SXSW EDU: 3 key areas where COVID-19 challenged special education

Online learning accessibility has been a major barrier for students with disabilities and their teachers, but some progress has been made, speakers and attendees said Tuesday.

By Kara Arundel • March 10, 2021

8 ways a year of dueling crises is shaping the future of K-12 schools

The impacts of a pandemic disrupting school from the ground up and the nation's reckoning with systemic racism will be felt for years to come.

By Roger Riddell , Kara Arundel , Naaz Modan • March 10, 2021

Explore the Trendline➔

School Safety and Security

Safety and security has been a growing concern for school districts, with shootings continuing to rise amid concerns over how to best prevent and respond to them.

By K-12 Dive staff

What enablers, accelerators and hurdles are driving K-12 innovation?

Presenters in a virtual session of the annual Consortium for School Networking Conference suggested new perspectives may be required of educators to fully capitalize on innovative practices, tools and resources.

By Roger Riddell • March 5, 2021

Report: US schools receive D grade for infrastructure

The American Society of Civil Engineers said nearly 41% of schools have issues with HVAC systems, which is a "significant concern."

By Naaz Modan • March 4, 2021

Superintendents: CTO collaborations improved pandemic responses

During a virtual CoSN session, three district leaders outlined how they relied on their tech experts for innovative solutions to improve staff efficiency and student learning.

By Kara Arundel • March 3, 2021

Esports clubs can strengthen digital citizenship, illuminate career paths

Shutdowns and canceled extracurriculars due to COVID-19 have led to further growth in popularity for virtual competitions, an educator writes.

By Shawna De La Rosa • Feb. 26, 2021

How to create more meaningful STEM lessons

Educators say hands-on and other projects, like coding a virtual Mars rover, can tie lessons to events in the world around students.

By Lauren Barack • Feb. 24, 2021

Why virtual professional development has staying power

The flexibility and relevance of remote PD and coaching work especially well for educators in rural areas, one literacy coach writes.

By Shawna De La Rosa • Feb. 19, 2021

Study: Increased internet access improves achievement, district finances

But strategic planning is also needed to mitigate the potential disciplinary consequences of expanding student internet access, researchers note.

By Roger Riddell • Feb. 18, 2021

Using texts to boost Pre-K to 3 learning during the pandemic

Tennessee officials hope an early literacy texting pilot program in three-fourths of districts can help stem learning losses for the youngest learners.

By Naaz Modan • Feb. 17, 2021

3 curricular models for building a sense of classroom community online

Educators say the collaboration that comes with projects, workshopping and other models can be adapted and maintained in virtual learning.

By Lauren Barack • Feb. 10, 2021

How individual conferences can benefit students and teachers

One-to-one meetings can help build soft skills and strengthen the connection between a student and teacher, writes a K-8 instructional coach.

By Lauren Barack • Feb. 10, 2021

Survey: 13% of teachers never used digital learning tools before pandemic

The shift to remote learning also lowered teachers' confidence in using digital resources, according to data from GBH Education and PBS Learning Media.

By Shawna De La Rosa • Feb. 9, 2021

IBM to award $3M in cybersecurity grants to 6 districts

The initiative will support services delivered to the districts via teams dispatched from the tech company's Service Corps Program.

By Roger Riddell • Feb. 5, 2021

What makes project-based learning fit virtual needs?

Flexibility for demonstrating learning offers ample opportunity for adaptation, but experts say real-world connections and virtual collaboration are key.

By Lauren Barack • Feb. 3, 2021

How an innovative district went 'old school' in its remote, hybrid approaches

For one of Michigan's top districts, adapting an alternate take on a familiar component of traditional classrooms helped students acclimate to the change.

By Natalie Gross • Feb. 3, 2021

Attention to K-12 cybersecurity grows in nearly 100 bills introduced in 2020

With K-12 becoming a top target due to a combo of high-value data available and limited protection, a new report from CoSN examines legislative trends.

By Roger Riddell • Feb. 1, 2021

Report: 12M US students remain disconnected in digital divide

Despite progress during the pandemic, the gap is an equity issue and long-term fixes are needed, according to a report by Common Sense and others.

By Shawna De La Rosa • Jan. 29, 2021

Arts play role in building school community, even remotely

Arts programming can help build connections among students, one music teacher writes, and there are myriad ways to bring these classes online.

By Lauren Barack • Jan. 27, 2021

FETC 2021: School's library checkouts soar from 400 to 10K annually after redesign, ebook adoption

A 2015 revamp saw reader engagement explode at Cypress Bay High School as the diversity of authors and types of books also greatly expanded, according to the school's media specialist.

By Roger Riddell • Jan. 27, 2021

As reopenings move forward, so do plans to maintain online learning options

With millions invested in distance learning infrastructure, some districts may approach the model as an in-house "school choice" option.

By Shawna De La Rosa • Jan. 26, 2021

Promising Practices: How one district built online learning buy-in, engagement

A Texas district successfully implemented a comprehensive launch of resources for students, parents and teachers to boost engagement and effectiveness.

By Kara Arundel • Jan. 25, 2021

How to offer hands-on learning opportunities in hybrid environments

The pandemic may have shifted the idea of what and where a classroom is, but educators are finding new ways to bring immersive learning to students.

By Lauren Barack • Jan. 20, 2021

Effective online teacher training grows, but in-person supports still needed

Virtual sessions expand professional development's reach and capacity, but experts warn against abandoning essential individualized supports.

By Kara Arundel • Jan. 13, 2021

4 superintendents to watch in 2021

These administrators are tackling immediate pandemic-related challenges while also looking ahead to long-term reforms.

By Kara Arundel • Jan. 11, 2021