Advocacy

Education news, analysis, and opinion about efforts by individuals or groups to influence education or school policy
Teaching Profession Opinion Teachers Are Organizing. But What About Teachers' Unions?
As teacher take the lead in protests over pay, unions face an uncertain future, writes Berkeley sociologist Bruce Fuller.
Bruce Fuller, May 21, 2018
4 min read
BRIC ARCHIVE
Melody Newcomb
Families & the Community Opinion I'm a Veteran Teacher. Here's Why I'm Speaking Out
Many teachers have long tended to avoid activism, but that is changing, writes veteran educator Paula Reed.
Paula Reed, May 15, 2018
4 min read
Nikee Onken, center, a teacher from Douglas County, Colo., leads supporters during a teacher rally on April 26 in Denver.
Nikee Onken, center, a teacher from Douglas County, Colo., leads supporters during a teacher rally on April 26 in Denver.
David Zalubowski/AP
School & District Management Opinion No, Teacher Strikes Do Not Help Students
When teachers use their students as leverage, they damage their own professionalism, write William J. Bennett and Karen Nussle.
William J. Bennett & Karen Nussle, May 15, 2018
2 min read
Families & the Community Opinion Haven't We Done This Before?
Learning Forward is ready to fight for Title II funding for fiscal year 2019 -- with your help.
Learning Forward & Melinda George, May 10, 2018
3 min read
Education Advocacy Groups Keep Tabs on School Choice, Data Legislation
As state legislatures continue to wrap up business for the year, the Data Quality Campaign and EdChoice take a look at how data and school choice issues were faring among lawmakers.
Daarel Burnette II, May 8, 2018
1 min read
Thousands of Arizona teachers protest at the state capitol on April 26, the first day of a statewide teachers' strike in Phoenix.
Thousands of Arizona teachers protest at the state capitol on April 26, the first day of a statewide teachers' strike in Phoenix.
Ross D. Franklin/AP
Teaching Profession Opinion I'm an Arizona Teacher. This Is Why I'm Walking Out Today
Grossly underpaid teachers are taking drastic action to demand the respectable salaries they deserve, writes Donald R. Sheldon.
Donald R. Sheldon, April 25, 2018
3 min read
Frankie Baumer, a junior at Indiana Senior High School in Indiana, Pa., attends the “March For Our Lives” rally in downtown Pittsburgh.
Frankie Baumer, a junior at Indiana Senior High School in Indiana, Pa., attends the “March For Our Lives” rally in downtown Pittsburgh.
Gene J. Puskar/AP
School Climate & Safety Next Goal for Student Gun-Control Activists: Win at the Polls
After turning out massive crowds of protesters, those pushing for tighter gun restrictions in the wake of school shootings face the practical challenges of election-year turnout and polarized legislatures.
Andrew Ujifusa, March 26, 2018
7 min read
Crowds of people hold signs on Pennsylvania Avenue at the "March for Our Lives" rally on March 24 in Washington.
Crowds of people hold signs on Pennsylvania Avenue at the "March for Our Lives" rally on March 24 in Washington.
Alex Brandon/AP
School Climate & Safety Teacher Voices From the 'March for Our Lives' (Videos)
Education Week asked educators how their schools have been affected by gun violence and how they felt about calls to arm teachers.
Lisa Stark, March 26, 2018
1 min read
Demonstrators fill Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington during the "March for Our Lives" rally.
Demonstrators fill Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington during the "March for Our Lives" rally.
Alex Brandon/AP
School Climate & Safety 'March for Our Lives' Draws Massive Crowds Pushing for Tighter Gun Restrictions
Hundreds of thousands of students, parents, educators, and others demonstrated in Washington and nationwide to press for stricter gun laws.
Catherine Gewertz, March 24, 2018
11 min read
High school senior Brianna Remeika, 18, displays her protest sign following an assembly on school safety at Lewiston High School in Lewistown, Maine, on March 21. Students held a classroom walkout in response to last month's shooting in Parkland, Fla. Remeika is involved in the school's new Youth Action Club. Members plan to lobby legislators in Augusta, Maine, to support more gun control measures.
High school senior Brianna Remeika, 18, displays her protest sign following an assembly on school safety at Lewiston High School in Lewistown, Maine, on March 21. Students held a classroom walkout in response to last month's shooting in Parkland, Fla. Remeika is involved in the school's new Youth Action Club. Members plan to lobby legislators in Augusta, Maine, to support more gun control measures.
Daryn Slover/Sun Journal via AP
School Climate & Safety Will 'March for Our Lives' Win the Stricter Gun Laws Students Demand?
Students from the Florida school where 17 were killed last month ignited the movement fueling demonstrations this weekend in the nation’s capital and hundreds of sites nationwide.
Evie Blad, March 22, 2018
8 min read
BRIC ARCHIVE
Getty/Getty
School Climate & Safety Opinion Why We Didn't Allow the Students in Our District to Participate in the Walkout
Not all students in Bellefonte, Pa., honored the Parkland shooting victims by following district policy, explains their superintendent Michelle Saylor.
Michelle Saylor, March 21, 2018
4 min read
Emma Fitzsimmons, 14, of Somerville, Mass., cheers a speaker during a symposium with state legislators at the statehouse in Boston, the day of the national walkout.
Emma Fitzsimmons, 14, of Somerville, Mass., cheers a speaker during a symposium with state legislators at the statehouse in Boston, the day of the national walkout.
Michael Dwyer/AP
School Climate & Safety Student Activists and Celebrity Donors: Who's Behind the 'March for Our Lives'
A planned mass rally in the nation's capital and satellite events in other cities aim to keep activists' sights trained on gun violence and school safety.
Mark Walsh, March 20, 2018
5 min read
Students rally outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington on March 14 during the nationwide school walkout.
Students rally outside the U.S. Capitol in Washington on March 14 during the nationwide school walkout.
Andrew Harnik/AP
School & District Management In Response to Mass Student Walkouts, Conservatives Largely Stay Silent
By some estimates, 1 million students walked out of schools to honor the Parkland, Fla., victims and call for stricter gun laws, while Republican politicians all but ignored them.
Evie Blad & Francisco Vara-Orta, March 15, 2018
9 min read
Carrying crosses emblazoned with photos and names of the city's victims of gun violence, high school senior D'Angelo McDade, front right, leads a march in Chicago's North Lawndale neighborhood during a walkout to protest gun violence, on March 14.
Carrying crosses emblazoned with photos and names of the city's victims of gun violence, high school senior D'Angelo McDade, front right, leads a march in Chicago's North Lawndale neighborhood during a walkout to protest gun violence, on March 14.
Martha Irvine/AP
School & District Management Student Walkout Taps Well of Anger, Mourning Over Gun Violence
The thousands who left their schools nationwide to mark the Feb. 14 shootings in Parkland, Fla., rode a dramatic wave of youth activism tinged with sadness about those killed in their schools and communities.
Mark Walsh, March 14, 2018
6 min read