The Big Picture:

As we enter the new year, Congressional leadership has a very full plate of legislative items – many of them carryovers from last year – that it must get done in a year that will be shorter because of this Fall’s mid-term elections.

The articles that were most popular with readers of The Learning Professional in 2021 focused on topics of ongoing importance but acute need: educators’ well-being and social and emotional (SEL) skills, racial equity, and curriculum support. An urgent need for transformation is a thread that runs through these and many other recent articles. The year’s…

I’m hearing from coaches everywhere that they are feeling especially stressed and overwhelmed right now. It’s not because of their coaching roles per se, but because of the “other duties as assigned” that are included in many coaches’ job descriptions. If you are overloaded and questioning how much longer you can continue like this, you…

The Big Picture Pivotal pieces of President Biden’s legislative agenda have recently seen movement within Congress, however annual funding bills and other key budgetary and program renewals remain stuck in Congressional gridlock. Here is a review of where the key items stand: Infrastructure: On November 15, President Biden signed the $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Funding…

Do you feel this school year is even harder than last? If so, you’re not alone. I’m hearing this from educators all over, and it’s been my own experience, too. We continue to face difficulties that we hoped to leave behind in June, plus a host of new ones that are often complex and heated….

When I heard about this year’s Learning Forward Annual Conference theme – transformation – I was inspired to plan a deep-dive preconference session on transforming schools for a population of students near and dear to my heart: multilingual learners (also known as English Language Learners or English Learners). With school populations growing more diverse, and…

In early November, Congress finally notched a major policy win, with the House passing the $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Fund (BIF) bill on a bipartisan vote. The bill includes no direct funding for education but will help improve the nation’s roads, bridges, drinking water, and broadband access, all of which are critical to schools. BIF,…

Powerful school leadership is critical for schools to be successful. Effective principals ensure that great teaching and learning is in place for all students – a complex undertaking with many moving parts. To help principals succeed in that role, three years ago I formed a Principal Study Council that provides an opportunity for principals to…

The Learning Forward Annual Conference has always been one of my favorites, and the closer it gets each year, the more anxious I get about making the most of the learning experience. In particular, I worry about forgetting to pack something important. Even with a virtual conference, I still feel some preparation anxiety, and you…

Transformation is the theme of this year’s Learning Forward Annual Conference, and it’s a fitting one. The last eighteen months have brought about so many changes in schools that flexibility and adaptation are key. In this environment, professional growth is essential, but time and resources are limited. That means we need to make the absolute…