Multilingual learners (MLs) are widely known as English learners (ELs); yet school leaders and policymakers are beginning to use this more inclusive term for students whose first language is not English. As one of the fastest-growing student populations with specialized instructional needs, this group has historically lagged behind their peers to meet academic standards. The […]
Legal Matters: February 2023
diversity equity and inclusionELLsimmigrant familiesstudent supports
School Leaders of Color Network
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School Leaders of Color Network
Legal Matters: January 2023
The relationship between religion and public education is complex. A critical source of legal authority related to religion and public education is the First Amendment, which states that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…” These two clauses, referred to as the Establishment Clause and the […]
religious freedomseparation of church and statesupreme court
Legal Matters: December 2022
Title IX proved to be a watershed. Within two years, the number of high school girls playing sports soared from fewer than 300,000 to [3.5] million. … The increases in girls and women playing sports has an impact beyond athletics. Studies show that women who play sports are healthier, get better grades, and have higher […]
EquityTitle IXunified sports
A Safe and Affirming Place
For seven years, I was the associate principal of Ashland Middle School (AMS) in Ashland, OR. With a population of 25,000, Ashland is a city in the southwest corner of the state, just over the border from California. Home to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and Southern Oregon University, Ashland has a small-town feel and a […]
LGBTQ studentsschool climateStudent support
Legal Matters: November 2022
In recent years, LGBTQ+ inclusion in public schools has been the subject of litigation, with many decisions in favor of LGBTQ+ students (e.g., Whitaker v. Kenosha Unified Sch. District No. 1, 2017; Grimm v. Gloucester County School Board, 2020). More recently, however, we’ve seen efforts to oppose LGBTQ+ inclusion through legislation at the state level, […]
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Syllabus: October 2022
“Principal Matters: The School Leader’s Podcast with William D. Parker” “Principal Matters: The School Leader’s Podcast With William D. Parker” is a proverbial cornucopia of leadership insights focused primarily on education and the principalship. With more than 300 episodes to date, this podcast features interviews and discussions with a variety of education leaders. Many of […]
empowermentLeadershipStrategic Management
Legal Matters: October 2022
In the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade (1973), you may be curious about the Court’s new members. How will the introduction of four new justices in the past five years influence long-standing precedent? The Court’s two recent 6–3 church-state decisions (Kennedy v. Bremerton Sch. Dist. and Carson v. Makin) have […]
raceschool lawsupreme court
Legal Matters: September 2022
In recent years, school districts have engaged in unprecedented shifts to promote equity, diversity, and inclusion—particularly racial equity. At the same time, opposition efforts have gained momentum in school districts and state legislatures around the country. Such efforts have largely centered on the allegation that students learn about critical race theory (CRT) in public schools. […]
critical race theoryracial equitysupreme court
Feature Facts: September 2022
Employee Assistance Programs Many school districts have an employee assistance program (EAP) that offers free, confidential help to employees and their families to deal with a range of issues, including: Mental and emotional well-being Stress Family issues Substance abuse Given the need to support the mental health of students and school staff, school leaders can […]