Regional Education News

Photo by Nirzar Pangarkar

July 4, 2018 | Jeanie Lindsay | WFYI | ^

Summary Indiana schools are receiving more than $12 million in funding from the Lily Endowment to bolster counseling programs. This follows the opioid addiction crisis, and schools’ requests for more resources to support student needs. As schools are understaffed, counselors do work outside their job description, such as proctoring AP tests or staffing field trips, in addition to college and career planning. Schools are also asking for resources to help support families of students.

Significance Organizations working students might want to consider and investigate programming and providing support for counselors. They may also want to incorporate functions that counselors are traditionally in charge of into their existing programming; the fellows certainly already provide some of these functions, and as mentioned in previous issues, a more fleshed out mental health framework and programming might be further beneficial given this increased need.

June 26, 2018 | Benjamin Herold | Education Week | ^

Summary Smart speaker systems with digital voice assistants such as Amazon’s Alexa have begun to be used in classrooms, helping teachers with setting classroom timers and serving as proxy native speakers for practicing foreign languages, among other functions. While teachers had positive experiences in using these devices, technologists caution against the data collection and targeted advertising or law-enforcement and government surveillance that could result from it.

Significance It seems the small benefits that these smart speaker systems currently provide do not justify their use in classrooms, especially given the risks or harms it imposes upon students without their consent. Measures to protect the privacy of students and getting their informed consent should be a priority if organizations such as 12+ decide to use such technologies, and only after determining if they are value-adding.

July 3, 2018 | Matt Barnum | Chalkbeat | ^

Summary The department of education has delayed an Obama-era rule designed to prevent over-identification of disabilities in students of color. The rule was crafted to address the overrepresentation of children with color among the special education population, leading to unfair segregation, suspensions, and expulsions. The rationale for putting the rule on hold is that a high number of identified minorities might not signal discrimination, and that the rule could result in schools keeping students out of special education to avoid financial penalties.

Significance Regardless of whether the rule goes through, schools will feel the impact differently, based on whether they do have a large proportion of minorities with special education needs, or do engage in discriminatory practices when identifying special needs students. Educational equity organizations should carefully consider the realities of their beneficiaries when involved with processes relating to identifying and supporting such students.

An email and a login portal for parents — all that is on Ad Astra’s website

June 25, 2018 | Mark Harris | Ars Technica | ^

Summary Musk founded Ad Astra in 2014, when he was dissatisfied with how traditional schools were teaching his five sons. He sought to “exceed traditional school metrics on all relevant subject matter through unique project-based learning experiences” in a school of his conception that bears more resemblance to a venture capital incubator than a traditional school. Students in Ad Astra “undertake challenging technical projects, trade using their own currency, and can opt out of subjects they don’t enjoy”; they have “few formal assessments and no grades handed out”.

Significance Ad Astra is a privilege accorded to a handful of kids, and the financial resources needed to replicate even a fraction of its program elsewhere is almost certainly unavailable. Nevertheless, it may be worthwhile to examine facets of its program and consider implementing it in some creative financially viable fashion in other schools and programs, such as the topical projects and internal currency and economy, which seem valuable to building professional and entrepreneurial skills and mindsets.