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Exclusionary discipline (suspension and expulsion) increases risks of student misbehavior, dropout, and incarceration—and Black students are 4 times more likely than White students to experience such discipline. An alternative to exclusionary discipline, restorative practices address root causes of misbehavior and can improve academic, disciplinary, and school climate measures and reduce racial disparities.
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Examining how Oakland Unified School District successfully implemented a community schools approach, researchers found structures that support effective partnerships, Coordination of Services Teams, community school managers, professional learning and development, and family engagement.
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Oakland Unified School District's long-standing community schools initiative offers lessons for districts implementing a community schools strategy, illustrating an approach focused on integrating whole child educational practices and providing sustained support through centralized district infrastructure.
Daniel EspinozaMichael GriffithDion BurnsPatrick M. Shields
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While federal funding to support the more than 1 million students experiencing homelessness has increased over the past several years, the level of funding remains meager relative to the need. Policy changes concerning funding amounts, distribution, and data collection may improve educational opportunities for these students.
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Fifty public high schools that have been identified as “Schools of Opportunity” are founded on policies and practices that address achievement gaps by improving opportunities to learn. Kevin Welner and Kate Somerville discuss four lessons learned from these exemplary high schools.
Susan Kemper PatrickLinda Darling-HammondTara Kini
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While high-quality preparation is critical for an effective and stable teacher workforce, only 58% of newly credentialed California teachers in 2020–21 were fully prepared in teacher preparation programs. Surveys of 60,000 California teachers who completed programs reveal who receives preliminary teaching credentials, how prepared they feel, and what factors contribute to their perceptions.
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High-quality civics education supports students to be informed, active, and engaged citizens throughout their lives. In the face of declining civics knowledge in America, a growing number of states are implementing policies that support a new approach to civics education that engages students in inquiry, reasoning, and action.
Susan Kemper PatrickLinda Darling-HammondTara Kini
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California’s teacher residency program marks the largest investment in teacher residencies in the nation. Data on early implementation suggest residencies are helping diversify the profession, create a well-prepared workforce, and provide more intensive clinical training experiences.
Aneesha Badrinarayan Linda Darling-HammondMichael A. DiNapoli Jr.Tara KiniTiffany MillerJulie Woods
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While the Every Student Succeeds Act presented promising possibilities for innovative state assessments, the path to realizing these opportunities has proven cumbersome and restrictive. Several possible federal executive actions could better enable states to design assessment systems that support deeper learning.
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California has committed to expanding universal prekindergarten to all of the state’s 4-year-olds by 2025-26. An analysis of responses to a 2022 survey by 1,108 local education agencies provides findings on how they are addressing key areas for expansion, including instruction and assessment, workforce development, facilities, and transportation.
