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As we work to reopen schools safely and effectively, it’s important not to return to “normal” but to reinvent school in ways that center relationships and are grounded in the science of learning and development. We must move past remediation and, instead, turn to the research on how people learn.
Adam K. Edgerton Naomi OndrasekNatalie Truong Desiree O'Neal
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In March 2020, New York City was a pandemic hotspot. Yet NYC was also the first large U.S. city to reopen its schools. Researchers explore the various mitigation strategies the NYC Department of Education implemented to bring students back and offer useful resources that can support policymakers and educators navigating their own school reopening plans.
Jennifer DePaoli Laura E. HernándezRoberta C. FurgerLinda Darling-Hammond
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Multiple, ongoing crises—from the pandemic to systemic racism—are contributing to a collective and individual trauma that impacts the mental health, wellness, and education of students across the nation. These challenges also present an opportunity to redesign schools into restorative spaces where young people are known and nurtured. Research shows several practices school leaders can adopt to increase equity and help students thrive.
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In this issue of the Reimagining College Access newsletter: RCA establishes Regional Collaborative in California, new commission on racial equity in admissions, and report urges University of California to not add a new admissions test.
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The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 includes just over $170.3 billion for schools, making this the federal government’s largest-ever single education investment. Among approved uses for funds are initiatives to accelerate learning, such as through summer school, expanded learning time, or tutoring programs; upgrades to facilities and other improvements to ensure a safe school reopening; investments in wraparound supports, such as through community schools; and initiatives to stabilize and diversify the educator workforce.
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Despite the long-term benefits of early childhood education (ECE) and widespread public support for ECE programs, many children lack access to integrated, inclusive early learning experiences before kindergarten. To build a high-quality, equitable ECE system, federal policymakers can use the tools and resources at their disposal to support state and local efforts to meet the needs of children and families.
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A year into COVID-19, critical teacher shortages may jeopardize the safe reopening of schools. Research from interviews with California urban and rural district leaders sheds light on sustainable strategies including high-retention pathways and financial supports.
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The removal of all prohibitions on the use of federal school transportation funds to support school integration signals a hopeful shift in federal support of voluntary local school desegregation efforts—and the availability of much-needed resources to support them. This is particularly significant as the country is experiencing rates of school resegregation that rival those that preceded Brown v. Board of Education.
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Systemic challenges in New Mexico mean that a large number of students do not have access to a high quality education that prepares them for college and career—a situation made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the evidence-based ways that New Mexico policymakers can address educational challenges is through career and technical education pathways, which foster a range of positive outcomes for students.
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How can districts reopen schools safely and reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission in schools? Marin County, CA, offers one example of a thoughtful approach to school reopening that draws on public health research and partnerships. Using multilayered mitigation strategies and collaborating with the county offices of education and health, Marin safely reopened more than 85% of its schools for in-person learning.
