Instruction & Curriculum

According to an internal email confirmed by The Educator’s Room, staff at the U.S. Department of Education were instructed to vacate their offices by 6 p.m. Tuesday. All department locations in Washington, D.C., and regional offices were ordered closed on Wednesday. The message, sent by James Hairfield of the Office of Security, Facilities, and Logistics, […]

As a retired elementary educator, I’ve seen firsthand how foundational reading skills shape the trajectory of a child’s academic success and overall confidence. I had the privilege of working with a former student we will call Ethan. Ethan was a bright and curious child who struggled deeply in reading. He stumbled over very simple words, […]

A coalition of educators and sociologists has filed a federal lawsuit challenging the U.S. Department of Education’s recent policy that threatens to withhold federal funding from schools and universities that do not comply with new guidelines by February 28. The lawsuit, brought by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), AFT-Maryland, and the American Sociological Association, […]

The U.S. House of Representatives passed a budget resolution on Tuesday evening that could significantly impact Medicaid-funded school services. The resolution narrowly passed with a 217-215 vote, with only one Republican, Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, joining all House Democrats in opposition. The Republican-led proposal includes $880 billion in cuts to Medicaid and $230 billion […]

In Part 1, we took a look at the staff on our campuses that do not have a teaching credential. In Part 2, we’ll introduce you to the various folks outside our school classrooms that support us with pegagogy and practice.  As with classified or non-credentialed staff, it’s important to understand the expertise these folks […]

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has launched a directed investigation into the Maine Department of Education (MDOE) following allegations that the state continues to allow transgender athletes to compete in girls’ sports and denies female athletes access to female-only facilities. The investigation extends to Maine School Administrative District #51 (MSAD […]

On Monday, the U.S. Department of Education announced the termination of more than $600 million in grants previously awarded to institutions and nonprofit organizations for teacher training programs. The catastrophic decision affects funding that supported initiatives to prepare future educators and education agencies with professional development and training on various educational frameworks and teaching strategies […]

Schools rely on a multitude of people to fully function for each child. The same child who needs a bandage today needs a counselor tomorrow, requires a reading specialist next week, and could benefit from a table adjustment that requires a custodian the day after. Often teachers feel as though we wear multiple hats in […]