American students are lagging behind their international peers in the aftermath of the pandemic, according to a new analysis unveiled by Stanford University economist Eric Hanushek. The ultimate costs of the last few years of incomplete learning will total $31 trillion over the course of the 21st century, the scholar finds — greater than the...

Black History Month. It’s easy to celebrate, but harder to take action that demonstrates your commitment to who and what you celebrate.  Two years ago the Los Angeles Unified School Board demonstrated its commitment to Black students, educators and families by passing the Black Student Excellence Through Educator Diversity, Preparation, and Retention Resolution. The resolution...

As the leader of a majority-Black school in the heart of Brooklyn, I raise my hand in enthusiastic support of Black History Month. It’s a vital platform to reflect on the phenomenal contributions of Black individuals throughout history, igniting conversations and inspiring future generations. Yet, while February provides a powerful spotlight, it shouldn’t be the...

February is National Career and Technical Education Month, an opportunity to consider how CTE helps young people flourish and reach their potential. Two facts should guide this reflection. First, the K-12 college-for-all model of recent decades does not serve the aspirations and needs of all young people. Second, Americans want opportunity pluralism, believing that many...

When the directors of the Oscar nominated short documentary “The Last Repair Shop” walk the red carpet next month, the four LAUSD workers who keep thousands of musical instruments in good repair will be right by their side.  The four craftspeople who work in one of the nation’s last free instrument repair shops, are at...

For the past two months, home for Lori Menkedick and her family has been the Evergreen Inn, a Los-Angeles area motel just off Interstate-210. They’ve bounced between similar establishments east of downtown for almost three years. But room rates consume most of the $650 a week her husband earns from construction. The family depends on...

Teachers generally like teaching. They stay in their chosen profession about as long as accountants or social workers stay in theirs.  Teachers may not get rich, but they live comfortably middle-class lives. Plus, teachers get to retire a couple of years earlier than other workers.  Those are some of the positive narratives that policymakers need...

The nation’s largest experiment with charter schools is no longer growing. These days, Los Angeles charter leaders say their schools are just trying to survive. With tough, new policies, falling enrollment, and a hostile district school board, the decades-old charter school sector in Los Angeles has never faced headwinds so stiff, operators say. Los Angeles,...

South by Southwest Edu returns to Austin, Texas, running March 3-7. As always, the event offers a wealth of panels, discussions, film screenings and workshops exploring emerging trends in education and innovation. Keynote speakers this year include Geoffrey Canada of Harlem Children’s Zone, Carol Dweck of Stanford University, who popularized the idea of “growth mindset,”...

Anyone who sells products to public schools can tell you education is a huge market. Schools spend billions of dollars annually on contracts for everything from HVAC maintenance to technology services and tutoring. Almost all agree to pay vendors for goods or services rendered, not for the student outcomes they produce. But, as I wrote...