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Study that children with greater social vulnerability is linked with lower kindergarten readiness and increased environmental burden.
Federal government releases $1.3 billion for after-school programs, with restrictions tied to executive orders.
Tennessee launches direct admissions pilot with student aid component.
Research & Practice
Sustainability: Environmental Burden and School Readiness in an Urban County: Implications for Communities to Promote Healthy Child Development
This study measures the relationship between children’s home environments and their readiness for kindergarten in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Children living in low-income communities are more likely to be impacted by environmental factors, such as air and water pollution, which can affect their development. The research suggests that children with greater social vulnerability, which is measured through several indicators such as household income, is linked with lower kindergarten readiness and increased environmental burden. Social vulnerability was experienced at the highest rate for census tracts with a higher percentage of Black residents, compared to other races and ethnicities. Additionally, higher environmental burden predicted lower kindergarten readiness to a larger extent than the impact of race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic vulnerability. The findings highlight the importance of intervention programs that focus on improving environmental conditions in addition to educational opportunities, especially to benefit children from low-income areas.
Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology: Exploring Children’s Naturalistic Educational Media Use: Prevalence, Domains, and Correlates
Researchers from The Ohio State University measured the prevalence of first graders’ educational media usage. Educational media is defined as digital media that is used to convey information. Caregivers completed questionnaires measuring their children’s top five shows and apps, time spent using media and reading, and demographic information. Almost 12% of media consumption was determined to be educational, with math content being the most prevalent. In previous literature, caregivers have reported that they are more comfortable supporting their children in reading and writing instead of STEM, which may be why they are more likely to turn to technology in those domains. Additionally, caregivers of girls were more likely to report higher educational media use for their children compared to caregivers of boys, and there was no difference in usage by socioeconomic status. Understanding the prevalence and purpose of technology usage for young children can help inform future technology to best meet children’s educational needs.
Policy
The Washington Post: Trump Administration Releases Billions in Funding Withheld From Schools
On June 30, the Trump administration froze almost $7 billion of public school funding. The government first released $1.3 billion, and now the rest of the money is available. An Office of Management and Budget spokesperson shared that funders were frozen so the administration could review whether the money was being used by school districts for programs for undocumented immigrants or on LGBTQ+ topics. Twenty-four states and the District of Columbia sued the administration, arguing that the cessation of funds violated the Constitution and federal law. Without the funds, three-quarters of superintendents said they would have to eliminate academic services for students, and half would have to lay off staff and teachers. The return of funds comes amid other changes at the Education Department, including cancelling programs, firing half of the workforce, and transferring duties to other government agencies.
Stateline: More than Half the States Have Issued AI Guidance For Schools
Twenty-eight states and the District of Columbia have policies in place for the use of artificial intelligence in K-12 schools. The report from AI for Education, which provides AI literacy training, outlines the policies states have adopted. Most state policies include the risks and benefits of AI in education and how it can be properly used in a school setting. The Trump administration loosened federal AI oversight to give more power to the states to spur innovative programs. While states have worked to provide AI guidance for schools, many do not have comprehensive frameworks. North Carolina was one of the first states to issue AI guidance, and the state’s framework includes a definition of generative AI and how it can be used in the classroom successfully. Some states also emphasize which AI models are “ethical” for students and teachers to use.
See also: Trump Says Fewer Regulations Needed to Win the AI Race.
Around the Nation
K-12 Dive: Tennessee Launches Direct Admissions Pilot with Student Aid Component
Tennessee is launching a pilot program in the fall to offer high school students direct admissions to two- and four-year colleges. TN Direct Admissions pilot will accept 41,000 students from randomly selected high schools across the state to have an opportunity to get into one of the 53 colleges participating in the program. To be eligible, students need to have a strong academic standing and complete the application. Students will receive a letter listing all of the schools that have automatically accepted them, and half will also be given tailored financial aid information based on need and academic merit. Researchers will then analyze the pilot program to understand how enrollment differs for students who received an automatic admissions offer versus those who have applied through the regular process, and how receiving financial aid impacts their decisions. Similar direct admissions initiatives have been enacted in Illinois and New York. The financial aid component of the Tennessee program is the first of its kind.
The 74 Million: From Classroom Drudgery to Joyful Enrichment: The Evolution of Summer School
In the past decade, many school districts started to emphasize programs to combat summer learning loss, which disproportionately impacts low-income students. One program is Summer Rising, a partnership between New York City Public Schools and the Department of Youth and Community Development, which provides students with free academic and enrichment programming for six weeks in the summer. In a study conducted by RAND that measured voluntary free summer learning programs for low-income students, researchers found that students who attended programs for at least 20 days had increased math and ELA skills and higher social-emotional wellbeing compared to their peers. The Executive Director of Boston After Schools & Beyond shared, “Summer learning arguably has the greatest impact at the lowest price on the greatest number of students of any policy solutions.”
The Hechinger Report: $50 a Week for 40 Weeks: How No-Strings Cash Changed the Lives of Teens
“The $50 study” randomly selects students to receive $50 a week for 40 weeks. It began at Rooted School, a charter school in New Orleans, and has since expanded to other spaces. The goal of the experiment is to understand teens’ spending habits, financial literacy, and whether the extra money impacts academic achievement. Students ended the study with an average of $300 in savings, which is triple the national average for American adults. The program also saw academic and social-emotional benefits; students who received the money attended 1.23 more days of school and reported feeling more confident and in control of their finances. A student who participated in the program shared, “You learn that money goes fast, especially if it’s free… If you’re stuck in a rut, it’s expensive to restart. In this country, it’s expensive to be poor.”
See also: Study May Undercut Idea That Cash Payments to Poor Families Help Child Development
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