Educational Policy: EDTD 6471 - Fall - Eisenmann

Abstract: Special education policies can create structures of segregation and inequality. School leaders are often tasked with dismantling these structures while meeting expectations related to accountability policies. This case study involves a new principal at an urban school in a district with a long history of segregation reassigned to work at one of the more challenging schools in the district. The district had just begun making special education reforms across the district to increase the amount of access students with disabilities have in the general education classroom. The new principal was directed to raise student scores on state-mandated tests and to increase the inclusivity of the school. The case explores issues related to special education law, social justice leadership, response to intervention, school administration, and developing school culture.

Abstract: Disciplinary policies in schools throughout the United States disproportionately affect students of color through exclusionary policies. A punitive approach can have detrimental effects on a population that also experiences higher rates of trauma. This article identifies school disciplinary practices that may retraumatize and criminalize youths and suggests replacing exclusionary discipline practices with trauma-informed ones that prioritize social–emotional support to students. Critical race theory (CRT) is an appropriate theoretical framework to guide the development of trauma-informed schools. Suggestions are provided for school social workers as key change agents in the issue of school discipline. The integration of CRT and trauma-informed practice is emphasized, as both are essential tools for dismantling the school-to-prison pipeline.

Abstract: This paper aims to present three different models of integration in schools for immigrant pupils. These models are: the intercultural mediator, the intercultural school, and all-day schools. Two countries served as cases studies for the presentation of the aforementioned models: Greece and Italy. The intercultural mediator (IM) model is implemented widely in Italy as an educational provision for children who come from migrant families with language and cultural differences. The second educational model, called intercultural schools (IS) is implemented at 26 public schools in Greece. The third model, an all-day school, is implemented both in Greece and in Italy as an additional support measure to working migrant families. In this paper, the structure of the three educational models is presented first. From the research surrounding these models, conclusions, which focus on the feasibility of the implementation of these educational provisions, are drawn. Parameters are taken into consideration, such as the general educational frame of the two countries and their cost and acceptance from the school community.

Abstract:There is an emerging evidence base demonstrating the benefits of mindfulness for people of all ages in domains related to physical and mental health. Mindfulness practices essentially cultivate attention, including self-awareness and self-knowledge of thoughts, feelings, sensations, and how they affect one's actions. Such practices are a promising approach to helping educators and students develop self-awareness and self-regulation skills that are associated with success in school and through adulthood. Additionally, mindfulness skills are complementary to social and emotional learning (SEL), as self-awareness and self-management are among the five core skills of SEL identified by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning. This WestEd brief, developed for the California Department of Education, describes what administrators and teachers can do now to promote the benefits of mindfulness and stress management.

Abstract: Many reports on rural education give little attention to digital learning. At most, they tend to note either infrastructure needs or the potential of remote course access, with little focus on instruction, outcomes, or exemplars. This report intends to begin correcting that imbalance by connecting the dots between rural regions, rural education, and digital learning. In the introductory sections, the authors explore what "rural" means, and how to characterize rural education. In subsequent sections, they explore rural education issues, the ways in which rural schools and students are challenged by issues related to being remote, and then the ways in which online and blended learning can help address these challenges. Finally, the authors profile 15 states and programs to demonstrate policies, districts, and schools that are using digital learning to meet rural education needs. The profiles are each written as stand-alone case studies, and can be read independently of one another based on the interests of each reader. [This report was co-published by the Foundation for Blended and Online Learning.]

Abstract: COVID-19 has caused considerable disruption to education around the world. Disadvantaged and marginalised learners are being particularly hard hit. Naturally, throughout the pandemic, the focus of much attention has been on how to open schools safely with a preoccupation with the hygiene and social distancing considerations. A shift is noticeable and welcome. With schools in many jurisdictions reopening partially or fully there is a growing interest in the immensely important area of recovering the lost learning that has occurred while learners have been away from face-to-face education. This report documents an analysis of policy and grey literature. It is one output from the first phase of our collaboration and links are made to two other outputs: (1) A rapid evidence assessment (REA) of the academic literature; and (2) An overarching summary paper drawing out key messages and introducing the next phase of the collaboration. [This report is written with assistance from Anna Riggall, Ella Page, Elnaz Kashefpakdel and Sonia Guerriero. For the companion report, "Learning Loss, Learning Gains and Wellbeing: A Rapid Evidence Assessment," see ED615066.]

Abstract: In this article, we consider the benefits and challenges of enacting creativity in the K-12 context and examine educational policy with regard to twenty-first century learning and technology. Creativity is widely considered to be a key construct for twenty-first century education. In this article, we review the literature on creativity relevant to education and technology to reveal some of the complex considerations that need to be addressed within educational policy. We then review how creativity emerges, or fails to emerge, in six national education policy contexts: Australia, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Finland, Slovakia, and the U.S. We also locate the connections, or lack of, between creativity and technology within those contexts. While the discussion is limited to these nations, the implications strongly point to the need for a coherent and coordinated approach to creating greater clarity with regards to the rhetoric and reality of how creativity and technology are currently enacted in educational policy.

Abstract: We conceptualize students' opportunities to learn remotely during the initial school closures associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. We then examine variation in remote instruction using an original statewide survey of teachers in Tennessee, deployed just a few weeks into the closures. Using three-level logistic regression models, we explore potential predictors of regular remote instruction, including prepandemic measures of broadband access, the demographic composition of schools, and measures of district policy responses created from districts' public COVID-19 plans. We find that teachers in schools serving more economically disadvantaged students and in rural districts are less likely to report regular remote instruction, especially via providing digital resources and holding virtual classes or tutoring. Fewer opportunities for Tennessee's rural students appear driven in part by lower community access to high-speed broadband, but district policies to distribute technology may partially mitigate this gap in access.

Abstract: In response to the growing popularity of artificial intelligence (AI) usage in daily life, AI education is increasingly being provided at the K-12 level, with relevant initiatives being launched worldwide. Examining how these programs have been implemented and summarizing useful experiences is thus imperative. Although prior reviews have described the characteristics of AI education programs in publications, the papers reviewed were mostly nonempirical reports, and the analysis typically only involved a descriptive summary. The current review focuses on the most recent empirical studies on AI teaching programs in K-12 contexts through a systematic search of the Web of Science database from 2010 to 2022. To provide a comprehensive overview of the status of AI teaching and learning (T&L), 32 empirical studies were analyzed both descriptively and thematically. We analyzed (1) the research status, (2) the pedagogical design, and (3) the assessments and outcomes of the AI teaching programs. An increasing number of studies have focused on AI education at the K-12 stage, but most of them have a small sample size. Moreover, the data were mostly collected through interviews and self-reports. We reviewed the pedagogical design of AI teaching programs by using Gerlach and Ely’s pedagogical design model. The results comprehensively delineated current AI teaching programs through nine dimensions: learning theory, pedagogical approach, T&L activities, learning content, scale, teaching resources, prior knowledge prerequisite, aims and objectives, assessment, and learning outcome. The results highlighted the positive impact of current AI teaching programs on students’ motivation, engagement, and attitude. However, we observed a lack of sufficient research objectively measuring students’ knowledge acquisition as learning outcomes. Overall, in this paper, we discussed relevant findings in terms of research trends, learning content, teaching units, characteristics of the pedagogical design, and assessment and evaluation by providing illustrations of exemplary designs; we also discussed future directions for research and practice in AI education in the K-12 context.

Abstract: Background/Context: Instructional policy aims to shift the nature of teaching and learning. Decades of policy studies have highlighted the challenges inherent in these aims and the conditions necessary to support such change, including a robust infrastructure to support teacher learning. Further, teachers themselves must perceive and experience their policy environment to be supportive of calls to shift instruction. Purpose/Objective/Research Question/Focus of Study: In this study, we examine the connection between teachers' perceptions of their policy environments and their instructional practices over time, in the context of college-and-career-readiness (CCR) standards implementation. While conducted in the context of standards implementation, our findings apply to supporting instructional change through policy more broadly. Setting: We examine implementation of CCR standards in two unique state contexts: Texas and Ohio. These states represent important differences in demographics and in their approaches to CCR standards implementation over time. Research Design: We use a convergent mixed-methods design that draws on state-representative teacher survey data at two points in time (allowing for a trend analysis to understand how teachers' perceptions and experiences evolve), longitudinal interview data with state education leaders, and interview data with educators in one case study district in each state. Data Collection and Analysis: Surveys measured teachers' perceptions of their policy environments, as well as their self-reported instructional practices. Interviews focused on understanding state- and district-level policies, guidance, and resources, and educators' enactment of standards. Survey analysis included descriptive analysis of patterns over time and hierarchical linear modeling. To unpack broad-based survey patterns, we coded qualitative data and developed assertions based on emergent patterns. Findings/Results: We found that Texas teachers agreed more strongly than Ohio teachers that their policy environment had aligned, specific, and stable resources, as well as accountability mechanisms in place. Specificity of guidance and resources for standards implementation predicted teachers' use of standards-emphasized instruction in 2019. These patterns reflected each state's approach to policy implementation: a robust state-level infrastructure for guidance and support in Texas, compared with fewer state-developed resources in Ohio in favor of local control. Still, aspects of teachers' local context--in particular, lack of infrastructure for ongoing, embedded professional learning--limited teachers' ability to engage in state-developed guidance. Conclusions/Recommendations: Our study offers enduring lessons about how to establish the policy conditions necessary to support teachers to change instruction. Findings suggest a need for states to develop resources that clarify instructional shifts for teachers, and districts must balance these top-down resources with ongoing opportunities for educators to adapt resources to suit their students' needs.

Abstract: The Center for Reinventing Public Education (CRPE) conducted a multiyear, multimethod effort to learn how school districts, charter schools, and regional partners can support the successful implementation, expansion, and sustainability of personalized learning (PL) in schools. The vision for PL is to tailor instruction to individual students' strengths, needs, and personal interests--often integrating technology--to boost student outcomes. CRPE researchers used a combination of field studies, surveys, and secondary data analysis to explore how schools, districts, and partner organizations help to seed and grow PL, and what the results were. Key questions for the project included: What do principals, teachers, and system leaders need to know and be able to do to successfully support, implement, and scale up PL; What policies and practices--at the classroom, school, district, partnership, and state levels--offered important supports (and barriers) for successfully implementing and scaling up PL; and What were the early results for teachers and students?

Abstract: Students, teachers, and school leaders are seeking flexibility and supports to enable powerful, personalized learning experiences both inside and outside of the traditional classroom. In personalized learning, instruction is tailored to each student's strengths, needs, and interests--including enabling student voice and choice in what, how, when, and where they learn--to provide flexibility and supports to ensure mastery of the highest standards possible. This is in contrast to the one-size-fits-all approach of the traditional K-12 education model, in which learning is not differentiated and students are expected to progress through the same curriculum at the same pace. This report is designed for policymakers who want to advance policies that support personalized learning in their states. This report provides examples of promising state policies to scale and enable personalized learning. The intent is to inform and empower the field with examples from states creating supportive policy environments. A list of Key Resources and Key Definitions is included.

Abstract: Mobile‐based micro‐learning has gained a lot of attention lately, especially for work‐based and corporate training. It combines features of mobile learning and micro‐learning to deliver small learning units and short‐term learning activities. The current study uses the lens of the Self‐Determination Theory of motivation and proposes a series of Mobile‐Based micro‐Learning and Assessment (MBmLA) homework activities to improve high school students' motivation and learning performance in science. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed approach. One hundred and eight students of a senior‐level high school in Europe were randomly assigned into either a control condition (conventional paper‐based homework approach) or an experimental (MBmLA approach) condition. The study carried out for a period of 5 weeks. From the experimental results, it was found that, in comparison to the conventional paper‐based approach, the proposed MBmLA approach enhanced students' basic psychological needs of self‐perceived autonomy, competence, and relatedness and improved students' exam performance in terms of factual knowledge. Moreover, students self‐reported greater learning satisfaction with the mobile‐based microassessment and micro‐learning homework tasks. Implications on educational practices as well as future research are discussed.

Abstract: Chemical educators are facing a new generation of instructional technologies that impact classroom teaching. New technologies, like smartphones, cloud computing and artificial intelligence take learning beyond the classroom; 3D printing, virtual reality, and augmented reality provide new ways to teach the virtualization skills that are important for chemists. These technologies cause students to become more isolated, so students may not develop the social skills that they will need for today's workplace. Individualized learning may be beneficial to many students, but it will create challenges for faculty. Although this article focuses on chemistry education, it should be apparent that a similar argument could be made for other sciences, like physics and biology.

Abstract: Educator micro-credentials present a unique opportunity to link professional learning to practice. Through each competency-based credential, educators demonstrate application of their learning. School districts are seeing the value of embedding micro-credentials in existing professional learning pathways to promote educator agency, recognize educators developing their practice, and expand competency-based learning practices with students. Micro-credentials are particularly well-suited for introducing emerging technologies and content. Offering greater flexibility than one-time, stand-and-deliver professional learning, micro-credentials can serve as a vehicle for just-in-time, embedded learning in high-demand areas like computational thinking. While learning opportunities in computational thinking may have once been limited for educators without close proximity to a university with computer science education pathways, through micro-credentials, research-based resources are curated and made accessible to educators with an internet connection. This paper captures experiences and insights from educators and administrators as their districts integrated micro-credentials in support of professional learning. Learnings include suggestions for integrating micro-credentials effectively, ideas for deepening learning through micro-credentials, strategies for facilitating learning through micro-credentials, approaches to sustaining and expanding the role of micro-credentials for professional learning, and insights on evolving policies for micro-credential integration.