Hanna MelnickLinda Darling-HammondMelanie Leung-GagnéCathy YunAbby SchachnerSara Plasencia Naomi Ondrasek
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Schools across the United States canceled in-person classes beginning in March 2020 to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. In many states and districts, school buildings are closed for the duration of the school year. Policymakers and school leaders are making plans to reopen schools for the next academic year, and some are preparing to do so sooner. To reopen schools safely, state and district leaders will need to address several important health considerations.
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While teacher shortages are an increasingly critical issue in the United States, a lesser known but equally important shortage is also hampering the country’s efforts to provide quality educational opportunities for students — principal shortages. Nearly one in five principals leave their schools each year and the average tenure of a principal is only about four years.
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With nearly 1 in 5 principals leaving their schools each year, turnover is high and concerning. This report and brief by LPI and the National Association of Secondary School Principals look at the causes, impacts, and strategies for principal retention.
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Community schools create opportunities for engaged and rigorous learning rooted in the assets and needs of students, families, and the larger community. As COVID-19 forced schools to close and shift to distance learning, teachers at two Los Angeles community schools adapted and created community-based learning projects that address issues currently affecting students’ lives.
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All students benefit from opportunities to reflect on their learning and work. Around the country, schools are adopting portfolios, showcases, and other forms of performance assessment to help students build essential metacognitive skills. Given the disruption caused by COVID-19, these strategies can also be an effective way to bring closure and add meaning to a tumultuous school year.
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The pandemic and resulting school closures have made clear the essential role schools play in the lives of students, families, and communities. Besides their core role of advancing learning, they have fed millions of children and families, provided computers and connectivity to those without, and—in many cases—enabled child care for essential workers. Pandemic-related state budget cuts will make federal stimulus funds critical to ensuring that school systems can continue to fill these vital functions.
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Schools, districts, educators, and families are not equally empowered to switch to distance education in response to the pandemic. Educators, policymakers, and partners have taken on the essential work of bridging the technology gap, but tactical interventions alone are insufficient. Another challenge—and opportunity—brought on by the COVID-19 crisis is the need to shift to next-generation instructional models characterized by collaboration, student agency, and opportunities to learn in diverse settings.
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A positive school climate—where students feel a sense of safety and belonging and where trust prevails—improves academic achievement, test scores, grades, and engagement and helps reduce the negative effects of poverty on academic achievement. To bring about such environments, teachers, paraprofessionals, and school and district leaders must be prepared to create the school and classroom structures that encourage secure relationships.
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Reductions in state revenue and corresponding cuts to state education budgets will mean significant cuts to teaching positions unless the federal government provides increased education funding to states. This blog explores the potential impact of state budget cuts on teaching positions. An accompanying interactive allows for a state-by-state analysis based on different funding scenarios.
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This blog was updated August 7, 2020, to include state-by-state analysis of the CARES act and federal legislation currently under consideration. The blog and interactive explore how education funding can be impacted by COVID-19 related declines in state tax revenues and how federal stimulus aid can offset deep education cuts.
