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Philadelphia Inquirer by Maddie Hanna and Kristen A. Graham | After a court ruling found its school funding system unconstitutional, Pennsylvania lawmakers held hearings to learn from education leaders and policy experts on school finance. LPI’s Mike Griffith gave testimony to the Basic Education Funding Commission about the limitations of Pennsylvania’s current funding system, what would be needed to improve it, and lessons from other states.
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LPI Senior Researcher and Policy Analyst Michael Griffith shared insights with Pennsylvania state lawmakers on school funding solutions that can foster equitable access to a high-quality education for all students.
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CNN by Gabe Cohen | LPI research found that 1 in 10 teacher positions are either vacant or filled by someone uncertified for the subject they are teaching. In this interview, Susan Kemper Patrick discusses the impact of the teacher shortage crisis on learning, noting that students with ineffective teachers are likely to fall behind. “Teachers who are not fully prepared are not as effective in the classroom, and this is at a time when students really need effective instruction,” Patrick said.
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During the pandemic, many students suffered steep learning loss, disengagement, and burnout. But some students came out thriving: Experiencing little learning loss, engaged in their education, and continuously supported by wraparound services providing meals and health services. What was different about these schools and what can others learn from them?
Emma GarcíaMelanie Leung-GagnéSusan Kemper PatrickLinda Darling-Hammond
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Public school teachers earn, on average, only 76% of the salary of similarly college-educated professionals. In addition to being underpaid, a stunning 95% of teachers still pay out of pocket to supply their classrooms, averaging $470 a year in unreimbursed purchases.
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More Perfect Union by Paul Blest | California is implementing a plan to ultimately offer transitional kindergarten as a new grade level in public schools. Hanna Melnick shares insights on the scale of California’s investment into making transitional kindergarten universal across the state and the benefits of early learning for children.
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In 2013, California implemented an ambitious school funding reform, the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), which allocates funding by the proportion of high-need students in the district. Unique in its multiyear funding commitment and minimal spending restrictions, LCFF is associated with increased student achievement and school outcomes.
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In 2013, California implemented an ambitious school funding reform, the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), which allocates funding by the proportion of high-need students in the district. LCFF-induced funding increases improved students’ academic achievement, reduced grade repetition, and enhanced the likelihood of students graduating from high school and being college-ready.
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It’s estimated that more than 300,000 teaching positions in the United States were either unfilled or held by people who were not fully qualified but, as pressing as it is to get qualified teachers in classrooms immediately to address shortages, effective policy must also focus on recruiting a well-prepared and diverse pool of candidates, along with retaining effective educators.
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The Office of the California Surgeon General has launched a free, self-paced training resource designed to help educators, school personnel, and child care providers understand and respond to trauma and stress in youth.
