XQ Institute’s Post

Virginia Board of Education Reviews Summary from Fifteen Accountability Listening Sessions   The Virginia Board of Education recently concluded a series of fifteen in-person and virtual Listening Sessions providing over 800 parents, educators, and community members an opportunity to comment on the development of Virginia’s school performance and support framework. The new framework is designed to provide greater transparency and awareness of school performance and student outcomes. The eight in-person sessions brought together over 200 attendees including parents, teachers, principals, school board members, division superintendents, division directors of testing, and members of the Virginia General Assembly. The virtual sessions held by the Board had over 600 participants from organizations including the Virginia Middle School Association, the Virginia Association of Elementary School Principals, the Virginia Association of Secondary School Principals, the Virginia Association of School Superintendents, and the Virginia PTA. Additionally, over 170 comments were submitted outside of the Listening Sessions for the Board’s consideration on the proposed regulatory decisions and next steps. “The response and feedback we have received from the public throughout the Commonwealth clearly demonstrates the importance of this work,” said Board of Education Member Dr. Amber Northern. “I am encouraged by the level of participation and grateful for the insightful comments and meaningful discussions we’ve received as we continue to shape Virginia’s school performance and support framework. These sessions have been extremely valuable as we move forward in identifying our schools that need help and ensuring they receive the support their students need.” Read full article to know the comments and feedback received during the in-person and virtual sessions indicated a number of key takeaways: https://lnkd.in/dWhtaH66 #Accreditation #americanaccreditation #education #standards #quality #virginiaeducationboard

“We don’t say our students are underserved; we say they have been under championed.” Excited to be at Council of the Great City Schools Fall Conference to learn from the leaders of the Council’s district members and partners. Here are some highlights from Day 1: - Dr. Stephanie Elizalde, Superintendent of Dallas Independent School District, emphasizes the importance of language in education, stating, “We don’t say our students are underserved; we say they have been under championed.” - Dr. Roger León, Superintendent of Newark Public Schools, said district policies that are meant to support attendance may actually be creating chronic absenteeism, such as suspension for not attending school. He suggests combating chronic absenteeism by creating an Attendance Department and assigning each staff member to focus on the attendance of 5 students. - Emily Bailard, CEO of EveryDay Labs, reveals that every absence from school corresponds to approximately a 1 percentile decrease in academic performance on state test scores. - Akisha Osei Sarfo, Ph.D., Director of Research for Council of the Great City Schools, highlights the correlation between the percentage of students who were ready for kindergarten and the percentage of students who graduated high school 12 years later. We need to monitor student performance from the moment they enter the system. #Education #Leadership #LearningFromTheBest

Flex-based, personalized-learning public charter schools are transforming education in California, meeting the diverse needs of students through innovative, flexible models. These schools, often mislabeled as "nonclassroom-based," offer a lifeline to students who struggle in traditional settings—those bullied, with health challenges, learning disabilities, or at risk of dropping out. Schools like Learn4Life serve economically disadvantaged students and those with special needs, helping them achieve academic recovery and pursue higher education. Despite challenges from misclassification and bad actors, it's crucial that state policies support and expand these flexible learning opportunities for all students. As Jeff Rice emphasizes, our education system's future must prioritize flexibility to better serve our diverse student population. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/efVBY2h3

Leadership or Chaos? What’s at Stake for Our Schools Donald Trump’s nomination of Linda McMahon as Secretary of Education has sparked significant debate. This decision raises the ongoing looming concern: the potential dismantling of the Department of Education itself. For educators and school leaders, this isn’t just political rhetoric—it’s a direct challenge to the systems that support public education, equity, and access for all students. Eliminating the Department of Education risks: ▪️Widening Equity Gaps: Federal oversight is crucial for ensuring all urban, rural, or suburban schools receive fair funding and resources. Without it, marginalized communities may face even more significant disparities. ▪️Undermining Accountability: Federal policies like IDEA and Title IX protect the rights of students with disabilities, girls, and underserved populations. Who will enforce these protections if the department is dismantled? ▪️Weakening Support for Educators: Programs aimed at professional development, school improvement, and teacher retention could disappear, leaving school leaders to navigate challenges without essential resources. Here’s the real question: How does dismantling a federal structure fix the teacher shortages, learning gaps, and systemic inequities that plague our schools today? Leadership isn’t about dismantling but building systems that uplift students and teachers. As someone dedicated to school improvement, I believe we must focus on strengthening, not stripping away, the structures that support public education. Leadership means listening to those on the ground—teachers, administrators, and families—and addressing their needs with equity and intentionality. What do you think about this development? Let’s keep the conversation going—our students’ futures depend on it. #EducationLeadership #SchoolImprovement #EquityInEducation #SavePublicEducation

As part of our programming for the National First-Generation College Celebration at Metropolitan State University of Denver, I had the privilege of participating in a faculty engagement session on Teaching First-Generation Students. Our conversation was a powerful reminder of the transformative role faculty can play in better-serving first-generation students. Dr. Christine Sheikh emphasized the importance of framing resource use as smart and strategic—students can see that reaching out or using resources isn’t a sign of weakness, but rather a savvy, beneficial approach to their success. Dr. Jessica Parker reminded us that “what’s good for students is often good for faculty.” By adopting flexible practices like a 3-day grace period for assignment due dates, she noted that everyone experiences less stress—and even fewer midnight emails. Dr. Arijana Barun shared how she incorporates Supplemental Instruction and study groups into her classes, offering extra credit to encourage participation. She’s found that these approaches are a benefit by creating community and reinforcing course content. A HUGE shout-out to Dr. Bridget Arend, Ph.D. of MSU Denver’s Center for Teaching, Learning and Design (CTLD) for hosting the session. These are the kinds of best practices that truly support first-generation students and foster an inclusive learning environment. It was inspiring to see such commitment from faculty colleagues in translating these insights into meaningful actions for our students. #CelebrateFirstGen #MSUDenver #FacultyEngagement #StudentSuccess #ImFirst #FirstGen

There is a huge shortage of special education teachers in public schools across the country. Teacher shortages continue to have a lasting impact on all students as there aren't enough teachers to adequately meet the needs of different learning styles and backgrounds in our classrooms. This challenges our ability to ensure all students have the chance to succeed. According to Education Next, we can begin to find solutions by making sense of the rise in demand for special education teachers. At AUSL (Academy for Urban School Leadership), I am proud our Chicago Teacher Residency program recognizes Special Education as a priority for high-needs positions to fulfill. We educate our Residents about the Diverse Learning space and reinforce that their teaching changes the trajectory of students' lives. More than half of our current cohort of Residents are Diverse Learning educators in training and are leading students in the classroom across Chicago. Read more about the complexities and realities of the special education labor market and how we can better address this issue: https://ow.ly/NRe950Th0AE  

The demand for charter schools is reaching unprecedented heights, and the numbers speak volumes. In a groundbreaking revelation, nearly 70% of Americans are expressing a preference for charter schools.  The excitement doesn't stop there – a staggering 2 out of 3 Americans are standing strong in support of opening new charter schools! This surge in demand is a testament to the innovation, choice, and personalized learning experiences that charter schools offer. From embracing unique teaching methods to fostering a collaborative environment, charter schools are reshaping education and giving families a say in their children's future. 🚀 While we celebrate this remarkable trend, let's remember that the journey towards educational excellence is ongoing. We're on the path to ensuring that every student has access to a quality education that nurtures their talents and aspirations. Share your thoughts on the rise of charter schools and the power of choice in education. Together, let's continue advocating for diverse educational options that inspire students to reach for the stars.  #CharterSchoolsRising #EducationRevolution #DemandingExcellence 

Great Things Are Happening in Ohio Schools! Ohio Schools and districts receive an overall rating and star ratings for five components. New ratings are being released TODAY! Report Cards are designed to give parents, communities, educators and policymakers information about the performance of districts and schools — to celebrate achievement and success and identify areas for improvement. The information provides clear and easily available reporting on student performance, drives local conversations on school improvement and identifies schools to receive supports for getting better. The goal is to ensure all students receive an excellent education that can lead to success in life, careers and future learning. Report cards are only one part of the story about what is happening in schools and districts. To get a more complete picture, we encourage you to visit schools, talk to educators, parents and students, and review the school's or district's webpage. A lot of great things are happening every day in Ohio's schools! Check YOUR school or district here: https://lnkd.in/gJmkKpFu #eddieshometeam #ohioschools #education

❗ ATTENTION SCHOOL LEADERS ❗ We wanted to share a little about our innovative programming at Pitt-Greensburg. Our mission of Community Outreach is to expand economic opportunity for all students. The OCO aims to help students become successful citizens by providing a central hub for acquiring 21st-century skills and building equitable pathways for all students to reach their full potential. The Office of Community Outreach works with community partners to offer relevant educational opportunities, especially for underserved students. We are rooted in creating equitable pathways to connect the classroom and workforce. One of our first initiatives was creating an online (asynchronous) dual enrollment program. This program was created to help support school districts address two problems: teacher shortage and language written into a recent bill passed by PA legislation in calculating ADM for College in the High School - Dual Enrollment. Furthermore, to address the declining enrollment in higher education institutions. Pennsylvania Department of Education / U.S. Department of Education #h2p #h2pg #pittgreensburg #equitymatters #onlinelearning #21centuryskill #thisisavid

Great Things Are Happening in Ohio Schools! Ohio Schools and districts receive an overall rating and star ratings for five components. New ratings are being released TODAY! Report Cards are designed to give parents, communities, educators and policymakers information about the performance of districts and schools — to celebrate achievement and success and identify areas for improvement. The information provides clear and easily available reporting on student performance, drives local conversations on school improvement and identifies schools to receive supports for getting better. The goal is to ensure all students receive an excellent education that can lead to success in life, careers and future learning. Report cards are only one part of the story about what is happening in schools and districts. To get a more complete picture, we encourage you to visit schools, talk to educators, parents and students, and review the school's or district's webpage. A lot of great things are happening every day in Ohio's schools! Check YOUR school or district here: https://lnkd.in/gpyutZFd #eddieshometeam #ohioschools #education