National Principals Month Is Just Two Weeks Away!
Two weeks from today marks the beginning of 2017’s National Principals Month. October is a time for organizations, teachers, students, parents, legislators, and the community to celebrate the great work of principals across the country. NASSP, the National Association of Elementary School Principals, and the American Federation of School Administrators have a number of activities planned, including congressional resolutions recognizing the celebration; principal shadowing visits; a video contest that gives students the opportunity to thank principals for all of their hard work; and much more.
Participate and make sure you #ThankAPrincipal. For more information, visit principalsmonth.org.
Inside the Beltway
What’s Happening in Washington?
Several bills were introduced this past week that NASSP supports. These bills include the Middle STEP Act, the Childcare for Working Families Act, and a resolution recognizing October 2017 as National Principals Month.
Why Should Principals Care?
Each of the bills listed below plays a unique role in supporting principals and the education of their students:
- 1814, the Middle STEP Act: Introduced by Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), this bill would establish a pilot program that allows middle schools to partner with colleges, other postsecondary institutions, and local businesses to develop and implement CTE exploration programs that give students access to apprenticeships or project-based learning opportunities, which are traditionally not available to students until high school or higher education.
- 1806, the Childcare for Working Families Act: This bill is a comprehensive early learning and child care plan that would significantly increase the number of children and families receiving child care assistance, improve access to high-quality preschool, and make many other needed improvements to our early learning and care system to serve more low- and moderate-income families, thus helping ensure all students have access to education.
- Res. 517, Expressing support for designation of October 2017 as “National Principals Month”: This bill would formally recognize October as National Principals Month. A resolution should be introduced in the Senate to recognize the month as well. More information will be provided on that bill in future Advocacy Updates.
NASSP asks all of its members to urge their representatives to support these bills either through co-sponsoring them or voting in favor of them in the future.
In the Press
Resources for School Leaders to Promote Personalized Learning, Council of Chief State School Officers
Countless educators have pointed out the benefits of personalized schools and learning environments for students. The Council of Chief State Schools Officers and Jobs for the Future have recently introduced a new resource to help leaders in promoting student learning. This resource focuses on four specific areas that help prepare students for life beyond secondary school. This includes personalized learning; competency-based education; anytime and anywhere learning opportunities; and student ownership.