Briefs

March 6, 2023 | Social and emotional learning (SEL) programs are a low-cost, evidence-based educational intervention that improves outcomes for all students at all grade levels. As SEL programming grows across schools and districts, research points to policies and infrastructures that teachers, principals, and policymakers can adopt to support successful implementation.

March 2, 2023 | Survey results from almost 60,000 people who completed California‘s new teacher accreditation program show an increasingly diverse pool of teacher graduates and those who experience student teaching or residencies feel more prepared; however, Black, and Native American candidates report less access to these supports.

February 22, 2023 | Texas' longstanding teacher shortages have been driven by high attrition rates and exacerbated by COVID-19. Research points to the policy interventions that can help support the work already underway in Texas to address these shortages and stabilize the teacher workforce.

February 15, 2023 | Magnet schools have been key components of longstanding efforts to desegregate schools; however, many districts have recently retreated from their proactive diversity efforts, resulting in greater school segregation. Through four evidence-based policies, magnet schools can continue to deliver on their original desegregation missions.

January 11, 2023 | Five U.S. school districts have been recognized for their efforts to provide high-quality services to students experiencing homelessness. The districts use multipronged approaches to identify these students, as well as fund and staff the programs that support them.

September 30, 2022 | Principal leadership can have a substantial influence on school conditions, teacher retention, and students’ learning. But how can principals learn to be good leaders? A study of California principals examines their professional learning experiences and sheds light on how high-quality, preservice and in-service principal learning can foster positive outcomes in schools.

September 12, 2022 | The school conditions and educational outcomes California students in foster care experience may be impacted by a range of challenges associated with multiple school moves and barriers to important supports at the school and state levels. Effective processes and policies that span the state’s education system and the foster care system can help create a coordinated web of supports to enhance student outcomes.

August 22, 2022 | Young people today must learn to think critically, solve complex problems, communicate effectively, work collaboratively, and embrace lifelong learning. There is still a long road to travel to ensure all students have access to this type of “deeper learning”; however, policies that promote healthy environments, supportive learning conditions, well-resourced and inclusive schools, skillful teaching, and high-quality curriculum can help pave the path forward.

August 9, 2022 | In 2021, California committed to making transitional kindergarten (TK)—a school-based preschool program—available for all 4-year-olds by 2025–26. As TK becomes universal, California will need to expand the early learning workforce by recruiting educators and candidates and supporting them through various pathways into the profession. State policymakers can take six recommended actions to help stabilize, support, and expand the entire early childhood workforce.

August 9, 2022 | Community schools have proved to be a successful approach to educate and support the whole child through family and community engagement, enriched and expanded learning, and integrated student supports. An important element for states to consider when investing in community schools is the provision of technical assistance, which can play a key role in supporting high-quality implementation.