Students have struggled with reading for as long as the written word has existed, so how can educators best help them develop the reading comprehension skills they need to become confident, lifelong readers? This was the question addressed during the edLeader Panel “Teaching Reading Today: Bridging Research, Practice, and the Social Value of Literacy.”
Imagine these year-end scenarios for your school or district: State testing up 22% across ELA and math. 37% reduction of schools labelled a D or F, with a move up to B or C. Moving from one of the lowest-rated schools in the county to the top 10. A first-time graduation rate of over 90%.
STEM skills are in greater demand now more than ever, but some marginalized student groups need expanded access to STEM pathways. During the edLeader Panel “Boost STEM Anywhere with UDL + Drones: CAST Take Flight,” Dr. Amanda Bastoni, Senior Director of Workforce and Higher Education Implementation at CAST, spoke with Chris Hesselbein, Director of Northwest STEM Hub, Laurie Prewandowski, Digital Learning Specialist at Kearsarge Regional School District (NH), Dr. Jessica Hall, Senior Research Scientist at CAST, and Adrienne White, Director of Marketing at Robolink, about how the Take Flight program uses drones and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to help all students grow and thrive in STEM.
What does it take to make learning meaningful for every student? How do leaders support instruction that resonates? The same “GLEAM” guiding principles and strategies for great instruction hold a secret power for leaders to fuel lasting change.
Technology cuts like a double-edged sword. On one end, technology slices time in half, enables more personalized instruction, and keeps educators abreast of student progress. On the other, it slashes instructional time, as teaching moments—up to an hour per week according to surveys—are lost to device management.
Planning for technology integration is an intentional process. It’s not merely about acquiring new tools but strategically considering how to enhance learning and prepare teachers to incorporate them into their classrooms. Recent research reveals a digital divide, with many educators lacking the necessary support or professional development to deliver effective tech-driven instruction.
Recent test scores show learning gaps still exist as students lag behind proficiency standards in mathematics and literacy. New federal guidance opens the door for districts to use school improvement funds and accelerate learning with proven strategies like high-impact tutoring.
Educational programs built on research-based strategies are expected in today’s schools. School leaders need to know that they are spending precious budget dollars on materials with proven results. However, it’s still challenging to know if the materials will help their specific students, and providers typically aren’t beholden to anything.
The 50th anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a significant milestone—a celebration of five decades of progress in special education, including expanded access to general education classrooms and AI- and tech-driven innovations.
The debate over screen time used to be simpler: How many hours of TV should children watch? When should they use the computer lab at school? But now, there are more nuanced conversations to be had in schools about technology that supports teachers and learners versus random scrolling and texting.