We get stuff done in our work for one reason: We believe – really, truly believe – that every child in this country deserves a great education, and we want to help make that happen. Check this blog for our thoughts on timely topics and issues, and relevant resources that can inform your work right away. Send your comments, suggestions for future blogs and resources to us at info@education-first.com, and let us know what you think.
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Time to Speak Up; Time to Act
America’s racial injustices are on full display this week. The cumulative death toll from COVID-19 in the United States has surpassed 100,000. Black, Latinx, indigenous people and individuals from low-income backgrounds are disproportionately losing their lives. Leaders could have made different decisions to prevent thousands of these deaths, just as leaders could have prevented the killings of George Floyd, Breonna...
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COVID-19 shows us the Real Reason for Social-Emotional Learning
I sit quietly, as nine pairs of eyes stare up at me, expectantly. The third graders before me are familiar with me coming into their classroom for special Social-Emotional Learning lessons. In the past, we sang songs, played games, and created art. We discussed how to be active learners, respectful friends, and accepting of differences. But those days were different...
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Keep it Simple: A Q&A with Rebecca Kockler about Distance Learning for Parents, Districts and States
Across the country, districts and states are taking a variety of approaches to their sudden transition to distance learning. We sat down with Rebecca Kockler, former Assistant Superintendent of Academic Content for the Louisiana Department of Education, to learn more about her recommendations for parents, districts and states in the short term and as they look forward to the fall....
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Preparing Student Teachers During the Transition to a Virtual Learning Environment
As states and localities take the necessary precautions to keep communities safe and healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic, teacher preparation programs and their partners face a challenge of their own: how they will adapt their programs to continue to support and train teacher candidates. This challenge is especially salient for teacher candidates currently completing their student teaching and no longer...
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Making the Most of “Going Virtual” in Response to COVID-19
Across the US and the world, educators, businesses and communities are making daily shifts in operations in response to the rapid spread of COVID-19. To slow the spread and keep us safe, public health experts recommend that people avoid being in groups of 10 or more. Many organizations are opting to transition to a virtual environment or to host convenings...
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Who we are and why we want to tell stories about teacher preparation
Given the current state of Coronavirus (COVID-19), we have decided to delay the launch of this blog series. Check back this summer for updates! Stay safe and stay healthy! Authors: Sarah Beal (US PREP), Sarah Cohen (NCTR), Anne Douglas-Rowald (IC4EP), Francesca Forzani (TeachingWorks), Erika Abelon and Erin Gehant (NYCDOE), Cassandra Herring (BranchED) and Carlos Villagrana (CTAPP) Teachers matter, and so...
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Creating a Movement in Vermont to Support Today’s Students
Advance Vermont leads a statewide partnership of representatives from business, education, government, nonprofits and philanthropy with a unified goal to increase educational attainment in Vermont for the benefit of residents, communities and the economy. As part of its work, Advance Vermont raises awareness and builds support for a policy agenda by collecting and analyzing data on postsecondary outcomes, and facilitating...
Read more >Topic: College and Career Readiness, College Readiness and PersistenceFocus Area: Engaged StudentsService: Networks and Collaboration, Policy Solutions -
Announcing the 2019 NoVo Social and Emotional Learning Innovation Fund Awardees
In partnership with the NoVo Foundation and Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, we are thrilled to announce the 2019 teacher and district awardees of the Social and Emotional Learning Innovation Fund! Since 2016, the Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Innovation Fund has celebrated educators who practice innovative ways to support and center students’ social, emotional and academic needs, and who strive to...
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Using Design Thinking with Districts to Improve Formative Assessment Practice
Design thinking — which encourages a focus on users and rapid experimentation — can help identify and address a range of problems by focusing on those most affected by the problem. Originally designed for a business context, what might a design thinking process look like in a school district, where local politics, established policies and well-intentioned bureaucracy can stifle even...
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“We Are the Future”: A Conversation about Student Voice in Policymaking
The Rhode Island Alliance for College and Career Readiness (RIACCR) is pursuing a policy agenda focused on promoting equity of educational opportunity and outcomes for all students in Rhode Island. A key part of the Alliance’s strategy is empowering students to be directly involved in policy design and advocacy. Through the statewide organization Young Voices, more than 10 Rhode Island...
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