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Here are some of the things we’ve been reading about this week:
Kindergarteners are struggling in school, even though they were babies when Covid first spiked.
The U.S. Department of Education has awarded more than $32 in school infrastructure grants.
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey pushes to expand free preschool.
To read more, click on the following links.
Research & Practice
EdWeek: What Does ‘Evidence-Based’ Mean? A Study Finds Wide Variation.
The question of what makes an education intervention evidence-based has gained prominence, with federal and state agencies increasingly requiring programs to demonstrate effectiveness. However, a recent analysis in the Review of Educational Research reveals significant variability in the evidence required to establish effectiveness. This study, conducted by researchers from George Washington and Northwestern universities, examined evidence standards across 10 clearinghouses for nearly 1,360 education programs. Clearinghouses were more likely to agree on what didn’t work, but less than 18% of programs had consistent “effective” ratings. The lack of consensus arises from differing standards on outcomes, sample sizes, study durations, and the use of randomized controlled experiments. Building a comprehensive evidence base requires more detailed program descriptions and analyses of multiple studies to account for diverse student needs.
The Wall Street Journal: When Covid Hit, They Were in Diapers. So Why Are Kindergarteners Struggling?
New data from testing company Curriculum Associates reveals a surprising decline in math and reading skills among America’s youngest students entering school this year compared to pre-pandemic levels. Kindergarten students in 2023 were about 2 percentage points less likely to start at grade level in both subjects compared to 2019. Scores for first and second graders also remained below pre-pandemic levels. The decline raises concerns as schools are already grappling with helping older students catch up post-pandemic. Potential causes include lower participation in early-childhood education, pandemic-related disruptions in children’s lives, and possible statistical shifts in enrollment or exam participation. Budget constraints may hinder efforts to provide additional support for struggling students as federal pandemic-relief funding runs out.
The 74: Amid Literacy Push, Many States Still Don’t Prepare Teachers for Success, Report Finds
A new analysis by the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) reveals that despite states revising strategies for teaching reading, many fail to adequately train and support teachers in implementing these plans. The report identifies five crucial areas for improving teachers’ literacy instruction skills, including establishing rigorous training and licensure standards, funding meaningful professional development, and ensuring curriculum alignment with the science of reading. Several states, such as Mississippi, Arkansas, and Texas, were praised for effective reading reforms, while others like Maine, Montana, and South Dakota received criticism. The analysis emphasizes the need for careful implementation of policy changes and highlights the importance of preparing and supporting teachers for scientifically based reading instruction.
Policy
EdWeek: A New Federal Summer Food Program Targets Child Hunger. Why Are 15 States Opting Out?
Nearly 21 million children will have access to federally funded grocery benefits this summer through the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) program, aimed at reducing childhood hunger during school breaks. However, 15 states have opted not to participate, citing reasons such as administrative burden and cost. The program, modeled after Pandemic EBT, provides $120 per student to families qualifying for free and reduced-price lunch to cover summer grocery costs. It has the potential to reduce childhood food insecurity significantly. Critics argue that opting out, as seen in Iowa and Nebraska, is misguided and can harm food-insecure families. The USDA remains optimistic about program expansion in 2025. See Also: Concerns rise over long-term financial sustainability of school meals programs
K-12 Dive: Education Department awards $32M in school infrastructure grants
The U.S. Department of Education’s Supporting America’s School Infrastructure grant program has awarded over $32 million to state education departments in Alabama, Arizona, California, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, and the Northern Mariana Islands. The grants, ranging from $2.6 million to $5 million, enhance states’ capacity to assist school districts in improving facilities. Paired with the Renew America’s Schools Program, the funding will address school infrastructure needs, make energy improvements, and save districts money. K-12 school districts in the U.S. spend nearly $8 billion annually on energy costs, and the grants support energy infrastructure improvements, including HVAC systems, lighting projects, and renewable energy technologies.
Around the Nation
The New York Times: In Florida, New School Laws Have an Unintended Consequence: Bureaucracy
In Florida, recent laws and regulations on parental consent have created a bureaucratic challenge in schools, requiring permission slips for routine activities. The Parental Rights in Education Act, signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, contains vaguely written regulations that have led to confusion within schools about which services require parental consent. Different interpretations among the state’s 67 districts have resulted in cautious measures, requiring permission slips for various activities and services. Nurses are reportedly spending significant time obtaining parental consent, which impacts children’s well-being. The requirements extend to using legal names, health screenings, book access limitations, and counseling services, creating additional administrative burdens for educators.
EdWeek: Teaching About Grief and Loss: One State’s New Requirement for Schools
New Jersey has enacted a law requiring schools to include grief lessons in health education classes for 8th through 12th grades. The law aims to help students understand the physical and emotional effects of loss and develop healthy coping strategies. The state joins Connecticut and Massachusetts in specifically addressing grief in learning standards. The move recognizes the need to normalize conversations about grief, a universal human experience often overlooked in school programs. Childhood grief, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, has prompted increased attention, with around 379,000 U.S. children losing a primary or secondary caregiver to COVID by June 2023. New Jersey’s law mandates teaching symptoms, coping mechanisms, available resources, and aims to equip students to support peers facing grief in a healthy way.
The 74: Indiana Governor’s Policy Agenda Prioritizes K-12 Education & Workforce Training
Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb has unveiled his 2024 agenda, focusing on K-12 literacy initiatives, workforce training, expanded pre-K, and childcare voucher eligibility. The literacy plan includes earlier access to IREAD-3 testing in second grade to identify struggling students earlier and provide necessary support. The goal is to improve foundational literacy skills and reduce the number of third graders advancing without proficiency. The governor’s agenda also emphasizes expanded early childhood education and child care options, reducing caregiver age limits, and increasing access to disaster relief.
The Boston Globe: Healey pushes to expand free preschool and subsidize daycare for more families in Mass.
Governor Maura Healey has unveiled the “Gateway to Pre-K” agenda in Massachusetts, which calls for enhancing the affordability and accessibility of early education and child care. The proposal includes four main components: ensuring universal, high-quality preschool access for four-year-olds in all Gateway Cities by the end of 2026; increasing eligibility for Child Care Financial Assistance (CCFA) to 85 percent of the state median income; continuing Commonwealth Cares for Children (C3) grants in FY25 to improve quality and support child care programs; and signing an executive order recognizing the pivotal role of child care in the state’s economy. Governor Healey plans to outline these initiatives in her State of the Commonwealth address and allocate nearly $590 million in additional state funding in the Fiscal Year 2025 budget. The goal is to transform the early education system, making child care more affordable and supporting providers.
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