The devastation of the opioid crisis on families and communities is well documented, but its long-term effects on future generations of American children are still unknown. In 2017 alone, an estimated 2.2 million children in the United States were directly affected by parental opioid use or their own. In the 21st century, annual opioid-related overdose deaths among 15-...

“Math and reading scores for 13-year-olds have hit their lowest scores in decades.” When the recent NAEP long-term trend results for 13-year-olds were published, the reactions were predictable: short pieces in the national press and apologetics in education blogs. COVID-19, we were told, was continuing to cast its long shadow. Despite nearly $200 billion in...

Between 2012 and 2018, rates of loneliness in school among teens nearly doubled. COVID-19 school closures only added fuel to the fire, leaving students feeling even more isolated and withdrawn. In response to this nationwide epidemic, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy’s recent advisory urges institutions, including schools and community organizations, to reimagine their structures, policies and programs to support the development...

I’m writing this for all the parents out there: Don’t leave your child’s reading success to chance. I’m embarrassed to admit this, but I was one of those parents. Sure, my wife and I read to our son every night, and we had plenty of books, newspapers and magazines around the house. Our local public...

As engaged LAUSD parents of color, we are focused on our children’s academic success and well-being. As such, we often talk about how the education system is not working for enough of our students.  Imagine our delight when superintendent Carvalho announced his plan to expand a highly successful literacy intervention program, Primary Promise, by expanding...

The recent dismal civics and history results from the Nation’s Report Card put American democracy at risk. Eighth-graders recorded their lowest scores ever in U.S. history and the first decline in civics scores. The decreases were most dramatic for lower-performing students. Just under half of eighth-graders report taking a class primarily focused on civics, and fewer than...

At this critical juncture in K-12 education, it’s essential that schools invest in tools to better identify students’ learning needs so they can address pandemic recovery and chronic inequities. But while most districts use commercial interim assessments to guide them, far too little is known about the effectiveness of these tests. Interim assessments are big business....

Since the pandemic began in March 2020, the federal government has provided nearly $190 billion in education funding to states and districts. The three rounds of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funding represent the largest infusion of federal funds in history for reopening schools, updating buildings and supporting learning recovery. Now, over three years...

Language matters when it comes to talking about student learning, tests, achievement and accountability. Our country needs a K-12 accountability system that centers on justice, not deficits. For this to happen, policymakers should: (1) meaningfully partner with marginalized stakeholders to determine the outcomes that matter to these populations and then measure those outcomes; (2) use transparent, honest...

Community colleges are uniquely positioned to support their local communities with pathways to economic and social mobility. But a recent report draws attention to a decline in Black college students, particularly at community colleges, which enroll over one-third (36%) of Black students entering postsecondary education. From 2011 to 2019, Black enrollment declined at twice the rate (26%) of the...