By Jill Barshay, Meredith Kolodner, Jackie Mader, Jon Marcus, Neal Morton, Javeria Salman, Christina A. Samuels and Nirvi Shah | The Hechinger Report |  Trump’s education vision emphasizes shifting oversight to states, though federal laws like Title I and IDEA would persist unless repealed by Congress. Title I funding for low-income students and IDEA regulations would likely continue under different federal agencies, potentially causing bureaucratic disruption. Management of student loans, totaling nearly $2 trillion, could transfer to the Treasury Department without altering loan terms. His administration would likely prioritize school choice expansion through education savings accounts and private school vouchers. Key programs like Head Start and school lunch initiatives, administered outside the Department of Education, would remain largely unaffected, though smaller research efforts and funding data might shift. Education research could be absorbed by agencies like the National Science Foundation, while programs like Pell Grants would continue due to bipartisan support, albeit with possible eligibility adjustments. These changes, alongside potential Republican congressional backing, could lead to significant policy shifts but also risks of confusion and disruption in federal education mandates.

Trump Nominee for Education Secretary Would Come Backed with Detailed Policy Agenda By Louis Freedberg | Ed Source |  President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Linda McMahon, former WWE executive and chair of the America First Policy Institute, as education secretary, signaling a shift toward conservative policies focused on school choice, “patriotic education,” and reducing union influence. McMahon, who previously led the Small Business Administration, has limited education experience but advocates for revising Pell Grants to align with workforce needs. If confirmed, she may pursue significant changes such as curbing teacher tenure, expanding charter schools, and excluding critical race theory and diversity-focused initiatives from federal grant criteria. However, her nomination faces scrutiny from Senate Democrats, education groups, and controversies tied to lawsuits involving WWE’s past misconduct, highlighting a contentious road ahead.

➤  In related coverage & other perspectives:  

In other National News:

  • Teacher Pay: Bigger Raises and Better Benefits Will Ease Shortages By Matt Zalaznick | District Administration |  A RAND report shows that teachers’ pay raises lag behind expectations, exacerbating shortages and dissatisfaction.
  • School Boards: These Topics Were More in Focus in 2024 By Matt Zalaznick | District Administration | Burbio’s analysis shows increased focus on career education, mental health, equity, and AI in school board meetings, signaling evolving educational priorities.
  • Research Points to COVID’s ‘Long Tail’ on School Graduation Rates By Linda Jacobson | LA School Report | Post-pandemic, high school graduation rates declined in 26 states, with younger students facing ongoing challenges as they progress through school.  See analysis from the Grad Partnership, , a network of nonprofits working to improve student outcomes, here
  • How This District Improved Graduation Rates by 25 Percent – and How You Can, Too By Micah Ward | District Administration  |  Lansing School District boosted its graduation rate by over 25% through proactive outreach, flexible credit recovery, and personalized student support.
  • Remote Learning Hurt Graduation Rates, Waiving Exit Exams Helped By Kalyn Belsha | Chalkbeat | The pandemic highlighted how remote learning reduced graduation rates, while waived exit exams improved them, sparking new debates on graduation standards.
  • Superintendent Renee Nugent: How to Truly Connect By Matt Zalaznick | District Administration |  Atchison Public Schools Superintendent Renee Nugent prioritizes classroom engagement and teacher empowerment, achieving notable student outcomes.
  • You May Want to Borrow This District’s Successful Smartphone Rules By Micah Ward | District Administration |  Greeley-Evans School District 6 enforces effective smartphone policies to reduce classroom distractions and enhance focus.
  • Are Education Programs for High Achievers Inherently Inequitable? By Brandon L. Wright | Thomas B. Fordham Institute |  Districts reevaluate advanced programs due to inequities, with some calling for reforms instead of elimination to ensure diverse representation.
  • What Bilingual Education Reveals About Race in the U.S. By Nadia Tamez-Robledo | EdSurge |  Research shows dual language programs can unintentionally reinforce racial disparities while aiming to foster biliteracy.
  • 5 Challenges Impacting School-Home Communications—and How to Solve Them By Micah Ward | District Administration |  Families seek more frequent communication about student performance, but schools struggle with time, tools, and language barriers.
  • Report: Charters’ Flexibility Can Enable Better Outcomes for Disabled Pupils By Beth Hawkins | The74 |  Schools with promising strategies hold both general education teachers and special educators responsible for all students’ growth, researchers found.
  • Survey: For Most Parents, Grades Have Lost Ground as Measure of Student Progress By Linda Jacobson | The74 |  Due to factors like grade inflation, parents put more stock in communication with teachers to gauge kids’ performance, a large national survey found.
  • Parents Are Virtually Monitoring Their Kids in Class. Teachers Aren’t Happy By Arianna Prothero | Ed Week |  Parents texting or calling their kids during class is a major source of frustration for many teachers.  But a number of educators report that parents remotely monitor their children’s laptops during class.
  • IXL class-action suit advances amid student data harvesting claims By Anna Merod | K-12 Dive |  A group of parents alleges the ed tech provider collected and monetized data from millions of school-age children without parental consent.

CITY & STATE ROUNDUP

  • One of 3 Massachusetts communities reach a deal with their striking teachers By Steve LeBlanc | Associated Press |  The Union of Gloucester Educators said in a Facebook post that the union and the Gloucester School Committee “came to a tentative agreement for successor collective bargaining agreements for both the teachers and paraprofessional units, as well as a satisfactory Return to Work Agreement.”
  • NYC comptroller cuts off Department of Education contract authorization By Chris Wade | Chalkboard News |  is moving to block the city’s Education Department from unilaterally signing off on contracts with minority and women-owned businesses amid a federal probe and concerns about misuse of the privileges.New York City Comptroller Brad Lander 
  • By Chris WadeNYC paraprofessional shortage disrupts special education services, union warns By Alex Zimmerman and Michael Elsen-Rooney | Chalkbeat | The shortage is causing students to miss out on behavior support, vocational training, and it’s even preventing some students from getting to school.
  • NYC is revamping its student data privacy policy. Parents worry it doesn’t go far enough. By Julian Shen-Berro | Chalkbeat |  The Panel for Educational Policy was slated to vote on a proposed revision to a 2009 regulation concerning student privacy, but members want the public to weigh in.
  • Facing a $60M deficit, how can Harford County officials fund next year’s education budget? By Matt Hubbard | Baltimore Sun |  County officials say funding the Harford public school system’s requested $60 million budget increase would require tax increases, while school officials warn that not covering the system’s $60 million budget deficit would result in devastating cuts for students. 
  • Northern Va. school board chairs ask state to delay new accountability measures By Karina Elwood | The Washington Post |  The chairs of eight Northern Virginia school boards are asking the state’s Education Department to delay implementation of the new accountability system.
  • State ends two-year investigation into Chicago Public Schools’ restraint and timeout practices By Samantha Smylie | Chalkbeat | Chicago Public Schools is complying with state law on restraint and timeout practice, according to the Illinois State Board of Education. The board officially notified Chicago officials that it has closed an investigation that started in 2022 on the district’s restraint and timeout practices.
  • Majority of Ohioans are in favor of universal free school meal program, according to poll By Megan Henry | Ohio Capital Journal |  In Ohio, 1 in 6 children, or about 413,000 kids, live in a household that experiences hunger. Despite that, more than 1 in 3 children who live in a food insecure household do not qualify for school meals, according to a 2023 report from Children’s Defense Fund-Ohio. 
  • A comprehensive look at charter schools in Michigan By Hannah Dellinger | Chalkbeat |  Charter schools have been in Michigan for almost 30 years. Here are some major events in their history.
  • Illinois education leaders launch ‘Vision 2030’ aiming to ensure predictable funding, school safety and ‘future-focused’ learning By Sarah Macaraeg | Chicago tribune |  Beginning with hearings during the spring legislative session, the leaders of multiple statewide education associations announced Friday that they hope to work with state officials over the next several years to pass legislation aimed at improving K-12 public education across Illinois.
  • Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Teachers Union escalate war of words over contract talks By Mila Koumpilova and Reema Amin | Chalkbeat |  Both sides say they are making progress at the bargain table — but much work remains.
  • Faced with possible school closures, Denver teachers seek clarity about their jobs | By Melanie Asmar | Chalkbeat | The Denver teachers union is asking Denver Public Schools to negotiate a special agreement for the teachers who would lose their jobs if schools close.
  • Denver school closures: Board votes to shutter 7 schools, shrink 3 more By Melanie Asmar | Chalkbeat |  The move is meant to address declining enrollment.
  • Indiana counselors have less time to spend with students as mental health needs persist By Aleksandra Appleton | Chalkbeat |  A 2024 survey of Indiana counselors found they don’t have enough time to help students.
  • No-Limit Vouchers Are Blowing Up Arizona’s Budget. This Woman Is Leading the Way By Rowan Moore Gerety | Politico |  Conservative parents seeking “educational freedom” have found a taxpayer-supported way to opt out of public schools. And other states want to imitate it.
  • State Board of Education approves Bible-infused curriculum By Jaden Edison | The Texas Tribune | Critics say the curriculum overemphasizes Christianity. Texas school districts don’t have to use it but will receive $60 per student if they do. 

➤  In Related News & Coverage:

  • Alabama, other states say court must block Department of Education’s Title IX rule By Brendan Clarey | Chalkboard News |  States and private organizations argued this month that the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals should overturn a district court decision allowing the Biden administration to implement its expanded Title IX rules ahead of oral arguments next month.

CLASSROOM CONNECTIONS

Three Reasons Why So Few Eighth Graders in the Poorest Schools Take Algebra By Jill Barshay | The Hechinger Report |  A RAND analysis reveals that eighth-grade Algebra 1, a critical pathway to advanced math and future opportunities, remains out of reach for many low-income students due to inequitable course availability, underprepared teachers, and less effective instruction in high-poverty schools. Nearly a quarter of the poorest schools do not offer Algebra 1, compared to just 6% of the wealthiest schools, and teachers in these areas often lack traditional training or math-specific credentials, impacting instruction quality. Additionally, class time in these schools is disproportionately spent on below-grade-level topics and behavior management, rather than fostering algebra readiness. Early access to Algebra 1 is linked to higher college graduation rates and earnings, but systemic inequities perpetuate barriers, with unprepared students often struggling or encountering diluted curricula. Addressing this requires foundational math skill-building in elementary school, targeted incentives to attract qualified teachers to underserved areas, and better resource allocation to support advanced learners. As economist Dan Goldhaber notes, “Simply giving them an eighth-grade algebra course is not a magic bullet. For many students, middle school is too late.”

A Theory for Learning Numbers Without Counting Gains Popularity By Jill Barshay | The Hechinger Report | Schools are increasingly adopting “subitizing,” a teaching method that helps children instantly recognize quantities without counting, to strengthen early childhood number sense. The method uses brief visual exposures, like dot patterns, to foster conceptual number recognition, which research links to improved addition, subtraction, and multiplication skills. Subitizing is now integrated into state standards, such as Illinois’s kindergarten math curriculum, and is gaining national traction as a tool to address math achievement gaps tied to socioeconomic disparities. While studies show strong subitizing skills correlate with better arithmetic outcomes, direct evidence of its instructional benefits remains limited. This approach complements traditional counting, with educators embedding subitizing into classroom routines and refining techniques to make exercises quick and engaging. As Doug Clements from the University of Denver notes, “Subitizing is not baby stuff that you move on from. You just keep developing it in parallel with all the other skills you’re developing.”

Teachers Call for Support to Address Teen Reading Struggles By Sarah Schwartz | Education Week | A survey by the Project for Adolescent Literacy (PAL) highlights significant challenges faced by middle and high school teachers in supporting struggling readers, with educators citing a lack of time, resources, and administrative support. Despite using over 124 programs and 60 teaching methods, many teachers report fragmented approaches to intervention and limited tools, often resorting to creating materials themselves, which they describe as overwhelming. While 80% of respondents have found effective strategies, nearly half noted that school leadership does not prioritize literacy interventions for older students, leaving critical gaps in addressing foundational skills. This reflects systemic issues in secondary education, where the focus on content mastery often neglects struggling readers. Teachers call for professional development, age-appropriate phonics resources, and dedicated small-group instruction time, while advocates urge schools to invest in evidence-based programs and dedicated reading classes to close adolescent literacy gaps. As one respondent noted, “It’s not just about reading the word, it’s about understanding sentence structure, reading fluently, and vocabulary.”

In other Classroom Connections:

  • Integrating Culturally Responsive Teaching and Trauma-Informed Practices By Matthew J. Bowerman | Edutopia |  Educators are integrating Culturally Responsive Teaching (CRT) and Trauma-Informed Practices (TIP) to support diverse students by addressing trauma and honoring cultural identities, fostering equity, engagement, and well-being. Schools report stronger relationships, improved performance, and a sense of belonging, highlighting the holistic impact of these approaches.
  • To Choose the Right SEL Program, Ask the Right Questions By Rista Plate | Edutopia |  Schools are using tools like CASEL’s Program Guide to select evidence-based SEL programs that align with local goals and community needs, fostering emotional regulation, empathy, and academic success. Engaging stakeholders and addressing misconceptions ensures programs are culturally responsive and impactful.
  • Beyond Translations: Effective Scaffolds to Support ELLs By Timothy Montalvo | eSchool News |  Schools are implementing scaffolding strategies like visual aids, collaborative learning, and explicit vocabulary instruction to support English Language Learners (ELLs) in developing language proficiency and content mastery simultaneously. Moving beyond translations, these approaches help ELLs engage with complex material, build fluency, and meet grade-level expectations, fostering equity and inclusion.
  • Using Technology to Support Neurodivergent Students By Francesca Mesneak | eSchool News | Educators are leveraging tech tools like classroom.cloud to support neurodivergent students with executive function challenges, fostering independence and engagement through strategies that reduce stress, manage transitions, and enhance focus. These scalable solutions address post-pandemic engagement challenges while preserving student agency. 
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