Peter Carafano, PhD, River City Science Academy , Author at eSchool News

This district’s STEM “space station” is a growing YouTube hit

June 1, 2026 by Peter Carafano, PhD, River City Science Academy

What happens when district-created STEM instructional media, Spacegate, succeeds both in classrooms and in open digital spaces?

A fictional space station orbiting the moon is turning into a real-world digital success story. Spacegate Station, a STEM series created in 2022 by Duval County Public School…

Edtech Trends

Beyond the ban: Rethinking cell phone policies in schools with smarter solutions

May 29, 2026May 29, 2026 by Taki Skouras, Cellairis

Schools can implement systems and policies that allow for access to student devices while limiting their use during instructional time.

Across the country, educators, parents, and policymakers are struggling with a question that schools can no longer afford to avoid: What role should cell phones play in today’s…

Curriculum & Assessment

Finding the “low way”: Reclaiming creativity in schools

May 28, 2026 by Joel Kupperstein, Project Lead The Way

Assessment and accountability matter, but we also need space for creativity that allows students to explore, revise, and discover.

When my daughter was little, every time we climbed into the car, she’d look up and ask, “Are we going to take the low way?”

AI in Education

How AI helps teachers spend less time on assessments and more time on impactful instruction

May 27, 2026 by Dr. Carla Braun, Community Unit School District 201

AI should never replace teachers in collaboration or expertise, but should shine a light on the insights that spark deeper conversations.

The overreliance on AI is a widely discussed topic for teachers, administrators, and families alike. The last thing we want is for technology to stifle the creativity, expertise,…

District Management

When it comes to absenteeism, the real work begins in summer

May 26, 2026 by Piper Bognar, Van Dyke Public Schools

The effort required to maintain student connection to school and combat chronic absenteeism is extensive, continuous, and human-centered.

Every June, once the last bus leaves and the halls go quiet, I get the strong desire to take a deep breath and to allow the pressure of…

IT Innovations

Apple’s MacBook Neo has entered the K-12 debate–are IT teams ready for it?

May 25, 2026 by Apu Pavithran, Hexnode

MacBook Neo conversations are only the beginning--what matters more is if surrounding IT teams are ready to support the change.

The MacBook Neo may narrow a pricing gap, but it also exposes a management gap. A lower-cost Mac may be enough to spark fresh interest. However, it alone…

Teaching Trends

Summer isn’t just a season, it’s a strategy

May 22, 2026 by Liz McChesney, National Summer Learning Association & Joan Brooks, Blue Star Education

Research from 35 years in literacy help to close opportunity gaps, build partnerships, and make summer learning count for every child.

Summer is full of learning opportunities that many children miss. When back-to-school season begins, some kids are already starting behind. That's all due to a lack of access…

School Library Innovations

Demonstrating impact with data: How librarians can make the case for increased funding

May 21, 2026 by Jennifer Miller, @MeetMeInTheMediaCenter

After years of spending all their time on smartphone screens, today’s students are heading back to the school library for a range of reasons.

Libraries are more than a quiet corner of school where students can pick up a book now and then--they are vibrant learning environments that support classroom curriculum, spark…

Emergency Planning & Response

How comprehensive school safety planning protected our teachers and students

May 19, 2026 by Gregory Vaughn, S.L. Mason Elementary School, Valdosta City Schools

Why in-building coverage is a lifeline for school safety

When people outside of education talk about comprehensive school safety planning, it can sometimes sound theoretical: a checklist of protocols or a compliance exercise.

Curriculum & Assessment

What U.S. and international classrooms can teach us about improving math instruction

May 18, 2026 by ESchool Media Contributors

$improving math instruction$

Last year, one of my strongest students could solve complex equations flawlessly--but paused when I asked a simple question: “Why does this method work?”

Classroom Management

Building a better bridge: Prioritizing infrastructure in a pre-K expansion

May 15, 2026 by Jamee Herbert, BridgeCare

Expanding access to early childhood education will require more than funding--it demands a modern, agile pre-K system.

New York is currently standing at a historic crossroads. With a rare alignment of executive leadership in Albany and NYC and a tireless advocacy community, the state is…

District Management

We can’t punish our way out of the attendance crisis

May 13, 2026 by Luvelle Brown, Ed.D, Ithaca City School District

Outreach around student attendance must be rooted in humanity, grounded in proximity, and carried out by those who know the community.

In the Ithaca City School District, we have long understood that relationships are not peripheral to the work; they are the work. A culture of love is not…

Teacher Professional Development

What higher ed can do about getting research into the K-12 classroom

May 11, 2026 by Dr. Steve Baule, Dr. Tammy Champa, and Dr. Jessa Cook

A lack of structured collaboration between K-12 and higher ed contributes to a disconnect between research and practice.

Educational research has never been more abundant, yet its impact on classroom practice remains uneven at best. While universities continue to produce studies on instructional strategies, student outcomes,…

Literacy

This elementary school banned screens in the middle of the year. Will it solve their reading crisis?

May 8, 2026 by Lily Altavena, Chalkbeat

When it comes to the ban on screens, school leaders think it’s much easier to teach students technology skills than social skills.

Last month, Mesick Consolidated Schools banned digital devices in its elementary school of about 250 students. The decision wasn’t an agonizing one. The ban came at astonishing speed,…

ELL

Oracy is the missing link for multilingual learners

May 7, 2026 by Nesreen El-Baz, Bloomsbury Education Author & School Governor

When oracy is embedded, students move from answering to reasoning, from participation to contribution, and from silence to voice.

For multilingual learners, language is not just a subject to be learned--it is the very medium through which they access the curriculum.

Teaching Trends

Why so many students struggle in math before learning even begins

May 6, 2026May 6, 2026 by Nigel Nisbet, Mind Education

$Aligning math learning and math instruction with how the brain learns opens access for every student to achieve success.$

In mathematics education, we have long relied on a familiar sequence: introduce vocabulary, demonstrate procedures, and assign practice. For some students, this works well enough.

AI in Education

When AI means something different in every classroom

May 5, 2026 by Alex Luciano, Bilingual Second Grade Teacher, Central Islip, NY

AI is already in the classroom--will we give it a place that makes sense for teaching and learning as the technology evolves?

In many schools, AI is being handled through individual teacher decisions rather than a shared structure. That makes sense in the short term. Teachers are responding in real…

District Management

What it takes to build teacher confidence in math: 4 lessons for district leaders

May 4, 2026May 4, 2026 by Olivia Paris, Northeastern Educational Intermediate Unit 19

$As teacher confidence grows, the way that math feels in the classroom begins to shift and evolves into a move positive experience.$

After 20 years teaching high school math, I thought I understood why students struggled. Then I sat in my first professional learning session focused on early math and…

Student Data Security

The hidden cost of fragmented student data in K–12 schools

May 1, 2026 by Aruna Adoor, SchoolCues

Addressing fragmented student data is not just an operational improvement--it directly impacts the school-home connection

In many K–12 schools today, fragmented student data has quietly become one of the most significant barriers to effective decision-making and day-to-day operations. While digital tools have expanded…

Teaching Trends

The 4 keys to creating meaningful student-led inquiry

April 30, 2026 by Cory Kavanagh, Van Andel Institute for Education

Inquiry-based learning can feel overwhelming, but it is very possible to establish student-led inquiry in the classroom.

Does the thought of student-led inquiry make you nervous? For some teachers, handing over control of the classroom to their students sounds like an invitation for disaster.

Classroom Management

Gender-specific education: Examining boys’ educational needs and learning strategies

April 29, 2026 by Dr. Jason Richardson, Garden City Elementary School & the International University of the Caribbean

Success lies not in rigid gender-based education but in creating diverse learning environments that can accommodate various learning styles.

In recent years, educational research has sparked significant discussion about whether boys and girls learn differently and if gender-specific teaching strategies could enhance academic outcomes.

AI in Education

When AI does the work, who does the learning?

April 28, 2026 by Christian Pantel, D2L

If we design AI systems that shortcut the learning process, we risk undermining the very purpose and value of education.

AI is rapidly reshaping education, but not always in ways that support learning. A growing number of AI tools promise to “help” students by doing assignments, writing papers,…

Curriculum & Assessment

4 ways to turn math fears into math cheers

April 27, 2026 by Kara Hickman, Kennewick School District

$Turning math learning into a social and engaging activity helps build confidence in students and also drives academic achievement.$

My first few years teaching math were a struggle for me and my students. Our textbook focused primarily on direct instruction: I do, then you do, but rarely we do.

AI in Education

From innovation to impact: Three ways school districts can build a sustainable AI framework

April 24, 2026 by Carl Hooker, Innovation & Digital Learning Leader, Matt Holley, Lubbock-Cooper ISD & Amy Liang, Los Gatos Union School District

School leaders must move beyond experimentation and build AI systems that prioritize governance, purpose, and data integrity.

AI is here, and it’s moving fast. For schools, that speed is both an opportunity and a risk: The right tools can transform learning, but the wrong ones…

Literacy

5 ways to make reading click for teens

April 23, 2026 by Carey Sweet, The Reading League Florida Chapter

Five classroom-tested approaches that make reading engaging, relevant and sustainable for teens and middle school students.

Reading is competing for attention in a world built for scrolling. A recent University of Florida study found that the share of Americans who read for pleasure on…

AI in Education

3 ways students can use AI tools to improve their literacy skills

April 22, 2026 by Dr. T.J. Vari, MaiaLearning & Thomas O’Brien, Winward Academy

Educators must seize on the opportunity to coach students on effective and acceptable uses of AI that enhance literacy learning.

Some might worry that the introduction of AI tools in the English classroom will simply lead to more cheating and even worse literacy rates, leaving students unprepared for…

Student Well-Being

Why students disengage before they fall behind

April 21, 2026 by Lynna Martinez-Khalilian

The belonging gap emerges when students experience school as a place where they’re not fully known, seen, or valued for who they are.

I once met a student who had attended three different schools before arriving at mine. His parents described him in familiar terms: quiet, disengaged, unmotivated.

Teaching Trends

When a teacher ditched screens, class got harder. That may be why it worked.

April 20, 2026April 20, 2026 by Matt Barnum, Chalkbeat

More educators and policymakers are having second thoughts about the growth of ed-tech, with some scaling back the use of screens.

Seventh-grade math teacher Dylan Kane decided to conduct an experiment in his classes by going cold turkey on ed-tech.

AI in Education

We can’t wait for another Mississippi Miracle

April 17, 2026April 17, 2026 by Nancy Weinstein, MindPrint Learning & Otus

AI should play a role in supporting learning, but it must be in a way that enhances--not interferes with--core learning science principles.

Recent findings on the negative impacts of AI on learning might be sparking national debate, but they are unsurprising to learning scientists.

College and Career Readiness

Education in a connected world: Preparing students for global careers

April 17, 2026April 16, 2026 by Shaun Fuchs, Centennial Schools

To prepare learners for this world of work, education must prioritize advanced literacy and communication from the earliest years

The world of work is changing fast. Careers no longer sit neatly within a single industry, city, or even country; they span disciplines, time zones, technologies, and cultures.

AI in Education

The screen-time debate’s blind spot

April 17, 2026April 15, 2026 by Adriana Perusin, IASEA & Flip Education

The point of AI is not to replace the teacher--it is to give her more of what he or she actually needs: time and structure.

Last fall, during a professional development session I was running with a group of teachers in São Paulo, a fifth-grade teacher raised her hand and asked a question…

Emergency Planning & Response

Protecting teachers from workplace violence as student behavior challenges rise

April 17, 2026April 14, 2026 by Dr. Roderick Sams, CENTEGIX

Violence against teachers in the workplace contributes to issues like burnout and some educators leaving the profession altogether.

Schools have seen rising problems with student behavior since the pandemic. For too many K-12 districts, these student behavior challenges are leading to violence against teachers.

Educational Leadership

What schools need to know about accessibility compliance as ADA deadline looms

April 17, 2026April 13, 2026 by Christina Adams, Siteimprove

Accessibility compliance ensures students, parents, and community members with disabilities can properly and effectively access content.

Recent updates to the Americans with Disabilities Act means digital accessibility for public educational institutions can not be ignored. It will become a legal mandate.

Featured on eSchool News

A new need-to-know for the AI classroom

April 17, 2026April 10, 2026 by ESchool Media Contributors

In an AI-rich classroom where ideas are abundant and answers are cheap, the scarce resource is not information--it is ownership.

Most project-based learning workshops are built around three domains: design, assessment, and implementation.

Curriculum & Assessment

It’s time to rewrite math standards for the future–and to stop expecting AI to do it for us

April 12, 2026April 9, 2026 by Jill Diniz & James Tanton, SmartWithIt

$As we look ahead and begin to redefine math education, one thing is abundantly clear: AI won’t fix bad pedagogy.$

While nearly every industry is racing to integrate artificial intelligence, most schools are still teaching high school math the way it’s been done for decades--rooted in instructional material…

College and Career Readiness

Career readiness starts with a critical, undertaught skill: Decision Education

April 8, 2026 by Mary Call Blanusa, the Alliance for Decision Education

New workforce research shows decision education is one of the most sought-after skills in an AI-driven economy.

In other words, while technology can generate information and automate tasks, people still need to evaluate options, weigh tradeoffs, and determine what to do next. These are decision-making…

Student Well-Being

District leaders must adapt to meet changing student mental health and behavioral needs

April 7, 2026 by Brandy Samuell, M. Ed., & Kay Kelly, eLuma

How school systems are building clear, connected ways to respond as student mental health needs and student well-being needs grow.

District leaders across the country are grappling with a deepening crisis: Student mental and behavioral health needs are growing more complex. In a recent national survey, 58 percent…

District Management

Sustainable change starts with educator voice

April 6, 2026 by Timothy Montalvo, Iona University & the College of Westchester

When educator voice helps shape the work of their schools, change becomes a shared commitment to better outcomes for students.

School leaders everywhere are working to implement change--new initiatives, new instructional frameworks, new technologies, new approaches to student support.

District Management

Don’t mistake staff voice for a problem

April 3, 2026 by Andy Szeto, Ed.D, Professor and District Administrator

School leaders must make space for staff to express concerns and offer suggestions, because staff voice is critical to district success.

As children, we play hide-and-seek. There is a kind of logic to it: If you cannot see me, then I cannot see you. As adults, and sometimes as…

College and Career Readiness

College readiness starts in kindergarten: Why rethinking K–12 math is the key

April 2, 2026 by Beth Zhang, Lavinia Group & Emily Shisler, Bellwether

True college readiness is the ability to reason flexibly, apply efficient strategies, and persist through complex problems.

When Senator Bill Cassidy recently questioned whether K–12 systems are adequately preparing students for college-level math, he touched a nerve in the national conversation.

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