Author: studyblog

Key points: New York is currently standing at a historic crossroads. With a rare alignment of executive leadership in Albany and NYC and a tireless advocacy community, the state is poised to transform the promise of universal early childhood education (ECE) into a reality for tens of thousands of families. We are seeing a shift from a decade-long, bottom-up struggle for recognition to a top-down prioritization driven by a clear sense of urgency. But as we move from the “why” to the “how,” there is a sobering truth: Success isn’t just about the size of the check New York writes;…

Key points: Last year, one of my strongest students could solve complex equations flawlessly–but paused when I asked a simple question: “Why does this method work?” Her hesitation was not unusual. Many students can perform mathematical procedures accurately, yet struggle to explain the reasoning behind them. This gap between execution and understanding remains one of the central challenges in improving math instruction today. After more than 30 years teaching mathematics and physics in Italian scientific high schools–and now working in an international school in New York–I have come to see that this challenge is not tied to one country or curriculum. Instead, it…

Key points: When people outside of education talk about comprehensive school safety planning, it can sometimes sound theoretical: A checklist of protocols or a compliance exercise. For those of us working in schools every day, it is anything but abstract. It is personal, practical, and in critical moments, it can mean the difference between chaos and coordination. I know this because I’ve lived it. In September 2025, during dismissal at S.L. Mason Elementary School, what began as our routine end-of-day transition quickly escalated into an emergency. Students were filtering outside to buses, car lines, after-school activities, and pickup. Some buses were…

Key points: There’s never been a more turbulent time for young people to plan for and embark on their futures, and a new survey gives insights on their feelings and plans. The new 2026 Career Interest Survey of 11,443 Gen Z students, conducted by National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS), gives insights into what motivates a vocal, community-focused, tech-savvy emerging workforce. This new data set is part of a bi-annual survey that indicates trends over the past several years. Students are confident, despite concerns: Nearly all (94 percent) are extremely, very, or somewhat confident about their future after graduating college. Eighty-four…

Key points: Libraries are more than a quiet corner of school where students can pick up a book now and then–they are vibrant learning environments that support classroom curriculum, spark curiosity and creativity, and enhance vital literary skills. Studies show a positive correlation between strong school library programs and higher standardized test scores, improved graduation rates, and stronger academic performance even when controlling for factors like socioeconomic status.   Ensuring that school libraries not only remain funded, but actually expand collections and resources to meet changing needs, requires librarians and staff to get loud and proud about the difference they make each day…

EXTON, PA – May 6, 2026 – Red Rover, the fastest-growing provider of modern human capital management solutions for K-12 education, today announced the results of its annual survey uncovering the experiences and preferences of substitute teachers across K-12 districts nationwide. Drawing from over 18,000 completed responses across 46 states, the survey reveals critical insights into who constitutes today’s modern substitute workforce, what they seek in their roles, and how districts can better support them. The nation’s largest annual substitute survey was conducted in partnership with the Substitute Management Council (SMAC), which comprises educational practitioners united by a mission to…

Key points: Summer is full of learning opportunities that many children miss. When back-to-school season begins, some kids are already starting behind. That’s all due to a lack of access to high-quality programs and resources. Throughout our years working with schools and families, we’ve seen firsthand how the summer months can either widen or close opportunity gaps for children. At the National Summer Learning Association (NSLA), we always say: “Summer isn’t just a season. It’s a strategy.” NSLA works to ensure that all of America’s students, regardless of background, income, or zip code, can access and benefit from high-quality summer…

Key points: Apple’s new MacBook Neo has given school IT teams a reason to reopen a conversation that, for years, felt mostly settled. At $599 retail and $499 through Apple’s education pricing, it is Apple’s lowest-priced laptop yet, with a 13-inch display, A18 Pro chip, up to 16 hours of battery life, and the familiar advantages of the macOS ecosystem. That price alone is enough to force a new question in district IT circles: Are Macs finally close enough to Chromebook territory to be considered for broader 1:1 deployments? The answer is not a simple yes or no. The real…

Key points: Every June, once the last bus leaves and the halls go quiet, I get the strong desire to take a deep breath and to allow the pressure of the previous school year to subside and let the slower pace of summer settle in.  But after years of working in a district such as Van Dyke Public Schools, I’ve come to understand that the reason I never truly settle into that slower pace is because summer isn’t a break. For the families school districts most need to engage with, summer is the time to act. And if we aren’t…

Key points: The overreliance on AI is a widely discussed topic for teachers, administrators, and families alike. The last thing we want is for technology to stifle the creativity, expertise, and human connection that educators bring to the classroom or hinder our students’ ability to think critically. At the same time, when used thoughtfully and intentionally, AI can strengthen–rather than replace–the work of educators. By providing real-time insights into student performance in relation to learning standards and grade-level expectations, AI enables teachers to identify learning gaps so they can tailor classroom experiences to address students’ individual needs.  Perhaps most importantly,…