This Week During National Principals Month
National Principals Month (NPM) is almost over, but we still have some informative events to help you wrap up the month!
October 30 webinar: Collaborative Leadership: 6 Influences That Matter Most
- As a teacher leader, instructional coach, or a building and district leader, we understand the need to focus on students as well as adult learning and impact. This webinar focuses on how leaders can use six of John Hattie’s high effect influences on learning to foster growth in teachers and put the focus on learning for students. Attendees will learn high effect size influences to use with students in their classroom or school; understand the importance of, and research behind, collaboration as a school leader; learn how and when to use tools such as the flipped model to build collaboration; and walk out with practical actions to use in classrooms.
October 31 webinar: School Leadership Counts: What Factors Make Leaders Effective
- Join us for the virtual discussion of School Leadership Counts, a new report from New Teacher Center and the Consortium for Policy Research in Education at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education that identifies the specific instructional leadership and teacher leadership variables that correlate to student achievement.
Don’t forget to go back and look at some of the materials you may have missed during the month, including a recording of the NPM Capitol Hill event here.
Inside the Beltway
What’s Happening in Washington?
On Thursday, October 26, the House of Representatives passed a Senate budget bill 216-212. Although this bill has passed both chambers, the bill will not actually be enacted as a federal budget. Congressional leadership pushed for the passage of the bill to set forth reconciliation rules for tax reform.
Why Should Principals Care?
Reconciliation is a tactic that can be used in the Senate to pass a bill with a simple majority rather than by reaching the typical 60-vote threshold. Republican leadership is planning on using this reconciliation vote to help pass tax reform, as now they will not require any Democrat support to get the bill through the Senate. Many education organizations have voiced concern over this proposed tax plan due to its elimination of the state and local tax deduction (SALT). SALT offers potential tax breaks for individuals that pay for state and local taxes on real estate property, income, personal property, and sales, thus offering incentives for individuals to engage in activities that benefit education. Stay tuned to future Advocacy Updates for more information as this situation develops.
In the Press
Principals Need Support as Instructional Leaders to Help Students Grow, New America
Principals have so many tasks that they’re required to take care of throughout the day that they can quickly become overburdened. This article examines how principals should be supported to try out new staffing models to help manage these daily tasks with their staff.
Examining State ESSA Plans, Alliance for Excellent Education
Curious to see how your state’s ESSA plan stacks up to others? The Alliance for Excellent Education has released a new dashboard that uses a rating system to evaluate plans on their core indicators, including long-term goals, accountability provisions, and school rating systems.