News From the Field
Catch top headlines sharing relevant news and stories about Linked Learning practices, schools, and students.
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.
How K-12 schools are switching gears on college prep as test-optional admissions grow
With two-thirds of four-year institutions not requiring the SAT or ACT for at least fall 2022 admissions, schools are exploring portfolios, early college and more.
School mental health supports are a pathway to equity
The Jed Foundation's director of high school implementation writes school mental health work must include a focus on systemic change.
Strategies to accelerate computer science implementation
As states implement computer science standards, developing a computer science teacher pipeline is a must for districts seeking to take steps to accelerate the process, District Administration reports.
Career pathways expand opportunities for all high-schoolers
Incorporating high school career and certification pathways into industrial arts fields like automotive and woodworking, which fall under the STEM umbrella but can often be overlooked, is as important as mapping college pathways, writes Sean Cassel, an assistant principal at Seneca High School in Tabernacle, New Jersey.