Infographics

When SEL is a key pillar of the school’s mission, teachers and leaders understand that SEL should be integrated into every aspect of the school, from explicit classroom instruction and infusion into academic content to school climate and culture. In this case, teachers can continue to grow their practices as they collaborate, learn from each other, and use SEL data to make instructional decisions, with the ultimate goal of nurturing students’ social, emotional, and academic learning.

Effective principals are essential to improving student achievement and narrowing achievement gaps. The Learning Policy Institute’s series of infographics explores why effective principals matter, what they do, and how programs can develop successful principals.

While community schools vary in the programs they offer and the ways they operate, four features—or pillars—appear in most community schools: integrated student supports, expanded learning time and opportunities, family and community engagement, and collaborative leadership and practice. These infographics examine each pillar to provide a look at community schools in action.

Principals play a central role in creating schools in which students thrive academically and the teaching staff is strong, stable, and supported. These graphics highlight the reasons principals matter, what education leaders can accomplish, and what constitutes effective preparation and professional development programs.

Financial investments in high-quality principal training yields substantial benefits in student achievement, as well as teacher quality and retention. States can invest in high-quality principals by using federal funds available under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) for teacher and school leader development in addition to state funds. By supporting effective preparation and development programs, policymakers can increase the odds that students are in schools led by well-prepared principals.

The passage of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) represents an opportunity for states, districts, and schools to equitably design education systems to ensure that historically underserved students are prepared for the demands of the 21st century. This graphic highlights four major areas that can be leveraged by policymakers, educators, researchers, and advocates to advance equity in education for all students.

Increasing the number of teachers entering the profession is one strategy for reducing the teacher shortage, but we also need to address the persistent problem of teacher turnover. Each year, more than 200,000 teachers leave the profession, with nearly two out of three leaving for reasons other than retirement. This infographic describes the factors contributing to the teacher exodus.