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“If money’s taken away because kids are absent, it’s leaving less money to tackle the problems in a more restorative, preventative, and less reactive approach,” says Ericka Weathers.

Tyler Thigpen says that most K12 schools in America are currently designed in a way that makes students more dependent, reliant on external guidance, and overall poorer critical thinkers. He argues that a system which gives the child's goals, aspirations, and autonomy the highest importance is the fix.

Penn GSE faculty recently co-hosted a conference at Johns Hopkins University’s Bloomberg Center in Washington, D.C., dedicated to bolstering teaching ranks.

Jonathan Zimmerman explains that controversy around what is being taught in classrooms is nothing new, but what is new is the aggressive legislative approach states are taking.

Ryan Baker explains the advancements and implications of large language AI models, and discusses Penn's JeepyTA virtual teaching assistant.

Michael A. Gottfried explains the impact of student absences on their peers, citing his research that shows when 10% of a students' classmates are absent on a given day, the student is more likely to be absent the next day.

Richard Ingersoll highlights the complexities and uncertainties in evaluating teacher shortages, pointing out high attrition rates and a significant reserve pool of former teachers, while questioning whether shortages stem from low supply or poor retention.

Richard Ingersoll highlights the critical need for qualified teachers and suggests reducing teacher turnover by offering support, decision-making input, and mentorship programs for new teachers to address shortages while underscoring the importance of adequate compensation and respect.

Bowden’s research demonstrates how lenient grading policies in North Carolina high schools lead to reduced student effort and wider academic gaps, questioning current educational reforms.

Michael Gottfried emphasizes the role of school environments in student absenteeism. He notes students with disabilities feel more connected and attend more in inclusive settings than in segregated ones, underscoring the importance of creating hospitable learning environments for all students.

The program at Penn GSE stands out in providing direct feedback from trained observers.

Sigal Ben-Porath discusses the growing polarization in K-12 education, emphasizing the challenge of navigating a deeply divided political climate and the impact this has on educational environments and teacher preparation

Nimet Eren, a Penn GSE graduate and principal of Kensington Health Sciences Academy, blends innovative education with a community focus.

Richard Ingersoll identifies a critical issue in education: the mismatch between the growing number of STEM classes and the declining preparation of teachers for these subjects. He notes the shift towards less experienced teachers, contributing to a "revolving door" phenomenon in schools, which impacts teacher retention and student learning.

Ingersoll provides critical insights into the evolving nature of teacher preparation across the U.S. in Education Week.

Ross Aikins found students are finding new ways to use the tools, and AI is especially helpful for international students.

This is the first time the Visiting Scholars Speaker Series has tied into the “One Book” program, where faculty and students read and explore a book as a community.

The event focused on actionable practices to prepare people to enter the teaching profession and succeed.

School administrators across the country are facing political challenges they might not have expected when they entered education. Sigal Ben-Porath, MRMJJ Presidential Professor, recently offered advice in School Administrator magazine for how superintendents and other leaders can navigate these pressures.

A new year means a new version of the RHSU Edu-Scholar Public Influence Rankings, with the 2024 edition announced yesterday by Education Week. Nine researchers from the University of Pennsylvania made the annual 200-member list, which was created by Rick Hess of the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) to gauge the public impact of ed scholars’ contributions.

The CARE Initiative aims to effect change through community members’ own research into the educational issues they face.

Look back with us at some of the stories that defined 2023 for our community.

In an era dominated by educational technology, Michael Gottfried redirects attention to a critical issue: the profound impact of student absenteeism on academic performance.

How do you create learning environments that accommodate, and celebrate, all of your students' different backgrounds?

Arming students with critical thinking skills is essential in this digital era. But how do we do that?

Educators are all too familiar with the National Assessment of Educational Progress, or NAEP. It's known as the nation's report card– and as a country, our grades are dropping.

K-12 educators have the highest burnout rates of any segment of the U.S. workforce. We chat with two experts to help explore burnout's root causes, repercussions, and remedies.

In addition to a chaired professorship in her name and a fellowship she helped establish, Clayton leaves behind a legacy of quality education for students from all backgrounds.

In this timely episode of the Educator's Playbook podcast, we confront the pervasive issue of gun violence and its reverberating effects across K-12 education.

New generative AI tools like ChatGPT seemingly hit our classrooms overnight. In this episode, we're focusing on how educators are being forced to adapt and adopt on the fly.

As schools find themselves at the epicenter of debates surrounding issues like race, gender and sexual orientation, educators must grapple with the challenges of a rapidly politicized classroom environment.

Chronic absenteeism and truancy are on the rise, hindering student success. In our debut episode of the Educator’s Playbook podcast, we speak with two experts on the issue.

Richard Ingersoll concerns about the underrepresentation of male teachers in elementary school, and emphasizes the need for a more balanced gender mix among educators.

Jacobs was part of a panel discussion on the practice, which aims to arm students with coping skills and awareness to navigate their trauma in school and educational settings successfully.

When students miss school, it negatively impacts their learning and social skills. Michael Gottfried says the ripple effects also interrupt learning for peers and strain teachers.

Launching this fall, the Educator's Playbook podcast will examine some of the biggest issues facing K-12 today and share practical, easy-to-implement advice.

Amid the aftermath of pandemic-induced disruptions, college students are grappling with significant challenges in mastering basic math skills, a consequence of the shift to remote schooling. These setbacks have left a particularly pronounced impact on vulnerable student groups, says Dean Strunk.

Ross Aikins reports findings to Inside Higher Ed from interviews with dozens of students about how they used AI tools in their studies over the spring and summer. Going into fall, he says, faculty will need to revisit their policies early and often.

The 6-week pilot in West Philly replaces traditional course blocks with round-robin stations and eschews technology, with each classroom led by a team of five educators.

Jonathan Zimmerman considers quality monitoring in schools a civic responsibility given the need for an educated populace.

Organizers are seeking presentations of original curriculum, research, or pedagogy related to re-establishing school and classroom communities as authentic, positive, and nurturing spaces. Submissions are due Aug. 18.

In the wake of the Supreme Court striking down affirmative action, Jonathan Zimmerman writes that what will really make a difference for Black and brown students is improved classroom instruction.

Dean Katharine Strunk says data has grown increasingly political with the general polarization around public education; she says data does not need to be weaponized.

Ryan Baker says educators must look at a technology’s track record in the context of their own school’s demographics, geography, culture, and challenges when considering investing in new technology for the classroom.

Tamir Harper, a teacher at the Henry C. Lea School and master’s degree student at Penn GSE, recently shared with Penn Today that although “it’s exhausting sometimes” and “a lot of pressure,” being a Black male educator “is an honor.”

The jobs of educators are among the most difficult to automate, Dr. James Lester said in a keynote celebrating the launch of the McGraw Center for Educational Leadership, but artificial intelligence (AI) still has massive potential to transform classrooms.

Richard Ingersoll says giving educators more authority at their workplace makes them feel like respected professionals; teachers need to be given a lot of discretion.

Sigal Ben-Porath says progressive education advocacy ticked up last year and has been gaining steam since.

Jonathan Zimmerman criticizes legislation limiting what can be taught about American history.

Jonathan Zimmerman criticizes the censorship of books in school as inhibiting free discussion.