June 25, 2020 | EdSource

Weeks of racial justice protests and the coronavirus pandemic have together drawn much-needed attention to the race-based disparities embedded in our institutions, from policing to health care. These disparities are also deeply rooted in our communities and schools.

August 20, 2020 | EdSource

Live online class time is most effective when it is built around small-group peer interactions and direct teacher-to-student feedback, according to a new research brief from Policy Analysis for California Education. The researchers also found that students need reserved time...

August 6, 2020 | Los Angeles Times

Many teachers, students and their families can agree on one thing after experiencing the unexpected hurricane that was distance learning this spring: It must improve—especially in the earliest grades, transitional kindergarten through second grade. Our youngest students, from ages 4...

August 3, 2020 | CalMatters

A week before some California districts start school, many parents remain in the dark about what online learning will look like as teachers unions and districts negotiate instruction plans — in some cases behind closed doors. Major points of contention...

July 29, 2020 | ABC10

For most California students in schools and colleges, the fall term will look like the middle of spring: online with little to no in-person instruction. But if students and parents accepted the rapid switch to online in March and April...

July 10, 2020 | Politifact

As thousands of school districts figure out how and to what degree they will reopen this fall, President Donald Trump railed against the recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The administration has tightly linked reopening schools to...

Supporting Student Learning Amid the Pandemic Requires Prioritizing Social-Emotional Care
Summary

The pandemic has shifted the role of educators, urging them to go beyond traditional boundaries, ensuring student well-being through new challenges in remote learning. Teachers have adapted to online tools, engaged with trauma-exposed students, and provided one-to-one tutoring and emotional support. Administrators have coordinated food distribution, coached teachers, communicated policy changes, checked student well-being, and supported families. Essential lessons learned emphasize prioritizing social-emotional care for students and staff. To address this, maintaining connections through weekly office hours, redesigning learning strategies, allowing flexible guidelines, and investing in professional learning and collaboration are crucial. The shift demands bold transformations in educational practices, requiring inclusive policy decisions that value educators' insights and experiences to serve communities equitably amidst the crisis.