Back-to-school metrics | Training and coaching resources | Alternative high schools

A REL newsletter to share.

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Back-to-school metrics: How to assess teaching and learning conditions and to measure student progress during the COVID-19 pandemic With a new school year underway, educators can use these metrics to assess school and classroom conditions and measure student progress in remote or hybrid learning environments. Read more   New video highlights how a network of educators worked to improve graduation rates for high schoolers in alternative programs Learn how REL Midwest, the Minnesota Department of Education, and alternative high school teachers and leaders partnered to support students’ learning goals and improve graduation rates. View the video  Training and coaching resources to support evidence-based practice, the growth of educators and leaders, and student outcomes Check out our growing collection of training and coaching resources, featuring strategies and tools that support the use of research in areas such as educator effectiveness and teacher preparation. Read more   Study spotlight: Determining the effect of discipline reform plans on student suspensions and expulsions in Minnesota A new REL Midwest study is examining the results of discipline reform efforts at Minnesota districts and charter networks that had been identified as suspending and expelling Black and Native American students and students in special education at high rates. A report of the findings is slated for publication in fall 2021. Read more   New REL COVID-19 Resources Check out the Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) Program’s latest evidence-based resources to support teaching and learning during the pandemic. The REL COVID-19 page is updated regularly. REL Mid-Atlantic blog post: Going the Distance: Online Strategies for Helping Students with Disabilities REL Mid-Atlantic blog post: Three Steps for Using Culturally Responsive Practices to Support Equity During Remote Learning REL Pacific infographic: Best Practices for Creating Take-Home Packets to Support Distance Learning REL Southeast webinar recording: Supporting Children’s Reading at Home: Family Resources for Kindergarten through 3rd Grade Ask A REL Browse the responses to some recent questions submitted to our Ask A REL reference desk, and then submit a question of your own! What research is available on school funding efficiency and student achievement? What research is available on the impact of state-level school support teams on low-performing schools? What research is available on key factors associated with the improvement of low-performing schools after receiving state support? What research is available on the roles, functions, and impacts of external partners in the improvement of low-performing schools? Contact Us Please contact us for more information about any of the items in this newsletter or to speak to a member of our staff. We look forward to hearing from you. REL Midwest at American Institutes for Research 10 S. Riverside Plaza, Suite 600 Chicago, IL 60606                          This material was prepared under Contract ED-IES-17-C-0007 by Regional Educational Laboratory Midwest, administered by the American Institutes for Research. The content of the publication does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) or the U.S. Department of Education, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. government.   This e-mail was sent to: mkbarbour@gmail.com This e-mail was sent by: American Institutes for Research 1000 Thomas Jefferson Street NW, Washington, DC 20007-3835 USA We respect your right to privacy – view our policy

Returning To School During COVID-19 | Early Childhood E-Learning Tips | Early Literacy

The e-learning tips below may be of use to some readers.

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Resource roundup: Returning to school during COVID-19 School districts across the country have begun to reopen for in-person, remote, or blended learning. We rounded up resources from across the REL network to help administrators and teachers foster positive learning environments amid the uncertainties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. For more resources and events related to the pandemic, see the REL Program’s COVID-19 page. Read more   Meaningful online education for our youngest learners: Tips to reconcile the need for e-learning with how young children learn best As schools reopen, many educators will be incorporating e-learning and educational technology. Explore these tips to support young learners and ensure that e-learning is developmentally appropriate. Read more   Video: Interview with Tim Shanahan on integrating play into literacy instruction Reading expert and former teacher Tim Shanahan, Ph.D., describes research-based recommendations from the What Works Clearinghouse for teaching literacy to young students, with a focus on strategies that use a play-based approach. View the video  Study spotlight: Examining a professional development initiative to improve early literacy in the Chicago Public Schools REL Midwest is partnering with Chicago Public Schools to study the district’s new professional development initiative designed to improve literacy instruction in prekindergarten through grade 2. The district will use the findings to refine the initiative and determine whether to scale it up district-wide. Read more   Comprehensive Center resources for school and teacher leaders Education leaders, check out these blog posts from the Comprehensive Centers for guidance in planning for the return to school and for best practices for teacher leaders. National Comprehensive Center: Returning to School: A Toolkit for Principals Region 9 Comprehensive Center: 4 key insights about teacher leaders: Best practices from high‑growth districts Ask A REL Browse the responses to some recent questions submitted to our Ask A REL reference desk, and then submit a question of your own! What research is available on the role of school leadership in building a trusting and positive learning culture? What research is available on the role of school leadership in fostering teacher leadership? What research is available on the role of school leadership in leading through change effectively for continuous improvement? What research is available on the role of school leadership in developing an aligned system of curriculum, instruction and assessment? Contact Us Please contact us for more information about any of the items in this newsletter or to speak to a member of our staff. We look forward to hearing from you. REL Midwest at American Institutes for Research 10 S. Riverside Plaza, Suite 600 Chicago, IL 60606                          This material was prepared under Contract ED-IES-17-C-0007 by Regional Educational Laboratory Midwest, administered by the American Institutes for Research. The content of the publication does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) or the U.S. Department of Education, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. government.   This e-mail was sent to: mkbarbour@gmail.com This e-mail was sent by: American Institutes for Research 1000 Thomas Jefferson Street NW, Washington, DC 20007-3835 USA

Equity | Building And Retaining Diverse Teacher Workforces

Note the distance learning reference in the “Ask a REL” feature below.

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Resource roundup: Equity With the increased focus on racial injustice in our nation, many public schools are prioritizing a commitment to improving equity in the classroom and beyond. To support these efforts, we rounded up Regional Educational Laboratory (REL) resources that focus on equity as relates to opportunity gaps, teacher diversity, culturally responsive practice, social and emotional learning, and remote learning. Read more   Building a diverse teacher workforce through a robust inquiry, planning, and implementation process When teachers reflect students’ racial/ethnic and cultural background, the results can be powerful. Learn how REL Midwest is supporting Lansing School District in building a diverse teacher workforce. Read more   Using teacher exit surveys to improve teacher retention Teacher departures and turnover can pose serious challenges for schools and have a negative impact on student achievement, particularly for low-income students and students of color. A teacher exit survey can help districts and schools better understand why teachers leave and, thus, better target efforts to improve retention. Read more  New archived events If you missed these REL Midwest events, the archived materials are now available on our website: Documentary screening and facilitated panel discussion: Heartbeat of the Community: Preparing, Recruiting, and Retaining Teachers Remotely Webinar series: Supporting Students’ Social and Emotional Learning and The Role of Adult Social-Emotional Learning Featured REL resources to guide school reopenings Schools face numerous challenges and uncertainties as they plan for reopening in the fall. The featured blog posts below provide guidance to assist education leaders in their planning. For more resources and events to address the pandemic, see the REL Program’s COVID-19 page. REL Mid-Atlantic blog post: Reopening Schools While Mitigating COVID-19’s Spread: How Many Days Should Students Attend? REL Pacific blog post: Reflecting on Teacher Wellbeing During the COVID-19 Pandemic Ask A REL Browse the responses to some recent questions submitted to our Ask A REL reference desk, and then submit a question of your own! What research and resources are available on the impact of secondary trauma on public school educators? What research is available on best practices for improving student motivation and engagement in distance learning programs? What research is available on the effectiveness of bilingual education teaching methodologies? Contact Us Please contact us for more information about any of the items in this newsletter or to speak to a member of our staff. We look forward to hearing from you. REL Midwest at American Institutes for Research 10 S. Riverside Plaza, Suite 600 Chicago, IL 60606                          This material was prepared under Contract ED-IES-17-C-0007 by Regional Educational Laboratory Midwest, administered by the American Institutes for Research. The content of the publication does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) or the U.S. Department of Education, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. government.   This e-mail was sent to: mkbarbour@gmail.com This e-mail was sent by: American Institutes for Research 1000 Thomas Jefferson Street NW, Washington, DC 20007-3835 USA

Equitable Discipline | School Reopening | Early Childhood Literacy

A regional education laboratory newsletter from earlier in the week.

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A message from our director: REL Midwest’s equity work Current events have helped expose the systemic racism and injustice in our nation. In response, our director shares some of the ways REL Midwest is working with educators to promote equity across our region. She also highlights several of our equity resources, and we’ll be sharing more in coming months. Read more   Tips from a teacher: Supporting early childhood literacy skills in the time of COVID-19 In response to her brother’s plea for help, a prekindergarten teacher offers classroom-tested tips to help caregivers develop young children’s literacy skills at home. Her advice: Keep it simple! Read more       View all REL COVID-19 resources   All discipline is not equal: Reducing district disparities in suspensions and expulsions In Minnesota, REL Midwest is providing coaching to state agencies on how to use district discipline data to determine effective practices for reducing disparities, with a focus on suspensions and expulsions. Read more  Informed by district-level experience: Spotlight on Matt Linick REL Midwest researcher Matt Linick draws on his years of experience at the Cleveland Metropolitan School District to ensure that his work serves the unique needs of states and districts. Read more  Featured resources to guide planning for school reopening The COVID-19 pandemic has made back-to-school planning all the more complicated, as district and school leaders weigh multiple reopening scenarios. The featured resources below provide guidance to assist education leaders in their planning. Region 9 Comprehensive Center: 9 Questions for District and School Leaders to Consider in Getting Ready for the 2020–21 School Year REL Mid-Atlantic: Considerations for Reopening Pennsylvania Schools Ask A REL Browse the responses to some recent questions submitted to our Ask A REL reference desk, and then submit a question of your own! What research is available on early elementary reading interventions and remedial reading instruction? What research is available on the effectiveness of the following early childhood education curricula (grades K–3): Waldorf, Creative Curriculum, and HighScope? What research is available on district-level enrollment priority practices for equitable access to academic programming (for example, magnet schools)? What research is available on the relationship between effective school leadership practices and student outcomes, both academic and nonacademic? What research is available on the role of school leadership in providing meaningful and effective instructional feedback to teachers? What research is available on the role of school leadership in developing a shared mission, vision, and goals? Upcoming events July 9, 2020: Supporting Children’s Reading at Home – Family Resources for Kindergarten through 3rd Grade, REL Southeast Webinar (2:00–2:45 p.m. ET). This free webinar will introduce REL Southeast’s “Supporting Your Child’s Reading at Home” resources designed for families of students in kindergarten to grade 3. Register Contact Us Please contact us for more information about any of the items in this newsletter or to speak to a member of our staff. We look forward to hearing from you. REL Midwest at American Institutes for Research 10 S. Riverside Plaza, Suite 600 Chicago, IL 60606                          This material was prepared under Contract ED-IES-17-C-0007 by Regional Educational Laboratory Midwest, administered by the American Institutes for Research. The content of the publication does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) or the U.S. Department of Education, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. government.   This e-mail was sent to: mkbarbour@gmail.com This e-mail was sent by: American Institutes for Research 1000 Thomas Jefferson Street NW, Washington, DC 20007-3835 USA

Early Learning At Home | Competency-Based Education | District Literacy Needs

A series of newsletters form various policy centers, think tanks, and RELs.  The second…

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Three ways early childhood educators can support young children and their caregivers during the COVID-19 health crisis The latest installment in our REL Midwest remote learning blog series provides strategies and resources that educators can use to support early learners and their caregivers at home. Read more       View all REL COVID-19 resources   New video: Integrating play into early literacy instruction Our latest video shows how to use play-based learning to implement research-based literacy practices from the What Works Clearinghouse. The video focuses on preschool and kindergarten classrooms, but many of the practices are appropriate for use at home as well. A viewing guide is also available. Read more  Resource roundup: Competency-based education, online learning, and credit recovery Competency-based education, often used in online learning and credit recovery, enables students to learn and advance at their own pace. Browse these REL resources to learn more. Read more  Setting goals to stay on track: Using a continuous improvement process to strengthen credit recovery and high school graduation rates REL Midwest has teamed up with the Minnesota Department of Education and four alternative learning centers to improve competency-based credit recovery and high school graduation rates. Read more  Assessing district literacy needs: Coaching to turn data into action Find out how REL Midwest worked with the Ohio Department of Education to collect, analyze, and act on data about district reading plans. Read more  New training and coaching resources page REL Midwest provides training and coaching to build educators’ capacity to understand and use research in policy and practice. Now you can easily browse these resources on our Training and Coaching page. Read more  Ask A REL Have an education research question? The Ask A REL reference desk service provides free research citations and references in response to education questions submitted from the field. Submit a question  Upcoming events June 4, 2020: Using Assessments to Identify and Address COVID-19 Learning Gaps, REL Central Webinar (12:00–12:45 p.m. MT). Register June 11, 2020: Personalizing Instruction to Address COVID-19 Learning Gaps, REL Central Webinar (12:00–12:45 p.m. MT). Register Contact Us Please contact us for more information about any of the items in this newsletter or to speak to a member of our staff. We look forward to hearing from you. REL Midwest at American Institutes for Research 10 S. Riverside Plaza, Suite 600 Chicago, IL 60606                         This material was prepared under Contract ED-IES-17-C-0007 by Regional Educational Laboratory Midwest, administered by the American Institutes for Research. The content of the publication does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) or the U.S. Department of Education, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. government.   This e-mail was sent to: mkbarbour@gmail.com This e-mail was sent by: American Institutes for Research 1000 Thomas Jefferson Street NW, Washington, DC 20007-3835 USA We respect your right to privacy – view our policy