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.
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.
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.
Minnesota students will resume learning this fall—many once again in a distance learning model. We spoke with educators to ask them their key lessons learned from distance learning in the spring. The predominant theme that emerged: focus on relationships, which are more important than ever.
LAUSD recently announced students will be distance learning when school resumes next month. Distance learning in the district this past spring has been called ineffective, inconsistent, even a failure. But pockets of innovation sprouted during this time. Many schools responded in adaptive and inventive ways—LA Teacher-Powered schools being strong examples of resilience and innovation thanks to their collective leadership structures and cycles of reflection and improvement.
Minnesota’s 91st regular legislative session drew to a close on May 18 with COVID-19 response becoming the primary focus. Now with a special session convened June 12, lawmakers have a chance to address timely calls for police reform and hear education issues left on the table last month.
Last Thursday, legislators came together to pass a bill designed to address the growing Covid-19 pandemic. The governor signed the bill on Saturday. We look at what this means education policy and the remainder of the legislative session.
Competency-based education forms the foundation of schools like Northwest Passage High School and High School for Recording Arts. We spoke to both schools to learn how their models support students for whom traditional approaches have failed.
Minnesota reconvened its 91st legislative session on Tuesday, February 11. We lay out our policy priorities for the year—including competency-based education and reimagining teacher preparation—and highlight key education issues worth watching in 2020.
