Resources to Combat Classroom Censorship

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The Right to Learn Coalition (R2L) has created a resource hub to help teachers, librarians, and school leaders combat classroom censorship. Educators will find a curated collection of materials and issue-specific resource lists developed by educators for educators. Topics include anti-racism and anti-bias, book challenges, classroom censorship, gender and identity, and history and civics. The hub also includes links to resources from various states and links to timely blogs, news updates, podcasts, webinars, and more. R2L, which is facilitated by the Educators Institute for Human Rights, is made up of education leaders and advocates from more than a dozen major organizations. Learn more at eihr.org/educator-resources.

Restorative Practices Bring Positive Results

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A report from the Learning Policy Institute (LPI) looks at the impact restorative practices are having in schools. Restorative practices aim to improve school climate and student outcomes while reducing exclusion. The report, based on a study examining restorative practices in 485 California middle schools, found that:

• Exposure to restorative practices improves students’ academic achievement and reduces suspension rates and disparities.

• Schools that increased use of restorative practices saw a decrease in schoolwide misbehavior, substance abuse, and student mental health challenges, as well as improved school climate and student achievement.

• Students of all racial and ethnic backgrounds benefited from exposure to restorative practices, with Black and Latino students benefiting the most.

Read the full report at bit.ly/44XO1Hy.

NASSP President-Elect Reflects on Lessons Learned Abroad

NASSP President-Elect Raquel Martinez, left, with National Principal of the Year Donna Hayward in Daegu, South Korea.
PHOTO COURTESY OF RAQUEL MARTINEZ

NASSP President- Elect Raquel Martinez reflects on the powerful lessons she learned during a summer trip to South Korea, where she and Donna Hayward, NASSP’s 2023 Principal of the Year, met school leaders from Australia, Taiwan, Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia, as well as the host country.

“The exchange of ideas, best practices, and challenges provided invaluable insights into how various education systems operate,” says Martinez, who is the planning principal for Comprehensive High School #3, which will open in fall 2025 in Pasco, WA. “One of the most inspiring aspects of my trip was hearing from principals about their shared passion and belief that all students could achieve. Such a belief is indeed universal, and participants were excited to leave the conference with an action plan for how they would increase student knowledge, strengthen global education, and foster collaboration within their schools.” Read more at bit.ly/452Rp3X.

Become an NASSP Ambassador

From left: Penny Vess, Jennifer Castillo, Keith Wood, EdD, Meta Viers (NASSP), Sharon U. Slater, PhD, and Jay Apostol, EdD, meet during Ignite 2023.
PHOTO COURTESY OF NASSP

Elevate your leadership and use your voice to help other school and student leaders in 2024 by applying to the NASSP Ambassador Program. If you are a member of NASSP, National Honor Society, National Junior Honor Society, National Elementary Honor Society, or National Student Council, you can play a pivotal role in shaping the programs and projects designed to impact individuals just like you. Ambassadors meet in their groups online each month to work on projects that require their expertise and perspective. Meetings run from February through July, and participants receive a $500 stipend and a digital certificate for their time and effort. Don’t miss this chance to make a meaningful impact. Applications for each ambassador group open in early January. To apply, visit nassp.org/ambassadors.