OTHER STORIES

5 Ways Schools Can Reduce Chronic Absenteeism

K12Dive

Some Students End Up as 'Intervention Lifers.' This Simple Tactic Could Help

Chalkbeat

This Connecticut District's Reading Scores Are Exceeding Expectations

The74

Students Improve Fluency by Recording Themselves Reading Aloud

Edutopia

Trump Sidestepped Congress on $1 Billion in Ed. Spending Last Year

EdWeek

Report: Why Schools Need Tech

It's tempting to embrace one extreme or the other when evaluating the impact of tech on student wellbeing. One side is convinced technology will fuel innovation in education and help students develop valuable job skills. The other side argues that the drawbacks of technology use far outweigh any benefits. Schools are struggling to find the middle ground. Many are trying to limit the screen time students have in school but confronting a reality where most school assignments are done on devices and submitted through learning management systems. Other schools are trying to use AI to enhance learning while limiting its negative effects on student wellbeing. This report shows how schools struggle to find a balance. EdWeek

Attention Spans

In recent years, educators say it has been challenging to get students to pay attention. A growing body of research says that excessive screen time and fast, short-form content like TikTok videos are part of the problem. To cope with and remedy shorter attention spans, educators are employing new and old strategies including brain breaks; limiting screen time; cutting the time students spend on one activity; adding more engaging hands-on projects and meditation. Some teachers say it's helping, at least a little. Educators are noticing that as a result of tactics to improve attention spans, students aren't reaching for their phones during class time, and they actually get drawn into lessons. Hechinger

School Choice & Funding

The federal school choice tax credit allows Americans to redirect up to $1,700 of their income tax bill to nonprofits that provide stipends for private school tuition or other educational expenses. This is similar, in many ways, to a government-funded voucher. However, states have the option to participate or not. A key selling point for advocates: The money comes entirely from federal taxes. States don't have to put in any funding. Those against the tax credit worry that more students will leave public schools and put local school funding in jeopardy. Others worry the federal government will balance the cost of the tax credit (potentially billions of dollars of tax revenue) by cutting federal funding for public schools. Chalkbeat