It seems to me that being a modern-day teacher is more challenging than ever before. On average, 15% of students nationwide receive IDEA services for individualized education plans (NCES, 2023). In addition, national movements to improve outcomes for struggling learners (eg. multi-tiered systems of support) have vastly shifted the roles and responsibilities of the traditional […]
Delays continue in FAFSA processing as White House announces March release of applicant information
The White House and the U.S. Department of Education jointly declared today that institutions should not expect to receive Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) applicant information until “the first half of March.”
Biden-Harris Administration announces $4.9 billion in additional student loan debt relief
In a move to alleviate the financial burden on borrowers, the Biden-Harris Administration has announced the approval of an additional $4.9 billion in student loan debt relief for 73,600 individuals. This latest announcement brings the total loan forgiveness approved by the Biden-Harris Administration to an impressive $136.6 billion, benefitting over 3.7 million Americans grappling with […]
Six Ways to Retain Teacher Autonomy
In the last post, we examined the role of rhetoric in our modern classrooms, and we discussed how to both detect it and filter it into categories that you can live with or live without. Once you become more adept at detecting rhetoric and categorizing it, you may be concerned about how it affects your […]
And Now They Are Seniors: The Covid Class of 2024
“Ms Lamons, do you remember meeting me online? Honestly, that whole year is a bit of a blur.” It just hit me. I met my incoming seniors for the 2023-2024 school year for the first time online. I met them behind the infamous Black Square Boxes. I engaged with them for an entire school year […]
Florida State Board of Education implements stricter regulations on DEI programs and educational content
The day after celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday, the State Board of Education in Florida introduced regulations restricting public funds for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs, activities, and policies within the Florida College System (FCS). The new rule, adopted by the Board, prohibits institutions within the FCS from utilizing state or federal funds […]
Teaching 102: How to detect and categorize educational rhetoric
In this series of posts, veteran teacher, guide teacher and induction mentor Thomas Courtney bridges the other gap that we don’t talk enough about. That gap, the difference between what we are trained to do in our credential program, what we are asked to do by our employer, what the families and students we serve […]
New York Governor Hochul Unveils ‘Back to Basics’ Plan to Enhance Reading Proficiency
Governor Kathy Hochul has unveiled a comprehensive initiative, the ‘Back to Basics’ plan, to boost reading proficiency in New York and address the critical need for foundational skills in students. This proposal, a component of her 2024 State of the State address, focuses on transitioning the state’s education system to evidence-based best practices. In an […]