Plugged In | 05.7.21 – New Education Policy Updates, Upcoming PBL Webinar and More

May 7, 2021

 

Aurora Institute - Plugged In
 

Center for Policy and Advocacy Updates
Center for Policy and Advocacy April 2021 Updates
The Aurora Institute Center for Policy and Advocacy has compiled a resource on the latest developments in federal and state education policy. The latest update includes a look at educational investments of the American Family Plan, President Biden’s proposed FY22 discretionary budget, and a new federal clearinghouse sharing best practices for school reopenings. Around the nation, the center is watching graduation requirements shift in Alabama and Massachusetts; assessment issues in California and Texas; and pandemic recovery in Illinois and Minnesota. The legislative updates include actions in 13 states on matters related to education innovation.
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Upcoming Events
Aurora frequently hosts webinars and convenings with the field’s leading experts to explore trends, tackle pressing problems of practice and policy, and share emerging knowledge from research. The following opportunities to learn and network are open for registration.
Deepening Project-Based Learning: Lessons from Powerful New Research and Practice

Deepening Project-Based Learning: Lessons from Powerful New Research and Practice

May 20, 2021 | 2 PM ET / 11 AM PT
As we seek to shift the U.S. system of education toward competency-based education, project-based learning (PBL) offers a powerful strategy for greater student engagement and more authentic learning inside and outside the classroom. But does it work? And what are its implications for change at the school and district levels?

Please join a presentation and discussion on Thursday, May 20, 2021, at 2 – 3 PM ET / 11 AM -12 PM PT to hear from Lucas Education Research, the Aurora Institute, school and district leaders, and educators at the forefront of future-focused learning about powerful new evidence of the impact of project-based learning across grades, subjects, and subgroups. Gain insights to advance project-based learning practices in your school, district, or other setting. Highlights will include:

New Evidence

Four newly released, peer-reviewed research papers show that rigorous project-based learning in U.S. public schools has a strong and positive impact on student outcomes across content areas, grade levels, and various subgroups of students.

Equity

Researchers conducted these studies in diverse districts with large percentages of traditionally underserved students, indicating that project-based learning can be a powerful lever for improving equity in U.S. schools.

Systems Change

Adoption of project-based learning challenges the present modes of teaching, curriculum, assessment, accountability, and more. What does the new evidence contribute to our understanding of how to set and support the conditions for competency-based education at the local, district, and state levels—especially as we look ahead to promoting better in-person learning experiences post-pandemic?

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Featured Resource

https://aurora-institute.org/event/lets-hear-it-from-the-next-generation/

Let’s Hear It from the Next Generation!

Virtual Panels with Mastery Collaborative Youth Advisors

The Mastery Collaborative’s annual youth panels took place online this year, and they kindly invited the public. Youth Advisors from MC Schools discussed topics such as their sense of belonging in school; living and learning during the pandemic; MC schools’ use of culturally responsive-sustaining education (CRSE) and mastery-based learning; and how race, racism, and anti-racism show up in school.

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Plugged In Headlines: News About Education Transformation


Innovative School Models

Colorado district’s CBE approach may offer solutions to address learning gaps
K-12 Dive

Systemic Change Means Rethinking College and Career Prep. We’ve Done It Before.
EdSurge

From Last Chance to First Choice: Alternative Schools That Show the Way Forward
Getting Smart

How the pandemic could personalize education
Axios

COVID-19

U.S. Department of Education Launches Best Practices Clearinghouse to Highlight Innovative Practices for Reopening Schools and Campuses
U.S. Department of Education

U.S. schools turn focus to mental health of students reeling from pandemic
Reuters

Local assessments an option if statewide tests aren’t viable during pandemic, California officials signal
EdSource

(IL) State officials release guide for schools on how to spend $7 billion pandemic relief funds
The Center Square

Education Policy

Biden Touts Ambitious Birth-to-College Education Plan as Way to ‘Compete with the Rest of the World’
The 74

Miguel Cardona’s First Budget Hearing Becomes Forum on In-Person Learning, 1619 Project
Education Week

Biden Taps Ex-Obama Aide Roberto Rodriguez for Key Education Department Job
Education Week

Broadband Connectivity

Here’s how you can apply to the FCC for the $50 discount on your broadband bill
USA Today

The digital divide has left millions of school kids behind
CNET

Rural Internet Access: How To Get Broadband Across America
WBUR

Educator Workforce

Teacher Appreciation Week: In a tough year, these educators stood out – and gave us hope
USA Today

Perspective | N.C.’s teacher learning system needs micro-credentials to move our teachers, students forward
EdNC

Educational Equity

COVID-19, the educational equity crisis, and the opportunity ahead
Brookings

The American Rescue Plan Is a Chance to Support Students with Disabilities. Here Are Some Investments Worth Considering
The 74

More Schools Reopen, But Students of Color Still Learning Remotely
US News

Tennessee legislature approves ban on teaching critical race theory in schools
Chalkbeat

Aurora Institute in the News


Educators Moving Away from Seat Time for Mastery-Based Education – via Tech & Learning

COVID-19 Reminds Me of 1994 Report, ‘Prisoners of Time’ – via Government Technology

Susan Patrick column: Rethinking what’s normal in meeting this moment in K-12 education – via Richmond Times-Dispatch

Join Our Community
Our Center for Policy leads the multi-stage evolution of policy necessary for the growth of effective student-centered learning models toward the goals of high-quality learning and equity. Our policy priorities are designed to ensure the nation’s education system is fit for purpose and help move states forward from their current state of education to future systems.
CompetencyWorks
CompetencyWorks is an online resource dedicated to K-12 competency-based education. Drawing on lessons learned by innovators, we share knowledge through a practice-focused blog, research reports on emerging issues, policy advocacy, and resources curated from across the field.
The Aurora Institute hosts a resource library containing more than 200 materials. Working collaboratively with diverse experts in the field, the Aurora Institute produces reports, books, policy briefs, blog posts, webinars, and related resources on key topics and tough issues that equip and empower educators and leaders to catalyze and scale personalized, next-generation learning models.
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Aurora Institute

The mission of Aurora Institute is to drive the transformation of education systems and accelerate the advancement of breakthrough policies and practices to ensure high-quality learning for all.

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