As the saying goes, play is the work of the child. While the amount of play in kindergarten classrooms across the country decreased in the 2000s and 2010s due to an increasing focus on academics, play-based learning in schools is starting to make a comeback, with some states passing legislation that mandates or protects play in the early grades. Teachers say guided play helps students improve both academic and social skills, and research backs that up. At Coltrane-Webb STEM Elementary School in Concord, N.C., educators have gone all-in on using play-based learning to reinforce math and literacy instruction. Support for this reporting provided in part by the @gatesfoundation.

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France Promises to Replace Its University Admissions After Riots, Mass Arrests edweek.org/teaching-learning…

How Much Time Do Students Spend in School? It Depends on the State edweek.org/policy-politics/h…

When Transitions Lead to Tantrums: How to Help Young Students Be More Flexible edweek.org/teaching-learning…

Having a differentiation tool is a starting point. How educators use it makes the difference. Join this webinar to learn how to: ➡️ Apply what the research says makes differentiation effective—and how to put it into practice. ➡️ Build real teacher buy-in that lasts beyond onboarding, the way leading districts do. ➡️ Engage students and keep families informed and confident in how differentiation tools are used. ➡️ Embed differentiation into the instructional day with practical scheduling and routine models. ➡️ Monitor usage and engagement with simple checks that keep tools and strategies purposeful over time. ➡️ Explore examples spanning whole-class Tier 1 instruction through targeted intervention. 🖥️ Register today: bit.ly/3UcKHJm

School Choice Champion Highlights K-12 Disruptors (Opinion) edweek.org/policy-politics/o…

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Democratic Governors Have Questions About the Federal School Choice Program edweek.org/policy-politics/d…

Why It’s Getting Tougher to Serve School Meals Made From Scratch edweek.org/leadership/why-it…

Reading, Writing, and Math Skills Are Top Priorities in This CTE Program edweek.org/teaching-learning…

The costs surrounding special education are rising, and so are the risks. Join this webinar to see what these pressures mean for district leaders and where they can take action. You'll explore: ➡️ How strong IEP processes, service documentation, and compliance practices can help districts manage risk. ➡️ School-based Medicaid as part of the funding picture, including how to identify eligible services, reduce missed reimbursement, and build compliance checks into the process before claims are submitted. ➡️ Next steps for bringing all the pieces together. 🖥️ Register today: bit.ly/4srEqGI

Preventing Measles Outbreaks in Schools: Key Takeaways edweek.org/leadership/preven…

Schools Wrestle With Exploding Health Costs: 'Medical Inflation Is Crushing Us' edweek.org/leadership/school…

Hitting a milestone feels great, but having your principal lead the celebration makes it unforgettable. For our sixth #NationalPrincipalsMonth award, we are honoring the school leaders who find a way to make their staff feel seen, valued, and celebrated. 📣 Who's the administrator in your corner always cheering you on? Shout them out by sharing this post! 🏆

Don’t Be Fooled by Claims That Tax-Credit Scholarships Can Help Public Education (Opinion) edweek.org/policy-politics/o…

How One Library Is Linking Storytime to Classroom Lessons edweek.org/teaching-learning…

What do we want for students by the time they walk across the graduation stage, and are our systems built to get them there? Join this webinar to see: ➡️ What skills does a successful student and eventual graduate need to thrive after graduation ➡️ What it would take to build accountability systems aligned to real purpose ➡️ How measurement and effective classroom strategies can honor individual learning paths while still producing comparable results ➡️ How leaders can commit to a philosophy and sustain it operationally If your students aren't reaching the outcomes you're aiming for, this is where that conversation starts. 🖥️ Register today: bit.ly/4Bcxu4e

Dual Enrollment Is Surging. Here's How High Schools Can Get it Right edweek.org/teaching-learning…