What We're Reading: Week of March 28, 2022
Happy April, Linked Learning field! This week, we’re checking out pieces on how to adapt to changing student career interests, standing up for Black lives in schools, new teen mental health data from the CDC, and more. Enjoy your weekend, and thanks for reading with us!
College and Career Readiness
Students' Career Interests Are Changing. Here Is Why Our Teaching Must Change, Too, EdSurge
Where do we begin to make the transition to bridging the gap between traditional instruction and preparation for career opportunities in the social media world? In order to build a responsive curriculum, we must first become adept at the skills, knowledge, and alignment with our academic goals, writes Aisha Douglas.
Williams & Tremaine: Why Should a College Education Start at Age 18, and only after HS? Time to Change the ‘When’ & ‘Who’ of College, The 74 Million
It's time to rethink core assumptions about what college can and should look like — and when, where and for whom it happens, writes Dumaine Williams and Stephen Tremaine.
Equity
Ignoring Racism in Schools Actually Increases Prejudice, EdWeek
Teachers should push back against misguided laws with evidence on what works, writes Ross Wiener & Francesca López.
OPINION: The fight for Black lives needs to happen in schools, Hechinger Report
High schools are uniquely positioned to affirm the worth — and support the mental health — of Black youth, writes Wenimo Okoya.
Higher Education
Community college enrollment is down, but skilled-trades programs are booming, NPR
Since the pandemic began, more than a million students have held off from going to college, opting to work instead. Two-year public schools have been among the hardest hit — they're down about three-quarters of a million students. Skilled-trades programs are the exception.
Student Supports
‘A cry for help’: CDC warns of a steep decline in teen mental health, Washington Post
More than 25% of young people told the CDC they felt "persistently sad or hopeless."
Why two educators say elevating student voice is key to building back better, District Administration
'We were busting the myth that student voice is a privilege and making it part of our culture that student voice is a right,' educator says.
Policy
Biden’s 2023 budget includes $11.9 billion boost for education, District Administration
President's budget request includes a $1 billion in funding for school counselors and mental health professionals.
Workforce Development
New nationwide call to action aims to help solve teacher shortages, District Administration
K-12 leaders are urged to work with higher ed to create residency programs where student-teachers work as substitutes, paraprofessionals and tutors.