National Education Policy Center

Kajeet Applauds FCC Ruling on E-Rate Funding for School Bus WiFi

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, October 19, 2023
Sentinel, Wi-Fi, CIPA, Education, National Education Policy Center, Government, FCC, Internet access, Research, Internet, Transport, Student, School, Digital divide, Internet service provider, Nursing, Kajeet

MCLEAN, Va., Oct. 19, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Kajeet®, a leading wireless connectivity and device management provider for education, government, and commercial markets, today applauded FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel's proposed ruling to allow E-Rate funding to be used to provide WiFi on school buses. This ruling is a major victory for digital equity and will have a significant impact on students across the country, especially those in rural and underserved communities. 

Key Points: 
  • MCLEAN, Va., Oct. 19, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Kajeet®, a leading wireless connectivity and device management provider for education, government, and commercial markets, today applauded FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel's proposed ruling to allow E-Rate funding to be used to provide WiFi on school buses.
  • "Kajeet has been a pioneer in school bus WiFi since 2015, and we are thrilled to see the FCC recognize the importance of connecting students to the internet on their commutes," said Ben Weintraub, CEO of Kajeet.
  • Kajeet SmartBus® is powered by Sentinel ®, Kajeet's award-winning management platform that provides schools with a comprehensive solution for school bus WiFi, including reliable internet access, CIPA-compliant filtering, and advanced safety features.
  • "We are committed to partnering with school districts and transportation departments nationwide to make school bus WiFi a reality for all students," said Zack Kowalski, chief revenue officer at Kajeet.

Summit Public Schools' Opacity Demonstrates Need for Oversight and Transparency in Digital Education Programs

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, September 21, 2023
University of Colorado Boulder, University, National Education Policy Center, Education, Bank statement, Curriculum, Policy, NEPC, Record, Research, Multimedia, Privacy, Language, Silicon, Student, Publication, SPS, Achievement Medal, Tutoring, Management, Online shopping

BOULDER, Colo., Sept. 21st, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Businesses can be expected to claim success. But when children's education and taxpayer dollars are at stake, reasonable transparency should also be expected.

Key Points: 
  • But when children's education and taxpayer dollars are at stake, reasonable transparency should also be expected.
  • Summit Public Schools provides a powerful example of inadequacies in policy related to transparency and accountability around school performance, digital educational programs, protection of student data, and school funding.
  • SPS's inability to provide records demonstrating the academic success it claims suggests the need for greater oversight of performance.
  • The new research brief from Molnar, Boninger, Noble, and Mani provides state policymakers with recommendations for oversight and accountability to protect the public interest and to ensure the transparency of digital educational programs.

NEPC Talks Education: Discussing State Takeovers of K-12 Public School Districts

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, September 14, 2023
Morchella, Politics, University, National Education Policy Center, Policy, NEPC, Houston Independent School District, University of Texas at Austin, Research, Multimedia, Language, School, Student, Publication, Schuler, Apple, University of Virginia, Management, Mobile phone, New York University, Education

BOULDER, Colo., Sept. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- In this month's episode of NEPC Talks Education, Christopher Saldaña interviews Beth Schueler (University of Virginia), Domingo Morel (New York University), and David DeMatthews (University of Texas Austin) about state takeovers of K-12 public school districts. Saldaña, Schueler, Morel, and DeMatthews discuss the impact of state takeovers on student outcomes and district finances, the political implications of takeovers for community and district stakeholders, and the implications of the state takeover of the Houston, Texas public schools.

Key Points: 
  • BOULDER, Colo., Sept. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- In this month's episode of NEPC Talks Education , Christopher Saldaña interviews Beth Schueler (University of Virginia), Domingo Morel (New York University), and David DeMatthews (University of Texas Austin) about state takeovers of K-12 public school districts.
  • Saldaña, Schueler, Morel, and DeMatthews discuss the impact of state takeovers on student outcomes and district finances, the political implications of takeovers for community and district stakeholders, and the implications of the state takeover of the Houston, Texas public schools.
  • Professor Schueler has conducted several quantitative studies examining the impact of state takeovers on districts.
  • NEPC podcast episodes are also available on Apple Podcasts under the title NEPC Talks Education.

Disregard Those Repeated Claims of Purported Funding Disparities Harming Charters

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, September 12, 2023
LAUSD, University, National Education Policy Center, Policy, NEPC, New Jersey Policy Research Organization, Research, Multimedia, Language, Rutgers University, Organization, School, Literature, Student, Documentation, Publication, Education reform, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, Pupil, Tutoring, Management

BOULDER, Colo., Sept. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Over the past decade, pro-charter organizations have published a series of reports claiming that funding disparities put charter schools at a disadvantage compared to public schools run by school districts. However, those conclusions are invariably incorrect due to flawed research methods.

Key Points: 
  • BOULDER, Colo., Sept. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Over the past decade, pro-charter organizations have published a series of reports claiming that funding disparities put charter schools at a disadvantage compared to public schools run by school districts.
  • Due to charter schools' substantial expansion in recent years, Weber also points out the importance of understanding and flagging such deceptive policy research.
  • Redirecting additional funding to charters based on advocacy reports using unreliable data and flawed methods may have adverse effects on other schools and state budgets.
  • Visit us at: http://nepc.colorado.edu
    Mark Weber, Rutgers University and the New Jersey Policy Perspective, (908) 358-5828, [email protected]
    View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prweb.com/releases/disregard-those-repeated-claims-of-purpor...

Exploring How Power and Privilege Interact With Disability Laws in Education

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, June 8, 2023
Pennsylvania State University, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, University, National Education Policy Center, Education, Disability, Parent, Policy, NEPC, Research, Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Language, Abuse, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, Student, Rehabilitation, Publication, Boston College, Racism, IDEA, Caregiver, Tutoring, Nursing

BOULDER, Colo., June 8, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Although education is often rhetorically or aspirationally lauded as the great equalizer, far-reaching inequities persist. The legal process is one avenue to address inequities in education. However, the law can also exacerbate inequities. This is particularly the case when either privileged or under-resourced families navigate gray areas in the law, including federal laws related to students with disabilities—specifically, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

Key Points: 
  • Key New NEPC Takeaway: Policy brief offers recommendations to address the ways that disability law favors privileged families.
  • BOULDER, Colo., June 8, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Although education is often rhetorically or aspirationally lauded as the great equalizer, far-reaching inequities persist.
  • The legal process is one avenue to address inequities in education.
  • Federal disability law allows affluent parents, families, and students to leverage their power and privilege to pursue accommodations when needed—and even when they're not.

Virtual Schools Continue to Underperform, Have Little Research Support, and Lack Adequate Regulation

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, May 11, 2023
University, National Education Policy Center, Policy, NEPC, Research, Language, K-12, Student, Research fellow, Publication, Knowledge, Growth, Design, Tutoring

BOULDER, Colo., May 11, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Virtual school performance, research, and policy have changed very little since 2013 when the National Education Policy Center began publishing regular comprehensive reports on virtual schooling. Virtual school performance remains poor, little if any research supports the claimed benefits of virtual schooling, and state regulatory policies are still inadequate. Nonetheless the unsupported claims are widely believed and virtual schools continue to proliferate.

Key Points: 
  • Virtual school performance remains poor, little if any research supports the claimed benefits of virtual schooling, and state regulatory policies are still inadequate.
  • Nonetheless the unsupported claims are widely believed and virtual schools continue to proliferate.
  • Virtual Schools in the U.S. 2023 provides a scholarly analysis of the characteristics and performance of publicly funded K-12 virtual schools.
  • Slow or stop the growth of virtual schools until substantial academic and/or non-academic outcomes improve and benefits are comparable with brick-and-mortar public schools.

Report: Changes Needed for K-12 Testing and Accountability Policies

Retrieved on: 
Monday, May 1, 2023
ESEA, UMass Lowell River Hawks, University of Colorado Boulder, Learning, Every Student Succeeds Act, University, National Education Policy Center, Privacy Office of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, University of Massachusetts Lowell, United States Department of Education, Policy, NEPC, Elementary and Secondary Education Act, Research, Language, ESSA, K-12, Congress, School, Student, Motion, Outline, Publication, Letter, Elementary, Tutoring, Management, Medical device, Nursing

BOULDER, Colo., May 1, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- A new report by more than 20 education experts from across the U.S. describes the policy changes that will be needed for testing and accountability policies in K-12 schools to serve the long-stated goals of excellence and equity. Educational Accountability 3.0: Beyond the Every Student Succeeds Act is a guide for improving federal legislation, as well as state and local polices.

Key Points: 
  • Key New NEPC Resource Document Takeaway: Accountability policies deeply and powerfully impact students' classroom experiences; when we get those policies wrong, we damage our children's opportunities to learn.
  • BOULDER, Colo., May 1, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- A new report by more than 20 education experts from across the U.S. describes the policy changes that will be needed for testing and accountability policies in K-12 schools to serve the long-stated goals of excellence and equity.
  • Educational Accountability 3.0: Beyond the Every Student Succeeds Act is a guide for improving federal legislation, as well as state and local polices.
  • The report also sets forth measures that states and school districts can take now, even before the next reauthorization, to improve their testing and accountability policies.

Closing the Gap Between Research and Practice in the Science of Reading

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, September 13, 2022
National Education Policy Center, Science, Reading, Gaps, Movement, Debate, Policy, Nature, Prescription, Learning, Furman University, Attention, Need, Technology, Student, Solution, Research, University, Shorthand, Education, NEPC, Literacy, Tutoring, Book, Public relations

BOULDER, Colo., Sept. 13, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- How students learn to read and how reading is best taught are often the focus of media, public, and political criticism. In a new NEPC policy brief, The Science of Reading Movement: The Never-Ending Debate and the Need for a Different Approach to Reading Instruction, Paul Thomas of Furman University explores the controversial history of the reading reform movement.

Key Points: 
  • Key New Policy Brief Takeaway: Some research claims of the "science of reading" movement are overly simplistic, so policymakers should seek different approaches to legislating reading.
  • In a new NEPC policy brief, The Science of Reading Movement: The Never-Ending Debate and the Need for a Different Approach to Reading Instruction , Paul Thomas of Furman University explores the controversial history of the reading reform movement.
  • Since 2018, the phrase "science of reading" has been popularized as loosely defined shorthand for the broad and complex research base characterizing how children learn to read and how best to teach reading.
  • Various types of vendors have also found the shorthand term "science of reading" highly useful in branding and marketing specific phonics-oriented reading and literacy programs.

Don't Collapse Multiple School Performance Indicators Into a Summative Rating on State School Report Cards, Warns New Policy Brief

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, June 23, 2022
ESSA, Learning, Achievement, School, Review, National Education Policy Center, Student, Research, NEPC, History of the University of Maryland, College Park, University, Policy, Education, New, Every Student Succeeds Act, Income, Goal, State, Tutoring, Management, Online shopping

BOULDER, Colo., June 23, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The federal Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 provided states with slightly more flexibility in the design of their school accountability systems. However, while states may take different approaches to measuring and reporting school performance, they have consistently chosen approaches of public reporting that collapse multiple school performance indicators into a summative rating.

Key Points: 
  • However, while states may take different approaches to measuring and reporting school performance, they have consistently chosen approaches of public reporting that collapse multiple school performance indicators into a summative rating.
  • In a new NEPC policy brief, State Accountability Rating Systems: A Review of School Report Cards as Indicators of School Quality , Gail L. Sunderman, co-founder and former director of the Maryland Equity Project at the University of Maryland, discusses the difficulties that arise when states' school report cards use this summative-rating approach.
  • However, for report card rating systems to be potentially beneficial as a school improvement policy instrument, they must provide fair and valid indicators of school performance.
  • Approaches that collapse multiple school performance indicators into a summative rating are concerning because there is very limited credible research on how well a single score captures the complexity of school performance or provides information on how to improve.

"Grow Your Own" Programs: Examining Potential and Pitfalls for a New Generation of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Community Teachers

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, May 19, 2022
People, National Education Policy Center, Policy, University, Education, Learning, BIPOC, Research, Student, NEPC, Tutoring, Color, New

BOULDER, Colo., May 19, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Grow your own (GYO) programs are designed to recruit, prepare, and place community members as teachers in local schools. They do this through partnerships between educator preparation programs, school districts or local educational agencies, and community-based organizations. The nation is currently seeing new and thoughtful uses of the approach.

Key Points: 
  • BOULDER, Colo., May 19, 2022 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Grow your own (GYO) programs are designed to recruit, prepare, and place community members as teachers in local schools.
  • They do this through partnerships between educator preparation programs, school districts or local educational agencies, and community-based organizations.
  • To help policymakers avoid these pitfalls, Professor Gist considers historical lessons from past community teacher development initiatives as well as emerging research.
  • The recommendations will help ensure that new GYO programs are crafted in ways that prepare and sustain BIPOC community teachers.