Back to School

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

Reading List

Cheerful young ethnic, elementary school teacher gives a high five to a student before class.
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 25, 2025
View Reading List
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.
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August 17, 2023
Teenage girl sitting on floor at school
E+ / Getty
Student Well-Being & Movement 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 Stephens, 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
Illustration of woman dreaming of school classroom.
llustration by F. Sheehan/Education Week (Images: iStock / Getty Images Plus)
Teaching Opinion Carol Ann Tomlinson: My Dream for This Extraordinary School Year
The veteran educator and leading voice for differentiated instruction offers five hopeful scenarios for classrooms this fall.
Carol Ann Tomlinson, August 26, 2022
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4 min read
Guy E. Rowe Elementary School teacher Lisa Cooper paints shelves in her kindergarten class at the Norway, Maine, school on Aug. 17, 2022. She and many other teachers and administrators are spending countless hours volunteering their time and using their own money to buy supplies and materials for their students and classrooms.
Guy E. Rowe Elementary School teacher Lisa Cooper paints shelves in her kindergarten class at the Norway, Maine, school on Aug. 17.
Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal via AP
School & District Management How to Re-Energize Teachers and Students This School Year
Educators shared suggestions on how schools can help students and teachers feel safe and connected.
Lauraine Langreo, August 19, 2022
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5 min read
Teaching The Best Advice for New Teachers, in 5 Words or Less: 2022 Edition
Educators share on social media what they want new teachers to know before starting the 2022-23 school year.
Marina Whiteleather, August 18, 2022
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1 min read
Thu., August 18, 2022, 2:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. ET
School & District Management K-12 Essentials Forum Get a Strong Start to the New School Year
Get insights and actions from Education Week journalists and expert guests on how to start the new school year on strong footing.
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August 18, 2022
Young students running to the school building for classes.
E+/Getty
Teaching The Back-to-School Traditions Teachers Swear By
Inspirational films, day-one activities, time capsules, and oodles of coffee are among the ideas educators shared with us.
Hayley Hardison, August 12, 2022
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1 min read
Thu., July 07, 2022, 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. ET
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Student Well-Being & Movement Webinar Start Strong With Solid SEL Implementation: Success Strategies for the New School Year
Join Satchel Pulse to learn why implementing a solid SEL program at the beginning of the year will deliver maximum impact to your students.
Content provided by Satchel Pulse
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Photo illustration of colorful school supplies
Vanessa Solis/Education Week and iStock/Getty Images
Teaching Opinion Schools Just Let Out, But What Are the Best Ways to Begin the Coming Year?
The No. 1 piece of advice from teachers: Get to know your students.
Larry Ferlazzo, June 24, 2022
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2 min read
Wed., October 20, 2021, 4:00 p.m. - 4:57 p.m. ET
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
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School & District Management Webinar Accelerate Learning with Project-Based Learning
Earlier this year, the George Lucas Educational Foundation released four new studies highlighting how project-based learning (PBL) helps accelerate student learning—across age groups, multiple disciplines, and different socio-economic statuses. With this year’s emphasis on unfinished
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