Category Archives: Uncategorized

By Bobbi Macdonald and Emily Liebtag It’s increasingly apparent that young people are grappling with growing disconnection, a challenge that extends well beyond traditional schooling and affects the entire landscape of education. In light of this pressing issue, the question arises: How can we initiate a transformative era of education that not only cultivates deepContinue reading “Learner-Centered Ecosystems: Nurturing Connections, Fostering Belonging, and Engaging in Place”

In testimony at a school board meeting last week, I made three points about the implications of AI:   Artificial Intelligence Has Profound Implications for Work and Learning  The rise of artificial intelligence, particularly generative AI, marks a new era of work and learning. After 40 years of rules-based calculation, AI models “learn” patterns and makeContinue reading “The Rise of Artificial Intelligence and the Implications for School Districts”

By Adam Strom, Meisha Lamb-Bell, and Fernande Raine In an era defined by profound demographic shifts and burgeoning diversity within our classrooms, the imperative to cultivate a sense of belonging within educational ecosystems has never been more pronounced. Amidst this backdrop, our report, “Building Belonging: Harnessing the Power of Education in an Era of DemographicContinue reading “What is Belonging, and Why Does it Matter in Schools?”

A lot of schools talk about increasing student agency. “Creating self-directed learners.” “Building lifelong learners.” “Cultivating global citizens.” But when you walk into many of their classrooms, learning looks pretty much the same.  A teacher stands tall at the front of the classroom referencing information on a smartboard or rolling TV monitor, talking to kidsContinue reading “12 Shifts to Move from Teacher-Led to Student-Centered Environments”

Two years after Universal ESA funding was introduced in Arizona, Phoenix has one of the most interesting and diverse portfolios of microschools in the country. They include district, charter, private schools, and homeschool cooperatives and are located in public schools, on college campuses, in storefronts, and in homes. They are all highly personalized and offerContinue reading “Microschools Changing the Phoenix Education Landscape”

At the beginning of 2022, we attended a rowing class. If you’ve been to a cycling class, you know the feeling – dynamic lighting, loud music, fans, fans, and more fans. This was out of our comfort zone as gyms are not typically places where we find comfort or inspiration. This class, however, was aContinue reading “The Productive Tension of the Me and the We”

By: Reagan Rogers, M.S., Psy.S., National Director of Invo Healthcare’s IMPACT Program In the wake of the pandemic, families, educators, and policymakers are all paying close attention to the impact of trauma on learning, as well as on students’ physical and mental health. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has described mental health as “the defining publicContinue reading “How Educators Can Help Students Understand Their Own Neuroscience, and In Turn, Foster Positive Classroom Behaviors”

We’re a step closer to skills transcripts for all learners today. Better yet, we’re a step closer to moving courses and grades into the background and helping all learners tell their story and express their capabilities. Today, ETS announced that MTC will become a subsidiary. It’s a big deal—not financially, but because it brings togetherContinue reading “Skills Transcripts at Scale: Why The ETS & MTC Partnership is a Big Deal”

With a new $250,000 state grant in hand, a small exurban district superintendent asked for advice on how to invest in #NewPathways. Following are 11 ideas along with some leading examples.  Hire a business partnership coordinator for two years to facilitate work-based learning experiences including client projects and internships. Most of the 85 high schoolsContinue reading “How to Start Investing in New Pathways”

Over the past 120 days, we’ve conducted tours of over 50 high schools in more than 1,000 classrooms across various cities including Boston, Dallas, Los Angeles, Northern Colorado, Kansas City, Twin Cities, Pittsburgh, and San Diego. These schools were purposefully selected for their dedication to real world learning, positioning them at the forefront of innovativeContinue reading “The State of the American High School in 2024”