Back to School

Education news, analysis, and opinion about the start of the school year

Reading List

Image of a student reading in the library.
EdWeek's Back-to-School Reading List
Explore some of our most popular and powerful stories, selected by our editors as back-to-school must reads. Update date: July 19, 2024
View Reading List
Student in a school hall opening their locker.
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School Climate & Safety Q&A How Peer Mentors Can Ease the Transitions to Middle and High School
Advice on how to build peer mentor program.
Elizabeth Heubeck, September 4, 2024
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6 min read
Close up of a man's hands with shopping cart counting money in a store.
iStock/Getty
Teaching Profession Educators Prepare Early, Spend Their Own Money for New School Year
As back-to-school looms, educators often spend unpaid time and personal funds to prepare for the year ahead.
Annie Goldman, August 8, 2024
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5 min read
Photo of principal greeting student at school bus.
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Student Well-Being What Principals Can Do to Make Sure Students Feel Welcome at School
Student anxiety and absenteeism are top of mind for principals as schools reopen.
Olina Banerji, August 5, 2024
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7 min read
A teacher gives a lesson on the first day of school at a cadet lyceum in Kyiv, Ukraine on Sept. 4, 2023.
Young cadets sing the national anthem during a ceremony on the first day of school at a cadet lyceum in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Sept. 4, 2023.
Efrem Lukatsky/AP
Federal Photos PHOTOS: Take a Round-the-World Tour of the Return to School
Here's what back to school looks like in classrooms around the globe.
Jaclyn Borowski, September 15, 2023
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1 min read
Illustration of an optimistic looking principal smiling outside of a school with plus signs floating above the students.
Vanessa Solis/Education Week via Canva
School & District Management Opinion How Principals Can Start School With a Smile
Here are five ways to stay positive and focus on morale this year.
S. Kambar Khoshaba, August 29, 2023
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4 min read
opinion classroom q&a teaching
F. Sheehan for EdWeek / Getty
Teaching Opinion Teachers, Don't Take Your Work Home and Other Reminders
Some teaching strategies are tried-and-true, but fresh ideas may add more zest to your classroom and your regimen.
Larry Ferlazzo, August 25, 2023
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2 min read
Illustration of carrot attached to stick.
F. Sheehan for Education Week / Getty
Teaching Opinion How to Win Students’ Attention This School Year—and Then Keep Them Motivated
Teachers, principals, and researchers share their best advice, tips, and guiding principles for student engagement.
Mary Hendrie, August 21, 2023
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4 min read
African American elementary teacher blowing nose of young culturally diverse elementary school boy during a class in the classroom.
skynesher/E+
Student Well-Being A New School Year, a New COVID-19 Variant. What Are Schools to Do?
School is starting, a new COVID-19 variant is circulating, and cases are rising. Here's advice for schools.
Arianna Prothero, August 18, 2023
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4 min read
Thu., August 17, 2023, 2:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. ET
School & District Management K-12 Essentials Forum Start the School Year Strong: How K-12 Leaders Can Create Thriving Schools for Teachers and Staff
Join this free event to get inspired by creative and proven ways to motivate your team the entire school year.
Register
August 17, 2023
Teenage girl sitting on floor at school
E+ / Getty
Student Well-Being 5 Tips to Support Students’ Mental Health as the School Year Begins
At least one measure shows teen mental health has improved from earlier in the pandemic, but there's still a lot of work to be done.
Caitlynn Peetz, August 16, 2023
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6 min read
Images shows colorful speech bubbles that say "Q," "&," and "A."
iStock/Getty
Teaching Opinion Want to Start the Year off Right? Teachers Share Their Best Tips
A contract, a biographical poem, identity portraits—some of the many ways educators are engaging their students from Day 1.
Larry Ferlazzo, August 2, 2023
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12 min read
Images shows colorful speech bubbles that say "Q," "&," and "A."
iStock/Getty
Teaching Opinion Don't Waste Instructional Time at the Beginning of the Year
Use those first weeks to explicitly teach listening, speaking, and thinking skills that will help build relationships as well.
Larry Ferlazzo, July 31, 2023
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14 min read
Images shows colorful speech bubbles that say "Q," "&," and "A."
iStock/Getty
Teaching Opinion 3 Educators Offer Their Best Ideas for Starting the Year Off Right
The first two weeks of school can help set the tone for everything that will follow.
Larry Ferlazzo, July 25, 2023
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11 min read
Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona answers questions during an interview in his office in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, August 23, 2022.
U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona continues a tradition of on-site visits by the nation's top education official as the school year opens.
Alyssa Schukar for Education Week
Federal Cardona Back-to-School Tour to Focus on Teacher Pipeline, Academic Recovery
U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona will spend a week traveling to six states to highlight a range of K-12 priorities.
Libby Stanford, September 9, 2022
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2 min read
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