Red Rover’s Post

This is a problem. Research around students who are retained is not good, and shows risks for dropping out of high school and accelerating the school to prison pipeline. Here's a better fix: instead of retention, how about we beef up tier 1 reading instruction? Like, let's use evidence-based methodologies, such as explicit phonics instruction. As a society we need to make sure students know how to read from an early age instead of failing them at a pivotal moment in 3rd grade. The article suggests some things parents can do, and this is helpful. It cannot be about incentives; the article says some states have retention laws because they feel it will make students want to work harder, but little brains don't always act that way (and this tells me they did not consult academic experts in drafting the legislation, which is itself another problem). Another factor is that teachers need to be held accountable, and to help answer why it is the students are not reading. Are they properly trained, dedicated, motivated? During my career, I've seen too many times a school district saying "Let's teach this curriculum" and not give the proper training, coaching, resources, and preparation time the teacher needs to implement it with fidelity, and sometime this can lead to decreased student achievement. It is also a problem when a teacher has a years-long pattern of poor student achievement, and schools/teacher's unions do not do enough to give that person support and just keep them in the job, harming more students. The national statistics of 3rd grade reading proficiency are horrifying enough, but in some states it is so bad I'm not sure how teachers get to keep their jobs if that many students are unable to read. In sum, there shouldn't be retention laws; all students should be given high quality instruction and interventions to help ensure academic success.

Teachers are the backbone of our education system. All we ask is that you listen to them, because what they have to say may surprise you. Read our new report on the result of a national survey of public school teachers! https://lnkd.in/gRjnX4di

A very interesting report from National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. Two key points are that resonate with our experience. Charter and private school teachers are more optimistic about the teaching profession than district school teachers; and with less funding than districts, charter schools are “finding ways to succeed and support their teachers.”

The blog I wrote for the U.S. Dept of Education's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services is up! You can read it here: https://lnkd.in/gk_-DmzP #DisabilityPrideMonth

From the abstract - We observe growing benefits (higher standardized test scores and lower absenteeism and suspension rates) to students attending public schools with more preprogram private school options as the program matured.

MADD Power of You(th) presentation is for middle and high school aged students. Their goal is to establish a relationship with all of the middle and high schools on Oahu as well as any youth groups so that they can reach as many youth as possible. This presentation goes over the dangers and consequences of underage drinking, resisting peer pressure, how it impacts their health, not riding with an impaired driver, and a few other important topics. 

Between fall 2010 and fall 2021, traditional public & public charter schools experienced different trends in enrollment. Discover more with the Condition of Education! Traditional public schools: https://lnkd.in/evc9mGzk Public charter schools: https://lnkd.in/dktPXsXN #YearInReview [Image description: Infographic showing that traditional public school enrollment decreased from 47.4 million in fall 2010 to 45.4 million in fall 2021. Public charter school enrollment has more than doubled from 1.8 million in fall 2010 to 3.7 million in fall 2021. Additionally, the percentage of all public school students who attended public charter schools increased from 4 percent to 7 percent over this period.]

Alternative schools serve students who have faced precarious educational circumstances, and traditional accountability systems may not be the best way to distinguish between effective and ineffective alternative schools. Read our new blog to learn more: https://lnkd.in/eCcGHa2i