Kindergarten isn’t just about crayons and nap time anymore – it’s serious academics. And whether a student succeeds in kindergarten can have an impact into elementary school and beyond. But nearly a third of the estimated four million children who will start kindergarten this school year haven’t been in a classroom before. Many will be behind from day one. In Portland, Ore., they’re running a summer program to help such students keep up with their peers. Located at a dozen of Portland’s high-poverty schools, the program offers students and their parents three weeks of “practice” kindergarten. The idea is to get them comfortable in school and ready to hit the ground running on the first day of classes.
School & District Management
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Overdoses at School: One School District’s Response to the Fentanyl Crisis
A surge in fentanyl overdoses is affecting students. LAUSD’s Alberto Carvalho offers advice for educators on the frontlines.
Families & the Community
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How Students Are Using Advocacy to Overcome Their Anxiety About Climate Change
For some students, climate change advocacy can help alleviate stress about the impacts of a warming planet. Schools can support that work.
Student Well-Being
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Do Students Need Mental Health Supports? Or Are We Just Coddling Them?
Two professionals who work with students describe what the pandemic revealed about the kinds of supports that young people need.
School & District Management
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Schools Have a Vital Role to Play in Helping Solve the Climate Crisis
K-12 schools have a big role to play in helping solve the climate crisis. But with time and resources in short supply, the question is how.
