September 30, 2020
Education Week, Vol. 40, Issue 07
Law & Courts
Education and the Supreme Court: What to Watch for in the New Term
Cases involving religious freedom vs. anti-discrimination as well as Obamacare already are on the docket, and disputes dealing with union rights and other issues are knocking at the door.
Student Well-Being & Movement
Briefly Stated
Briefly Stated: Stories You May Have Missed
A collection of articles you may have missed from the previous week.
School & District Management
What the Research Says
How Should School Leaders Think About Attendance to Maximize Learning While Minimizing the Risk of COVID-19 Outbreaks?
New research suggests that setting up systems that allow schools of different sizes and grade levels to quickly adapt to changing community infection rates can be vital for not only preventing outbreaks, but also keeping attendance more consistent for students.
Science
Opinion
How to Make Science Class Relevant During the Pandemic
COVID-19 and climate change prove why science standards can't ignore real-world concerns, write Andrew Zucker and Pendred Noyce.
School Climate & Safety
Opinion
As Schools Recover After COVID-19, Look to New Orleans
Hurricane Katrina taught the city lessons that apply to education across the nation now, writes economist Douglas N. Harris.
Classroom Technology
Letter to the Editor
The Dangers of Technologizing School
To the Editor:
The article, "COVID-19 Fuels Big Enrollment Increases in Virtual Schools" (Sept. 3, 2020) raises red flags about virtual schools, but the larger trend of technologizing education is of equal concern.
The article, "COVID-19 Fuels Big Enrollment Increases in Virtual Schools" (Sept. 3, 2020) raises red flags about virtual schools, but the larger trend of technologizing education is of equal concern.
Federal
When There's a COVID-19 Vaccine, School Employees Could Be Among the First to Get It
Expect schools to play a big role in mass inoculations once a vaccine is ready, while school staff may be high on the priority list of recipients.
Teaching Profession
Elegy for the Educators
This poem pays tribute to the more than 400 teachers, principals, bus drivers, custodians, and other staff members we have lost to the pandemic so far.
Education
What Ruth Bader Ginsburg Meant to Education
In her 27 years on the court, Ginsburg was a stalwart vote for sex equity in schools, expansive desegregation remedies, strict separation of church and state, and against broader drug testing of students.
Equity & Diversity
Opinion
An Open Letter to a Parent Afraid of Anti-Racist Education
Black Lives Matter, climate change, family separation? All appropriate classroom topics, writes Christina Torres.
Student Well-Being & Movement
Fewer Kids, Less Money: How the Pandemic Puts Districts in a Bind
Enrollment snags, head-count problems, and more home schooling could end up costing districts millions in funding based on the annual tally of how many students actually show up.
Equity & Diversity
Explainer
Closing COVID-19 Equity Gaps in Schools
Education Week talked to dozens of educators and parents about how to infuse equity into learning plans. Here's what they said.
Classroom Technology
Why Students Still Can't Access Remote Learning: How Schools Can Help
Schools are turning to paper packets and other workarounds while laptop orders are delayed and many students still lack internet access at home.
Classroom Technology
Cyberattacks Disrupt Learning Even More During COVID-19
With so many students taking classes only from home, a cyberattack can have an outsized impact on schooling.
Teaching Profession
How COVID-19 Is Hurting Teacher Diversity
Layoffs that are based on seniority can disproportionately affect Black and brown teachers.