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Here are some of the things we’ve been reading about this week:

To choose schools for their children, parents tend to draw on their own educational experiences, perpetuating patterns of segregation.

States seek to expand outdoor learning for preschoolers. 

Apprenticeships bring eighth graders into workplaces so they can explore options before they develop fixed ideas about their careers.

To read more, click on the following links.

Research & Practice

Parents tend to choose their children’s schools based on their own educational experience
The Conversation: A recent study reveals that parents often base their choices of schools for their children on their own educational experiences, with the goal of replicating their positive experiences for their children. The main finding is that parents who had positive educational experiences tended to elect the same type of school for their children. This finding was more common among white parents, who tended to enroll their children in the private or suburban public schools that they themselves had attended, perpetuating patterns of segregation. Meanwhile, parents with negative experiences sought to avoid enrolling their children in schools similar to the ones they attended. This strategy, called “experience-motivated avoidance,” was particularly common among Black parents participating in the study who described being underserved in city public schools as children. These findings underscore how the school selection process shapes broader patterns of racial and socioeconomic segregation in America’s schools and highlights the key role of school selection processes in perpetuating systemic inequity and intergenerational mobility in the U.S.. 

School Counselors Face ‘Role Ambiguity.’ This State Tried to Clarify Matters
EdWeek: A recent study conducted by researchers at Manhattanville College in New York examined the impact of new regulations on the role of school counselors. The regulations aim to clarify the core responsibilities of school counselors and reduce additional duties assigned to them, such as covering for absent teachers or completing school-wide data entry. Many principals participating in the study noted their heavy collaboration with school counselors during Covid-19 and tended to receive the regulations positively. Researchers noted that once the regulations were in place, many counselors still faced challenges such as increased paperwork and role ambiguity at their schools. Both groups agreed on the need for more counselors, decreased caseloads, and an increase in professional development to support counselors’ best practice. The study emphasizes the importance of effective implementation and consistent support for policy changes in schools.

Policy

For preschoolers after the pandemic, more states say: Learn outdoors
Hechinger Report: To draft legislation, several states are drawing on research that outdoor play can benefit the cognitive and physical development of children. Five states have sought to ease licensing standards for outdoor preschools in an effort to expand their number, while others are taking steps to promote nature-based programs through coalition-building at the state level or regionally. The number of outdoor preschools has increased in the U.S. in recent years and the model gained additional popularity during Covid-19, but access to nature-based programs remains largely limited to higher income families. The bills introduced in states like Maryland make it easier for outdoor preschools to establish themselves as full day programs as well as to accept state subsidies for childcare for low-income families. Pilots there and in Washington also aim to standardize a model for play-based outdoor programs so that they can be expanded to mitigate persistent child care shortages. 

The Era of Flush State Budgets is Over
The Atlantic: President Joe Biden and Congress agreed to rescind $30 billion from the 2021 American Rescue Plan as part of a deal to extend the debt limit. This reduction in federal aid to state and local governments will impact funding for education, transportation, police departments, and infrastructure in many U.S. states. While some states have used Covid-era financial infusions to balance budgets and capture surpluses, others have used the money to create new programs or cut taxes, leading to gaps in budgets that will need to be managed locally. Experts note that Congress can still encourage responsible budgeting through reforms, but many are concerned that its leverage to impact state budgeting has decreased now that federal money has ceased. Some argue that federal funding infusions to state governments should be paired with fiscal policy that encourages states to balance their budgets.

Around the Nation

How apprenticeships bring young students into the workplace
Hechinger Report: Middle school students in Boston are gaining real-world career experience through apprenticeships at local businesses. The apprenticeship program, run by the nonprofit Apprentice Learning, introduces eighth-grade students to different careers and provides them with hands-on experiences. The program aims to expose students to career paths and help them explore their strengths and interests before they develop fixed ideas about their future careers. Students can choose from over 70 worksite partners to gain real-world experiences, and the program includes workshops on office culture, professional etiquette, summer internships, and workplace exploration. Regarding reassuring businesses the value of working with young students, the program also benefits businesses by fostering community involvement and diversity and inclusion efforts. 

This Rural Illinois District Curbed Learning Loss With Help From a Burmese Church
The 74: Monmouth-Roseville, a small district in rural western Illinois, has taken a proactive and creative approach to address COVID-related learning loss. Last summer, the district launched summer programs, new curriculums, and multiple tutoring opportunities — including one in a church — that have yielded positive results. Standardized tests show that students receiving tutoring in the district outperformed their peers in literacy and math growth in 2022. Additionally, low-income students in the district made faster progress compared to similar students statewide. The district has prioritized academic recovery over other expenses for $5.3 million in federal stimulus funding, recognizing the importance of supporting struggling students. The efforts have been successful, highlighting a potential model for addressing pandemic-induced learning challenges.

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