Impact Aid

In response to the notice of proposed rulemaking on Impact Aid, NASSP, together with 16 other leading education organizations, sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Education. The letter included a request that the Department update the current paper-based process for parent and pupil surveys with modern technology, saving schools and districts valuable time and money.

Inside the Beltway

What’s going on in Washington?

Now that President Obama has submitted his fiscal year 2017 budget request, Congress has begun the appropriations process. Changes to federal education law under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) make this a particularly important year for advocacy efforts.

Why should principals care?

NASSP and the National Association of Elementary School Principals are specifically advocating for the School Leader Recruitment and Support program, which was authorized under ESSA and is the successor to the School Leadership program. President Obama requested $30 million for the program in FY17. Send a message to your congressional representatives today to urge them to fund the program at no less than the president’s requested $30 million for FY17.

In the Press

Leadership Turnover: 2015 Year of Significant Change in State Education Leadership, Achieve

In education, the most important leadership changes come at the state level, and last year was one of significant state education leadership turnover across the country. Forty-three states saw changes in key state-level education positions—governor, boards of education, legislators, and state leaders of K–12 and higher education systems. More change is expected this year due to retirements or term limits. This article breaks down expected changes by state, and includes helpful infographics so you can see where the most change is occurring.

Community Schools: Transforming Struggling Schools into Thriving Schools, The Center for Popular Democracy

As states consider options for improving schools under ESSA, one strategy has been to use a community schools model of researched-based strategies for greater student-centered learning, as well as community investment and engagement. This report profiles community schools from across the country that have demonstrated consistent improvement on a wide range of indicators of student success. The profiles outline each school’s strategies, such as adding wraparound services and implementing restorative justice practices.

Educational Success in Two Inner London Boroughs: Lessons for the U.S., Brookings

A new paper from the Brookings Institution examines the so-called “London effect,” which attributes much of the United Kingdom’s overall gains in academic achievement to the very large gains of students in inner London. Some potential lessons for the U.S. from London’s success include the power of district-wide reforms, the benefits of broader accountability systems, and the need for support within school systems for disadvantaged students.

The Math Revolution, The Atlantic

Despite lagging national test score averages in math, the number of American teens who can do world-class math has been growing over the last decade. This phenomenon has been largely driven by changing pedagogies and growing extracurricular opportunities for students with an appetite for advanced math. New programs and new competitions have sprung up, creating elite mathletes out of gifted students who would have previously only had access to the standard high school math curriculum.

About the Author

Sophie Papavizas is the Advocacy Coordinator at NASSP.

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