Districts need to go on offensive against opioid abuse Angela Pascopella K12 district leaders are collaborating with entire communities and using new curricula to help combat the opioid crisis sweeping the nation. For instance, middle school students at Norwin School District in Pennsylvania are among the first to pilot a new curriculum that offers a science-based approach to how drugs affect the brain. Read more>> What the digital payment revolution means for schools Sponsored by Bursari It’s time to rethink “how we’ve always done it.” At 6:30 a.m., families want to make fast, easy and convenient online payments—not to write a check or find cash for school field trips, fees and other expenses. The digital payment revolution is here. Is your school ready? Read more>> Train athletes for all seasons The Beverly Review Participation in high school sports continues to rise—and ideally, those athletes are participating in more than one sport. It teaches young athletes how to adjust to different roles. And on a local level, it’s exciting to watch a player star in a sport and then quickly adjust to becoming a role player in another. It’s a valuable life lesson. Read more>> What is Curriculum-as-a-Service? Sponsored by LearnZillion To date, our mental model for curriculum has been the textbook. In contrast, Curriculum-as-a-Service, or CaaS, takes a system-focused approach to curriculum. Instead of thinking of curriculum as a physical thing, we think of it as a tool for getting a series of jobs done. Read more>> Teaching civic engagement to kids can change their lives The Mercury News It’s essential to give students opportunities to analyze, address and ultimately have a hand in solving complex issues that are important to them and those around them. Research findings correlate high-quality civic learning to increased academic achievement, student engagement and reduced dropout rates. Read more>> School Library Journal gives Rob Buyea's novel a starred review Sponsored by Penguin Random House Because of Mr. Terupt is an award-winning novel about one year in the life of a fifth grade class at Snow Hill School. It features seven narrators, each with a unique story and a different perspective on what makes their teacher so special. Request an exam copy. Read more>> Bullying still takes too many lives The Record In 2011, New Jersey enacted a tough anti-bullying law. Yet despite that new law, bullying has not waned in the state. But it is through a digital, ethically challenged jungle that children walk every day. Laws go only so far. It takes enforcement and education. It takes action on the part of all of us—children and adults—to avoid remaining passive when they see bullying. Read more>> | 