Region 5 Comprehensive Center’s Post

Preparing for the school year? We've identified four actions that school leaders and principals can take to incrementally improve family engagement and student learning outcomes. Read more: https://ow.ly/l0jt50SXMCH

Our most recent edition of the Weekly Connect is live. One of the stories we featured this week comes from EdWeek and is titled, "When Interventions Aim at Relationships, Academics and Attendance Improve." The article discusses a study that highlights the effectiveness of relationship-centered approaches in schools for supporting at-risk students. Forty-nine middle and high schools piloted these methods, which resulted in reduced rates of course failure and of chronic absenteeism. The new approach, termed “student success systems,” integrates data on academics, attendance, school climate, and social-emotional learning, focusing on students’ sense of connectedness. To read more, click here: https://buff.ly/4aTOsGh

Every student deserves a great public school that fosters a love of learning and prepares them for a bright future. Discover the seven key areas that make a public school truly great and how we can achieve this vision together. 🌟📚 #GreatPublicSchools #EducationForAll 🔗 Read the full article written by the National Education Association to learn what they recommend: https://lnkd.in/da3HxQmY

#K12 #superintendents take a multifaceted approach to addressing anti-Semitism and other types of discrimination on their campuses. Doug Roberts, Founder and CEO of the Institute for Education Innovation, spoke with WICC radio’s Melissa in the Morning this week to give listeners a better understanding of superintendents’ role in preventing such attacks. https://lnkd.in/eYh5e-Mn   The first approach #education #leaders take is prevention. “These are things we fight hard against as leaders, and we do so by building cultures in our districts where people feel included and welcomed and supported,” he says.   The second is more social-emotional #SEL awareness and funding thanks to initiatives at the federal, state, and local levels. “We were able to build up stronger networks for mental health supports,” Doug says. “If a student feels that they are subject to any sort of anti-Semitic attack, we have to make sure we are checking in with kids."   Third, Doug emphasized that when incidents happen, they need to be teachable moments for the children responsible. Schools can have strong policies against hatred but at the same time attempt to understand why the students acted as they did and address the root causes through education and building better understanding.     In early May, the leaders of some of the largest U.S. public school districts testified before Congress about steps they are taking to address anti-Semitism, and Doug urged Congress to take action too, such as re-upping mental health funding for schools. “Superintendents who went to D.C. made a strong showing for our profession,” he says. “We literally stay up at night thinking about how we can make sure every student in our schools feels safe.”   #ThoughtLeadership #Schools #Inclusion #Respect #TeachableMoments #MentalHealth #Wellbeing

When districts are faced with school closures and consolidations, how will district leaders prioritize effective core instruction? In our newly published historical case study—Stronger Together: A Review of How Two Schools Improved Instruction After Consolidating—two Nebraska schools earned national recognition and increased learning gains through the challenging time of consolidation. Download the case study here: https://hubs.la/Q02f_WNb0  

As part of our series on Competency-Based Education, Rob and I chatted with Nate Brock who is a lead evaluator in the science education department at Western Governors University. He discusses how WGU approaches CBE and the key features that make their programs distinct. Give it a listen!

Had an amazing time co-hosting a webinar with Dr. Patricia Riley earlier this week where we covered some great topics. One of the most intriguing topics was the Transfer with Success Act in Maryland, which highlighted the importance of a syllabus management tool. Check out the short video attached, where Dr. Riley gives a quick overview. I would love to hear from others in higher ed on how they ensure transfer articulation success, especially in community colleges. Share your thoughts! #highereducation #transferarticulation #communitycolleges #syllabusmanagement

🔔New release: “Too Essential to Fail: Why Our Big Bet on Public Education Needs a Bold National Response.” Written by Karen Pittman and Merita Irby and commissioned by Education Reimagined, this paper brings together a preponderance of evidence from disparate sources that combined gives us the confidence we need to create a new modern public system of education that is grounded in learners and their communities, not singular school buildings. Learn more here: https://hubs.li/Q02mcY2c0

Drawing on findings from its newly released report, California’s Teacher Education Deserts: An Overlooked & Growing Equity Challenge, the UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools held a webinar on April 23 to discuss the obstacles that some regions face in attracting and retaining highly qualified educators. Nine of California’s 58 counties — Alpine, Del Norte, Imperial, Inyo, Lassen, Modoc, Mono, Sierra and Siskiyou — are considered teacher education deserts. Learn more: https://ow.ly/Y8EG50RzSir

Very relevant article this morning via Higher Ed Dive. The authentic "facts and figures" aren't always shared and the consequences can be much more significant than they even needed to be. I have gone through this experience with multiple college and university clients and there is often vague misinformation shared that fosters a lack of a genuine understanding about the real facts—and therefore the consequences can end up being more severe. Honesty is the best policy and sooner rather than later. #higheredleadership #collegesanduniversities #highered