The Wallace Foundation

How do we make youth arts programs both engaging and educational for young people, particularly those from marginalized communities? That’s a question UW Madison professor of curriculum and instruction Erica Halverson sought to answer in her recent work. In a Q&A with Wallace VP of research Bronwyn Bevan, Halverson points to four practices that could help increase engagement in youth arts. https://bit.ly/3yxiimC

Not all arts organizations are the same, nor do they face the same challenges or serve the same communities. In two companion reports, researchers from SMU DataArts surveyed two sets of arts organizations to gauge what made them so successful. As their results indicate, prioritizing strong leadership, high artistic standards, and community orientation allow organizations’ staff—and the communities they serve—to thrive. https://bit.ly/3C8Utmz

Summer programs can also be a time to build the capacity of the aspiring school leaders. Hear how Newark Public Schools and Tuscaloosa City Schools approach leadership development during the summer months. https://bit.ly/4bJ8S5J

Principal prep programs and state leaders can help smaller districts support principals by offering sample principal standards and a playbook that central offices can use to assist acting principals. Read more recommendations to strengthen principal pipelines in smaller districts in a recent report: https://bit.ly/3zNCH7J

It’s never too early to start planning for summer. American Institutes for Research offers insights and recommendations for district and school leaders to get ahead of the academic curve and build stronger summer learning programs. Learn more: https://bit.ly/40aIFdz

Every district harnesses the power of summer differently. The common goal? Helping students succeed. Learn how two districts have made the shift from summer school to summer learning in this episode of our “A Hot Time for Summer” podcast. https://bit.ly/4aGfeS7

When it comes to high-quality summer learning programs, Texas is a leader. A historic education bill is helping districts across the state incubate strong, engaging programs that make a difference for students. Check out a new study by American Institutes for Research and Texas Education Agency to learn more. https://bit.ly/3A3yJb7

#Summerlearning has gained momentum across the country, but some districts–particularly urban districts and high-poverty districts–anticipate funding decreases. A new RAND study digs into this and how districts approached summer programming in 2023. https://bit.ly/3WTUnaF

RAND Corporation surveyed more than 200 school districts on their 2023 summer learning programs and found that urban and high-poverty districts are most likely to expect funding decreases in summer 2024–but those whose students likely have the greatest need for academically infused summer programming. Learn about this insight and others in the new study: https://bit.ly/3WOYpkI

Does district size matter when it comes to developing school principals? According to a recent report, it does. Learn more about where researchers found differences in principal development, placement, and support in small and medium-sized districts compared to larger districts. https://bit.ly/3zNCH7J