EduBlog Archives - Page 4 of 8

Recent NAEP Test Scores Illustrate the Importance of High-Dosage Tutoring

Two decades’ worth of progress…gone. Just like that. Everyone was aware of the learning loss and intellectual damage done by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the recently released National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) scores offer grim, sobering insight on just how devastating the pandemic was to education—math and reading scores for 9-year-olds across the United States dropped dramatically between 2020 and 2022, resulting in performance in these subjects dropping to the levels of 20 years ago. NAEP Test Background and Insights For those unfamiliar, the NAEP test is a gold standard colloquially known as “the nation’s report card” and is [...]

2022-10-17T10:38:26-04:00October 4th, 2022|

Tips for bridging learning gaps and achieving positive student outcomes

Actionable strategies and solutions designed to prepare administrators for a successful new school year As the 2022-2023 school year kicks off, the obstacles facing faculty, staff, and students remain significant. In fact, the upcoming school year might be the most challenging yet. Administrators continue facing pandemic-induced hurdles such as substantial numbers of students struggling academically, emotionally, and behaviorally. Additional concerns include significant teacher and other school-staff shortages, teacher and staff retention and wellness, and overall widened achievement gaps. Now is a critical time for school leaders to further examine these issues and determine the best ways to meet students and [...]

2022-08-29T11:26:25-04:00August 29th, 2022|

How to Address Summer Learning Loss

Summer learning loss, also known as summer slide, has been a point of discussion and concern in K12 education for decades. While some experts claim that summer learning loss is a myth, assessment data and other evidence show otherwise. COVID-19 school closures and prolonged virtual learning have disrupted learning for millions of K12 students, leading to unfinished learning and, for many, increased academic, social, and emotional gaps. As we prepare for this summer, students face an unprecedented academic, social, emotional, and mental health crisis…so it’s important to ask: How can summer programming close academic gaps and improve students’ social skills [...]

2022-02-02T09:47:33-05:00January 27th, 2022|

What Makes an Effective Teacher Professional Development Program?

The world of education has undergone a sea change over the past 18 months. COVID-19 clearly illustrated why effective teacher professional development (PD) is so critical to the success of not only students but entire schools. When PD is done correctly and effectively, it’s an invaluable tool for educators. It keeps teachers in the classroom. Attracting and retaining skilled teachers is one of the most challenging area educators face in building and sustaining a thriving school environment.1 According to one study, one-third of teachers leave the profession within three years, and half of teachers leave within five years. Research consistently shows [...]

2022-01-05T13:23:13-05:00December 20th, 2021|

How Schools Can Responsibly Spend EANS Funding

EANS funding can be a difference-maker when you allocate those funds toward resources that allow your schools to accelerate their students’ learning, make up lost learning time that resulted from COVID-19, and address social-emotional learning. Before we get into some of the most impactful ways to spend your EANS dollars, here’s a brief overview of EANS funding. What Is EANS? The EANS (Emergency Assistance to Non-Public Schools) program is broken into two allocations: EANS I is $2.75 billion allocated to non-public elementary and secondary schools as part of the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER II) fund under the Coronavirus Response [...]

2021-10-29T16:55:33-04:00October 27th, 2021|

Accelerated Learning: Focusing on the Foundations That Propel Growth

COVID-19 forced all of us to adapt how we taught and how our students learned during the 2019-20, 2020-21, and even the current 2021-22 school year. And while remote/virtual/distance learning helped to fill a gaping void in students’ academic lives, the effect that the disruption of being in and out of school had on academic progress for many students is staggering. It’s crucial that educators take swift and decisive action to reinforce academic foundations and support social-emotional well-being to accelerate learning to propel growth. Accelerated learning models provide intense and intentional support in 1-to-1 or small-group tutoring settings to reinforce [...]

2021-10-29T16:26:42-04:00September 29th, 2021|

Educator’s Guide to EANS Funding

Whenever federal funding is made available to schools, questions inevitably follow. Our Educator’s Guide to Emergency Assistance to Non-Public Schools (EANS) Funding helps clarify the many rules and regulations involved with this type of funding, and provides answers to the questions you may have. As an educator, you’ll need to know all there is to know about EANS funds, such as: What is EANS and why should I apply for it? How do I know if my school is eligible for EANS funding? How do I apply for EANS funding? How do I access the funds, and how can I [...]

2022-08-12T11:10:01-04:00September 23rd, 2021|

The Importance of Summer School Programs for Elementary Students

Back in the day, the mere mention of the words “summer school” was enough to send chills down the spine of any student. After all, who wanted to spend their summer days in a hot, classroom learning, when friends were swimming or at the beach having fun? Those days are long gone, however. Today, summer school is more like an education camp for students. Many summer school programs, especially for elementary students, are designed to be fun as well as educational, with plenty of STEM and enrichment activities built into the program. Engagement within and outside the classroom—whether an in-person [...]

2021-02-23T12:30:41-05:00February 1st, 2021|

Instructional Coaching Strategies: 7 Smart Tips for Success

Research consistently shows that teachers, particularly new teachers, who work with instructional coaches are more likely to remain with their schools.1,2 Many schools and districts continue to be challenged with hiring and retaining qualified teachers, making it important to employ strategies to both retain and develop teachers. Coaches are increasingly being embraced by administrators and teachers who welcome the opportunity to learn from an experienced mentor. For maximum impact, coaches can employ a number of strategies in combination to keep instructors engaged throughout the coaching process. Here are our Coaching Strategies for Teacher Success: 1. Build Relationships: To break down any [...]

2023-02-01T16:46:51-05:00December 10th, 2020|

Back-to-School Tips for K-12 Educators

Welcome to the 2019-20 school year! Whether you're finishing your preparation for students to return or already a few weeks into instruction, right now is an exciting and busy time. We support over 300,000 students through 500 district partners across the country each year, and we've compiled a set of back-to-school tips from our educators we'd like to share: Welcome educators, students, and visitors to your building Set the tone for an open, friendly and accepting school culture early on in the year. Greet your teachers, staff members, students and parents each morning as they enter the school. Stand in [...]

2019-09-06T15:09:06-04:00September 6th, 2019|