{"id":13232,"date":"2020-08-25T06:11:09","date_gmt":"2020-08-25T10:11:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aurora-institute.org\/?p=13232"},"modified":"2022-11-07T13:05:39","modified_gmt":"2022-11-07T18:05:39","slug":"education-policy-issues-for-the-covid-19-era","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aurora-institute.org\/blog\/education-policy-issues-for-the-covid-19-era\/","title":{"rendered":"Education Policy Issues for the COVID-19 Era"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"The Aurora Institute Center for Policy today released <\/span>Education Policy Issues for the COVID-19 Era: Policy Actions and Responses to Leverage the Moment for Future Readiness<\/span><\/i><\/a>\u2014a just-in-time report offering strategic guidance to policymakers who seek to emerge from the pandemic with a stronger, more capable, and more equitable K-12 education system.<\/span><\/p>\n

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the largest disruption of education ever. K-12 education system leaders at the state and local level are seeking strategic guidance to advance lasting change to improve teaching and learning for all students. The issues that policymakers are examining include:<\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. Using Blended, Competency-Based Learning as an Entry Point for Innovation<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Moving Away from Seat Time Credits to Awarding Credit Based on Demonstrated Mastery<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Re-Examining Grading Policies\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Rethinking Assessment and Addressing the Need for Balanced Systems of Assessments to Measure Student Learning<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Examining the Purpose of Accountability<\/span><\/li>\n
  6. Creating Flexibility and Multiple Pathways for Graduation Requirements<\/span><\/li>\n
  7. Ensuring All Communities Have the Necessary Technology Infrastructure and Internet Access<\/span><\/li>\n
  8. Supporting Students with Disabilities<\/span><\/li>\n
  9. Ensuring Students Have Continued Access to Meals during School Closures<\/span><\/li>\n
  10. Prioritizing Future Readiness for Pandemic Preparedness and Continuity of Learning<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Education Policy Issues for the COVID-19 Era<\/span><\/i> offers analysis of each of these issues and highlights strategic guidance policymakers can leverage now to realize our shared vision for a K-12 system that is <\/span>fit for purpose<\/span><\/a>. As school leaders reopen schools this fall\u2014in person and virtually\u2014leaders from school systems, government bodies, and the community have a variety of entry points and accelerators to shift the way school works. The guidance submits that systematic shifts that school leaders and learners have been yearning for include flexible pathways with more integrated learning experiences that happen anytime and anywhere, allows students to advance when they are ready to demonstrate mastery, and by design, ensures success is the only option, which dismantles inequitable structures embedded in K-12 as it exists today.<\/span><\/p>\n

    The guidance, therefore, offers a menu of strategic recommendations, from conducting continuity of learning readiness assessments to building capacity for competency-based learning through:<\/span><\/p>\n