Queensland Department of Education’s Post

Investigating the influence of preparation and perceived adult support on student attendance to a residential environmental education program Kelley C. Anderson, Marc J. Stern & Robert B. Powell Pages: 251-264 | DOI: 10.1080/13504622.2023.2247586 Abstract Do preparation and perceived support from guardians and teachers influence student attendance to a residential environmental education (EE) field trip program? To explore this question, pre-visit surveys were administered to racially diverse sixth-grade students at seven schools invited to attend a residential EE program at no cost, namely NorthBay Education in North East, Maryland, USA. Results indicate that while desire to attend the residential camp did not differ by students’ racial identity, Black and Latinx students were less likely to attend the program. Guardian support to attend and logistical preparation were each positively related to student attendance, irrespective of racial group, with Latinx students reporting the lowest levels of guardian support to attend. Black student attendance was also correlated with geographic and psychological preparation. Tailoring pre-trip preparation and engagement to address the unique needs of each schools’ student body is likely needed to promote student attendance. However, these results indicate that inequities in program attendance persist across racial groups and further investigation into program conception, design, communication, and execution is needed to understand and address this concern. #environmentaleducation #residentialprograms #programattendance #previsitpreparation #adultsupport #equity https://lnkd.in/gbYWeHTj

Letter from the Gateway Cities Legislative Caucus regarding selective admissions policies in Massachusetts Vocational Schools: Dear Governor Healey and Lt. Governor Driscoll, The current selective admissions policies used by 26 of 28 of the Commonwealth’s vocational technical schools discriminate against students of color, students from low-income families, English language learners, and students with disabilities. We write today to ask you to direct the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) to prohibit selective criteria that discriminates against disadvantaged 8th graders and inhibits their social and economic mobility. We believe children who grow up in poverty in Massachusetts—thousands of whom live in Gateway Cities—deserve the same opportunity to attend a vocational school. In 2003, vocational schools were directed by DESE regulation to rank order applicants based on selective criteria: middle school grades, attendance, disciplinary record, and subjective interviews. DESE admissions data shows these criteria discriminate against three protected classes of students: students of color, students with a disability and English language learners. The criteria also significantly discriminate against economically disadvantaged students. In response to these inequities, BESE approved new regulations in 2021 that permit districts the flexibility to change their policies to address these systemic opportunity gaps. This regulation change proved to be inadequate, as 26 of 28 schools chose to continue the use of selective criteria. In fact, since the 2021 regulation change, admission rates for these four classes of students lowered, and opportunity gaps (the difference in percent offered admission between protected and non-protected applicant) grew wider. In every measurable equity metric, the Commonwealth is moving in the wrong direction. In last year’s admissions cycle however, two schools adopted a lottery for the first time--Assabet Valley and Worcester Tech--and meaningfully closed opportunity gaps in admissions between protected classes of students and their peers. Lotteries worked to create an admissions standard that is fair to all students of all backgrounds. We respectfully request you mandate lottery admissions at vocational schools to hold these institutions to the same equity standard our charter schools have successfully met for the  past three decades: a standard where every applicant within a municipality, regardless of race, national origin, disability, or household income, has the same chance at admission to these public high schools. Thank you for your continued leadership and consideration.

Urban school closures: A sign of the times In major cities across the U.S., urban school districts are facing a challenging trend: shrinking student populations leading to under-resourced and ultimately closed schools. Los Angeles USD, for instance, is set to close the Hilda L. Solis Learning Academy this summer due to drastically declining enrollment which has limited educational offerings. Similar situations are unfolding in other urban areas, forcing districts to make tough choices between maintaining numerous underpopulated schools or consolidating resources, which often meets with community resistance. The trend, exacerbated by lower birth rates, migration patterns, and the rise of alternative schooling options, saw urban schools lose about 850,000 students between the 2019-20 and 2022-23 school years, according to The Brookings Institution analysis. This drop in student numbers has led to "hollowed-out" schools—buildings with too few students to justify their operational costs. Although smaller schools can foster a closer-knit educational environment and have historically shown benefits such as higher graduation rates, they struggle with high per-student costs and reduced program diversity. Decisions to close schools are fraught with educational and political difficulties. In Texas, San Antonio ISD plans to close 15 schools next year, a decision driven by the need to distribute educational resources more effectively. These closures highlight broader societal shifts and raise questions about how urban educational systems can adapt to changing demographics without sacrificing quality or community trust. Stay ahead of the latest news and trends impacting the education world: ➡️ https://lnkd.in/dyhRncr8 #education #Students #schoolclosures Sara Randazzo Matt Barnum

Opportunity with NYC Public Schools

Tennessee's public charter school students are national leaders in academic growth! 📈 This achievement is particularly significant considering that, on average, Tennessee charter students enter their schools with lower achievement levels compared to the national charter sector. Discover more about our exceptional progress in the 2023-24 Impact Report - here: https://lnkd.in/e7FjMnYx #TnCharters #ServingStudents

Small Size = Big Results by Contra Costa Christian Schools Are you looking for a learning community where the class sizes are conducive to enhanced learning and personal growth? If so, allow me to share with you one of several reasons you should tour Contra Costa Christian Schools in Walnut Creek: student teacher ratio in each class! Our teachers are able to give more individual feedback and support to students. Each student can get the attention needed for both academic and personal achievement. Students are encouraged to take part in discussions and motivated to express their opinions more freely. Research has proven that high school students in smaller classes have comparably higher grades and perform better on university entrance exams. Click the link below to read more.... https://lnkd.in/egH2gfCY

A little more insight to the concept of LMUniverse! Check out the website now if you are in the LMU area and looking to post or find housing! https://lnkd.in/gazXwwTX

Clemson's teacher residency program was created to tackle an alarming trend: teacher recruitment and retention. Sadly, data from the Center for Educator Recruitment, Retention and Advancement shows that 1,474 vacant teaching positions were reported in South Carolina for the 2022-2023 school year, a 39 percent jump from the previous year. Even more concerning, 1 in 7 educators in the state did not return to their school district! Of those, 36 percent had only 5 yrs or less of experience; new teachers are the ones most likely to leave the profession! Let's combat this trend together! #TeacherRetention #SupportOurEducators https://ow.ly/QBSo50Q8rgM

Many school districts struggle to hire special education professionals. During the 2020-21 school year, 40% of public schools that had a special education teaching vacancy reported that they either found it very difficult to fill the position or were not able to do so. #cfefund #educationaladvocacy #scholarship #bettereducation

Preparing for this situation below is part of our operational strategy. Whether it be a power outage, active shooter situation, medical emergency, etc. we have protocols and processes. But it’s not enough to have processes written in a manual. Ongoing training and practice is critical to preparation and execution. These physical trainings are part of our onboarding process and are scheduled throughout the year to ensure we know exactly what to do in each situation and remain calm. Way to go Team Junior Achievement of South Florida for your flawless execution during yesterdays power outage. Your swift and intentional actions ensured the safety and security of all. How are you addressing security and safety training in your organization?