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

A federal program will give eligible students and their families $120 to buy groceries in summer months

New studies of online tutoring highlight the troubles with attendance and larger tutoring groups.

A school in Washington, DC will provide families with $2,400 to see if it will help mitigate poverty, reduce truancy, and prevent crime.

To read more, click on the following links.

Research & Practice

The 74: New Report: School Cops Double Student Arrest Rates and Race, Gender Key Factors
A Government Accountability Office (GAO) report found that schools with a regular police presence had arrest rates twice as high as similar schools without police. Arrests were disproportionate based on students’ race, gender, and disability, with particular impacts on Black and Indigenous students and boys with disabilities. The report showed that overlapping identities were correlated with negative outcomes. Noting these results, some districts removed police from schools but then reinstated them due to post-pandemic increases in behavioral issues. The GAO’s analysis showed that there is confusion over police roles in schools, often leading to police involvement in routine discipline. There is a call for national standards for school-based officers to address these disparities and clarify roles.
See Also: Which Students Are Most Likely to Be Arrested in School?

The Hechinger Report: New studies of online tutoring highlight troubles with attendance and larger tutoring groups
Since the pandemic, tutoring has been viewed as a key strategy to help students catch up academically, particularly high-dosage tutoring in reading and math. However, evidence for online tutoring’s effectiveness has been lacking. New studies offer insights: In a 2023 study in Northern California, students who regularly received online reading tutoring showed significant improvement, similar to in-person tutoring. However, many students struggled with attendance, resulting in minimal gains. Another study in Texas found that one-to-one online tutoring led to small gains, while small group tutoring was less effective. Challenges in keeping students engaged online were noted, with tutors finding it hard to manage larger groups. Research suggests online tutoring can be effective, especially one-to-one, but motivating students remains a challenge. Schools face tough decisions on how to best allocate remaining pandemic recovery funds to maximize the benefits of tutoring.
See Also: The 5 Percent Problem

EdWeek: When Social Media and Cellphones Are Lifelines to Kids Who Feel Different
Researchers and policymakers express concerns about social media’s negative effects on teens’ social skills and mental health. However, teens have mixed views. A survey of 1,056 high schoolers by the EdWeek Research Center showed that they are nearly evenly divided on social media’s impact on their mental health, citing benefits such as forming friendships, developing hobbies, and learning about other cultures. For some, especially in smaller communities, social media is a vital connection tool. Tai Stephan, an 18-year-old graduate from Lake Norman Charter School, emphasizes that social media helps teens like him, who belong to smaller demographics, feel less isolated. He notes that while social media has downsides, it also creates diverse and accepting communities. Stephan suggests adults misunderstand social media’s role, overlooking its positive impacts and failing to provide guidance on healthy usage.

Policy

The 74: Federal Program Will Give Eligible Students $120 To Buy Groceries This Summer
The Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (S-EBT), also known as SUN Bucks, is a new federal program providing $120 per eligible student for groceries during the summer. Over 30 states, including Ohio, have joined the program to help families who rely on school meals. Brigette Hires from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce highlights its importance in offering a safety net for nutritious summer meals. SUN Bucks will assist 840,000 Ohio students and is the first new permanent federal nutrition program in over 50 years. Payments will be made by July 31 via Ohio Direction Cards or new cards. Families can contact the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services if benefits are not received. Eligibility includes children on SNAP, Medicaid, and free or reduced-price school meals, with additional application options for migrant, homeless, and low-income children.

K-12 Dive: Parents to spend nearly 22% more on back-to-school shopping this year
Parents expect to spend 21.8% more on back-to-school shopping this year, averaging $475 per child compared to $390 last year, according to a JLL survey. Most plan to shop at Walmart (46.4%), Amazon (35.4%), and Target (32.6%). Shopping trends show early starts: a quarter began in May, with others starting in June (22.1%), July (20%), and August (16.8%). Wealthier households are increasing their budgets despite inflation, while lower-income parents are cutting back and seeking deals. Major retailers are responding with summer sales events, including Amazon Prime Day from July 16-17, and similar events at Target, Walmart, Best Buy, and Kohl’s.

EdWeek: How the FCC Wants to Tackle the ‘Homework Gap’
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will vote on expanding the E-rate program to fund Wi-Fi hotspots and wireless internet access services in schools. This initiative, supported by several K-12 education groups, aims to modernize the E-rate program under FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel’s broader push. Previous expansions include funding for school bus Wi-Fi and a cybersecurity pilot program for K-12 schools. However, a lawsuit challenges the use of E-rate funds for school bus Wi-Fi. Rosenworcel emphasizes the need to update the E-rate program to address the homework gap and improve digital access for students. The FCC also highlights other efforts, like the Affordable Connectivity Program, to bridge the digital divide.

Around the Nation

The Washington Post: A D.C. school’s experiment to help kids learn: Paying their families
A D.C. charter school, the Social Justice School, will provide 15 families with $2,400 over the next school year in a pilot program to see if no-strings-attached payments can mitigate poverty, reduce truancy, and prevent crime. This initiative, administered by Mother’s Outreach Network, expands similar anti-poverty efforts in the city. Each family will receive $800 monthly for three months, with children getting $25 weekly. The program aims to support families economically, helping with transportation, groceries, and medical care, thus increasing school participation. The pilot targets families on public assistance and at risk of child neglect referrals.

The 74: When ‘Universal’ Pre-K Really Isn’t: Barriers To Participating Abound
Tanya Gillespie-Lambert, director of community and parent involvement in Camden, NJ, actively promotes free preschool offered by the local public school district. She distributes brochures at events and leads door-knocking campaigns, dressed in team attire. Despite widespread state programs, awareness remains low among parents about the benefits of preschool, such as early education and socialization. Many states face challenges like limited funding, short program hours, and private sector competition. Efforts vary widely across states; for instance, some, like Mississippi and Colorado, are expanding their preschool offerings, while others, such as Idaho and Indiana, lack state-funded options altogether. In Vermont, efforts to expand preschool have faced hurdles due to funding and private-public school tensions. Overall, while progress is being made in some areas, achieving truly universal access to preschool remains a complex and costly challenge for states nationwide.

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