School Districts Just Like Mine Are Balancing Budgets on the Backs of Kids

At 10:00 a.m. last Wednesday, students and educators across the country—including those at the school in which I teach—walked out of their buildings and observed…

Don’t Stop the Office for Civil Rights From Providing Strong and Fair Oversight on School Discipline

We know that students of color and those with disabilities are disproportionately suspended and expelled from public schools, whether in district or charter. The Civil Rights…

Dropping Special Education Guidance Requires a Little Explanation

The Trump administration recently rescinded 72 pieces of guidance related to special education and vocational rehabilitation services for children and adults with disabilities. Their explanation:…

Kentucky’s 5-Star School Rating System is Poised for Greatness, But They Could Still Screw it up

If Kentucky’s new education plan lives up to expectations, it’s going to get a lot easier to understand how public schools are doing in the…

I Was a Racist Teacher and I Didn’t Even Know It

I was a racist teacher and I didn’t recognize it. At the time that I taught, I would have argued that I was the opposite.…

Don’t Let Teacher Leadership Become a Meaningless Buzzword

As we enter back-to-school season, I’m anticipating a heavy dose of talk about the importance of “lifting” the teaching profession. I frequently heard talking points…

Illinois’ School Accountability Plan Doesn’t Work for Our Kids and the Feds Told Them So

It’s comforting to learn that the feds (i.e. The U.S. Department of Education run by Secretary Betsy DeVos) has some serious concerns about Illinois accountability…

We’ve Known for Years What Makes Teachers Better: It Isn’t Sexy or Controversial But It Works

As school reforms go, it’s not sexy, it’s not new, and it’s not at all controversial. So it probably won’t get as much attention as…

The Genius in Every Black Family: Our ‘Hidden Figure’

I’m visiting my aunt and uncle in Los Angeles, and we decide to watch the movie “Hidden Figures,” about three little-known Black women whose mathematical…

Educators at This School Give Students a Choice and Voice in How They Want to Learn

Schools providing personalized learning integrate student interests and self-pacing into their curriculum by combining student-centered practices with technology. There are many approaches to personalized learning,…