At UCLA Community School, student-centered learning means honoring identity and core needs
Acknowledging and celebrating our shared humanity matters just as much as attending to individual differences—especially in a global pandemic.
View post »New blog series to gather lessons from student-centered learning during Covid-19
Kickoff post announcing a new year-long series highlighting student-centered innovators in a pandemic—in particular the practices and success indicators they’ve used.
View post »Student reflections: If our schools are not equal then the future will not be
Middle schooler Jules Pow writes on their experience as a Black student in a predominantly white district.
View post »Student reflections on racial microaggressions
Cavyn R. shares their perspective as a Black child in a majority-white education system—and the impact microaggressions had on them as a student.
View post »Students must see themselves and their peers in what they learn. Even when it gets messy.
Minnesota is revising its Social Studies Standards, and the first draft has drawn criticism for its shift toward equity. We state here our view: the new standards must be inclusive of more lenses, narratives, and histories—and honest about both the achievements and atrocities that mark our nation’s story.
View post »With social studies standards under review, equity must hold priority
State social studies academic standards are under review. As part of the committee tasked with transforming what Minnesota students learn in social studies, policy director Danyika Leonard urges holding equity at the center, and in a memo outlines equity concerns with the first draft of revised standards and the process to create them.
View post »In isolating year, school mental health staff seek new ways to support student well-being
Distance learning is the norm for many Minnesota students. In this post we focus on the roles of school counselors, psychologists, and social workers in helping students and families navigate uncharted waters.
View post »Rethinking power in education at national gathering of teacher leaders
From October 19 to 29, more than 600 attendees participated in the first ever virtual conference on teacher-powered schools, 2020 Teacher-Powered Odyssey: Rethinking Power in Education. A recap of the event and its themes.
View post »Rethinking seat time when seats are empty: competency-based education and Covid-19
Less than a quarter of Minnesota schools are operating fully in-person, with most offering distance learning or a hybrid approach. Many students struggle with consistent access to the devices and internet they need. Inconsistent attendance in turn leads to lost learning, exacerbated inequities, and disengagement. Student-centered learning, and in particular competency-based education, provide a route to address issues of disengagement and learning loss head on.
View post »The state of education policy as Minnesota heads back to school
An update on education policy activity amidst an unprecedented time for education in Minnesota due to Covid-19 and a national conversation on racial justice.
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