News From the Field
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Groups request details on ESSER spending for underserved students
Several education and civil rights organizations are urging the U.S. Department of Education to collect comprehensive state and district spending data for COVID-19 relief funds to ensure the money is reaching students who have been historically underserved or who have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.
It's now or never: Let's use this investment opportunity to create a new US education system
An SEL expert suggests bolstering the approach in schools in partnership with students, families and communities is crucial to systemic change.
Ed Dept resource examines how schools can use ARP funds to address learning loss
To assist schools in supporting students in the return to in-person learning, the U.S. Department of Education released a new resource, "Strategies for Using American Rescue Plan Funding to Address the Impact of Lost Instructional Time," examining evidence-based strategies for addressing pandemic-related learning loss using their share of the $122 billion in American Rescue Plan funds earmarked for K-12 education.
Biden administration pledges $85M to support student mental health
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Friday pledged $85 million in funding to address growing mental healthcare demands for children and teens.
FCC to open second application window for $7.2B Emergency Connectivity Fund
The Federal Communications Commission will open a second 15-day filing window, from Sept. 28 through Oct. 13, for eligible schools and libraries to apply for funds to purchase equipment and services under the $7.17 billion Emergency Connectivity Fund, the agency announced Wednesday.
Survey: Pandemic digital learning tools will impact curriculum for years to come
The shift to remote learning in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in spring 2020 will have a lasting impact on the way curricula and learning materials are delivered as new digital tools and practices adopted for that environment are adapted for classroom use, according to a national survey of 2,168 teacher and administrators conducted in March by Bay View Analytics.
How schools are using ESSER funds to attract, retain teachers
In plans submitted to the U.S. Department of Education, states are detailing how they will use COVID-19 relief funding to recruit and retain teachers, including strengthening the teacher pipeline through "Grow Your Own" programs, offering financial incentives, providing staff mental health supports and creating alternative licensure routes.
Focusing on pandemic gains is as crucial as identifying learning losses
Rather than focusing too much on the learning students may have lost during the pandemic, educators can also call attention to positives by having students assess their soft skills and identify areas where they may have grown stronger, writes high school English teacher Jamie Kobs.
Grief counseling curricula part of some districts' back-to-school plans in the COVID-19 era
As students return to school this fall, many will carry the burden of grief after losing loved ones to COVID-19. In response, some school systems — such as Los Angeles Unified School District in California — are developing grief curricula designed to help students heal, EdSource reports.