How to Create School Conditions Where Talent Thrives
Three themes from education theory and research can help address the challenges we’ve heard teachers describe: positive school culture and climate; teacher collective efficacy; and culturally responsive school leadership.
View post »Competency-Based Education Bill Heard in the Senate
On February 27, the Senate’s E-12 Finance and Policy Committee had a hearing on Senate File 485, a bill that would legitimize and create the opportunity for competency-based education in Minnesota. Alongside Education Evolving, two national organizations—KnowledgeWorks and iNACOL—and the Minnesota Association of School Administrators testified in support of the bill. We describe the need for SF485, and what’s in the bill.
View post »Why Teachers Leave: What the Data Say
Addressing the problem of teacher turnover requires looking deeply at its root causes. This post explores the data available on why teachers leave the profession.
View post »Teacher Turnover: An Overview of the Problem and Why It Matters
A summary of available data on the problem of teacher turnover, and a review of evidence on the negative impacts of this turnover.
View post »Minnesota’s Teacher Standards Are Up for Revision: Our Initial Recommendations
PELSB has opened rulemaking on the Standards of Effective Practice for the first time since 1999. Read here to find out Education Evolving’s preliminary recommendations for how the SEP can be improved and our ongoing engagement efforts to ensure that teacher voice is represented throughout the rulemaking process.
View post »Retaining Teachers: Fostering Conditions Where Talent Thrives
Introduction to our new blog series focused on the growing problem of teacher turnover, and highlighting the stories of schools, strategies, programs, and leaders that buck this trend.
View post »MN Senate Introduces Competency-Based Education Bill. Four Reasons Why It’s Needed.
Last week, the Minnesota Senate introduced a bill that would explicitly authorize schools and districts to do competency-based education. The bill’s purpose is to create space and opportunity for public schools to catalyze richer, more equitable, student-centered learning experiences. We break down the what and why of competency-based education—what it is and how it departs from conventional school models, and four reasons why it matters.
View post »Highlights from 2018 and What’s Ahead in 2019
As students and teachers return from break, and legislators convene for the session, we’d like to take time to reflect on the past 12 months. After a year of partnerships cultivated and important work done, we’re resolved to make 2019 another banner year. In this post we look at highlights from the last year, and how they set us up for the new one.
View post »Minnesota’s State Report Card Gets A Makeover. What’s New About It?
Last week, MDE joined several other states when it released its updated Report Card as required by the ESSA. Many of the new reporting requirements focus on increasing transparency and providing families, educators, and students information about the performance of schools. We describe the Report Card requirements under ESSA as well as the changes MDE made to it.
View post »At Third Teacher-Powered Conference, Flipping Education System is Possible
The first weekend of December, more than 320 educators and supporters convened in Boston for the third Teacher-Powered Schools National Conference. Designing for Success, the theme of the sold out 2018 gathering, was tailored to attendees interested in professionalizing teacher roles and moving school decisions and design toward those closest to the students—teachers.
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