School turnaround relies on steady leaders Tim Goral Linda Cliatt-Wayman is the turnaround queen as the principal who changed two low-performing, violent Philadelphia high schools into safe spaces. “If you’re going to lead, lead,” she says. If school leaders have a solid mission they want to accomplish when they walk into a school, then very little should get them off course. Read more>> Technology to promote ELL student and family success Sponsored by Rosetta Stone Education Dr. Bernadette Musetti of Loyola Marymount University has devoted most of her career to learning about and creating more equity and access in education for students whose primary language is not English. In this white paper, she discusses how we can leverage technology to support ELL students and their families. Read more>> Farewell, valedictorian Wall Street Journal It’s getting lonely at the top of the class in high school—or very crowded—as more schools alter or do away with the traditional role of valedictorian. While some schools no longer hail a single student with the best grade-point average, others are granting the distinction to anyone who gets at least a 4.0 GPA. Read more>> Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson Sponsored by Penguin Random House “Every bit as moving as To Kill a Mockingbird, and in some ways more so...a searing indictment of American criminal justice and a stirring testament to the salvation that fighting for the vulnerable sometimes yields,” says David Cole of The New York Review of Books. Read more>> Being honest about world's harsh realities The Herald Bulletin The manner in which teachers handle discussing sensitive and potentially traumatic topics in class varies depending upon the age of their students. But one thing is certain: Teachers can’t protect their students from traumatic news. If students need to talk or ask questions, schools should be a safe place for that to happen. Read more>> Five steps to building a better blended learning program Sponsored by Fuel Education No matter what stage of blended learning implementation you are in—just delving into the idea, deep into planning or analyzing a current program—you’ll find resources in this new concise, easy-to-use, practical learning guide that will help you reach your goals. Read more>> Want change in education? Look beyond the usual suspects NPR Governments, nonprofits, donors and educators are gearing up to try to solve two problems. The first one is that not enough children are learning the basics. The second is that the basics are no longer enough. They are working hard to spotlight and spread innovations that go far beyond Silicon Valley. Read more>> 8 ways to close the achievement gap Sponsored by Istation Boost student achievement and inspire educational gains with eight steps schools can take, including progress monitoring, motivational strategies, strengthening school-to-home connections and more. Read more>> Give students financial acumen they need in life The Lowell Sun Next to language literacy, mastering financial literacy probably looms as the most important ingredient necessary to achieve the American Dream. The lack of emphasis on history/civics, as well as financial literacy, comprise the two main shortcomings of the current education curriculum. Read more>> | 