Author | Lightnews

Teach Plus @teachplus.bsky.social · 23h

Schools and communities need more partnerships between schools and industry professionals to encourage students' interests and future careers.

Insights via Teach Plus Colorado Fellow Colin Haverkamp:

PERSPECTIVE: Fostering Colorado’s future scientists

Damian, one of my eighth-graders, left me a note on our digital bulletin board: “Science is my favorite class every year!” His classmate Amelia replied with “Me 2!!!” Damian is sure he’s headed for a…

www.denvergazette.com

Teach Plus @teachplus.bsky.social · 1d

"The data is clear: Breakfast clubs, music clubs, or any school-related extracurricular activities all create positive effects on school attendance."

In this week's Newsblast: Teach Plus Arkansas Fellow Karyna Johnson on improving attendance.

Read more:
cm.teachplus.org/t/r-3CC5ACFC...

Teach Plus @teachplus.bsky.social · 1d

As AI evolves, teachers need to be at the table for creating guidelines around its use, Leading Edge Fellow Al Rabanera explains.

“I believe teachers know what’s best because they’re in front of the kids.”

Read more:

How School Districts Are Crafting AI Policy on the Fly

It's a struggle to create guidelines that keep up with rapid advances in the technology.

www.edweek.org

Teach Plus @teachplus.bsky.social · 2d

Schools are starting to adopt play-based or playful learning, in which teachers guide students in playful activities designed to grow specific skills.
www.edweek.org/teaching-lea...

Read Teach Plus Illinois's work on the importance of play here: teachplus.org/resource/imp...

Play-Based Learning in Kindergarten Is Making a Comeback. Here's What It Means

Amid rigorous academic expectations in the early grades, some advocates push for a return to play.

www.edweek.org

Teach Plus @teachplus.bsky.social · 3d

Senior Writing Fellowship alumnus John Fredericks wants to hear about educators’ work-life balance as part of his Arizona State University PhD program. Will you complete a short survey? Questions? [email protected]

asu.questionpro.com/a/TakeSurvey...

Balancing Act: A Survey of Teacher Work-Life Integration

Teacher Work-Life Balance Survey

asu.questionpro.com

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Teach Plus @teachplus.bsky.social · 3d

Teach Plus Colorado Fellow Colin Haverkamp creates opportunities for students to learn directly from industry experts.

"When students work alongside professionals, they don’t just learn content—they start to see themselves as future scientists."
www.denvergazette.com/2025/10/20/p...

PERSPECTIVE: Fostering Colorado’s future scientists

Damian, one of my eighth-graders, left me a note on our digital bulletin board: “Science is my favorite class every year!” His classmate Amelia replied with “Me 2!!!” Damian is sure he’s headed for a ...

www.denvergazette.com

Teach Plus @teachplus.bsky.social · 4d

When it comes to reading, the nation's 3rd through 8th-graders are still mired in a pandemic-era slump, according to new data. In math, the news is only a little more heartening: Student achievement in those grades either held steady or improved slightly.

In reading, the nation's students are still stuck in a pandemic slump

New 2025 testing data shows third- through eighth-graders scored far below 2019 levels in reading. In math, some grades have made gains, but all are lagging compared to before the pandemic.

www.npr.org

Teach Plus @teachplus.bsky.social · 5d

When it comes to AI in education, one very important question is, how can schools give students and staff guidance while remaining flexible as things change?

Leading Edge Fellow Al Rabanera shares why it's important for teachers to advise on AI guidance.

How School Districts Are Crafting AI Policy on the Fly

It's a struggle to create guidelines that keep up with rapid advances in the technology.

www.edweek.org

Teach Plus @teachplus.bsky.social · 7d

Academic researchers are marshalling evidence for what high-quality SEL programs actually deliver for students. The latest study summarizes 12 years of evidence and finds that 30 different SEL programs tended to produce “moderate” academic benefits.

Some social emotional lessons improve how kids do at school, Yale study finds

Reading and math gains from soft skill instruction

hechingerreport.org

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Teach Plus @teachplus.bsky.social · 7d

"Fulfilling IDEA’s promise often requires more than educators and resources; it demands innovative approaches that adapt to each student’s unique strengths, needs and interests," Leading Edge Fellow Heather Gauck writes. "That's where technology offers one answer."

Educator Voice: AI can help fulfill the promise of inclusion for students with disabilities

Heather Gauck, a special education teacher in Grand Rapids, Mich. shares how AI technology has helped her students

www.pbs.org

Teach Plus @teachplus.bsky.social · 8d

"When students work alongside industry role models, they don't just learn content—they start to see themselves as future scientists."

In this week’s Newsblast: Teach Plus Colorado Fellow Colin Haverkamp on the benefits of students shadowing experts.

Read more: cm.teachplus.org/t/r-69A7CEA9...

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Teach Plus @teachplus.bsky.social · 8d

As PA legislators work to solidify the budget, student teachers are left in the lurch, waiting for stipends.

“We can't afford to lose another generation of potential great teachers for the next generation of students,” Teach Plus Pennsylvania ED Laura Boyce said.

With the state budget impasse delaying stipends, Pa. student teachers are squeezed

The student teacher stipend — launched with bipartisan support last year — is one of the student aid programs in limbo as the budget impasse nears the 110-day mark.

www.wesa.fm

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Teach Plus @teachplus.bsky.social · 9d

Connection and belonging are the keys to student learning, Teach Plus Massachusetts Policy Fellowship alumna Lisa Hanifan explains.

Educators, how do you cultivate belonging in your classroom?

When students feel like they belong, they are ready to learn and grow

A Guest Blog by Lisa Hanifan On a non-uniform day, Ilyan did not wear his street clothes like his peers; instead he proudly entered the classroom wearing his thobe. He didn’t just arrive that day; …

thebelongingcollective.blog

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Teach Plus @teachplus.bsky.social · 9d

School districts that collectively enroll roughly 1 in 7 of the nation’s K-12 public school students will begin going without routine federal payments in the coming days as the government shutdown drags on.

Many Districts Will Lose Federal Funds Until the Shutdown Ends

And if federal layoffs go through, the Ed. Dept. would lack staff to send out the funds afterward, too.

www.edweek.org

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Teach Plus @teachplus.bsky.social · 10d

Teach Plus Pennsylvania alum and PA Teacher of the Year Leon Smith is focused on reimagining the teaching profession. He shares about the major role teacher leadership and collaboration play in changing teaching.

Read more:

How To Support The World’s Teachers: A Global Playbook

TALIS 2024—the world’s largest study of teachers—delivers the world’s most comprehensive snapshot of teachers’ work.

www.forbes.com

Teach Plus @teachplus.bsky.social · 11d

California's literacy funding is a much-needed investment, but the challenge now is ensuring that all students can access the resources and teach their students to read.

Recommendations via Teach Plus California Policy Fellow Maria Aguilera:

COMMENTARY: Small charter schools need more literacy support

California's budget includes $215 million to train and hire literacy coaches, but charter schools need targeted funding and access to effective reading development tools to ensure that all students have...

edsource.org

Teach Plus @teachplus.bsky.social · 12d

When used well, AI can be a classroom partner, helping educators make materials more accessible and responsive for every student.

Insights from the classroom of Leading Edge Fellow Heather Gauck:

Educator Voice: AI can help fulfill the promise of inclusion for students with disabilities

Heather Gauck, a special education teacher in Grand Rapids, Mich. shares how AI technology has helped her students

www.pbs.org

Teach Plus @teachplus.bsky.social · 14d

LISTEN: Teach Plus Texas Executive Director Kevin Malonson on the Dallas Express podcast: "It's important for folks to get into the fight, stay in the fight and find your why."

Let's Talk Local Podcast | Every Child, Every Opportunity: Dallas Education Collective

Every child deserves access to a world-class education — but for far too many in Dallas, that dream still feels out of reach. Roughly 144,000 economically disadvantaged students live within DISD…

dallasexpress.com

Teach Plus @teachplus.bsky.social · 15d

Looking for the latest news on educator practice, policy, advocacy and impact?

Read last week’s roundup – and sign up for next week’s:

Honoring teacher leadership.

Spotlights from the Field

cm.teachplus.org

Teach Plus @teachplus.bsky.social · 15d

More than 1 in 4 U.S. public school teachers are missing the basic materials or staffing support needed to effectively do their jobs, significantly impacting workplace satisfaction, according to a new Gallup-Walton Family Foundation report.

New Gallup Poll: 1 in 4 Teachers Don’t Have Necessary Resources, Support Staff

Over 60% of educators reported a shortage of teaching assistants, mental health resources and special educators, seriously impacting job satisfaction.

www.the74million.org

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Teach Plus @teachplus.bsky.social · 16d

The newest and most ambitious of teacher pay experiments go beyond gauging performance based primarily on test scores to consider a teacher’s classroom practice, peer collaboration, and willingness to tackle high-need subjects, students, and communities.

States Are Experimenting With Teacher Pay Again—But the Focus Isn’t Just Test Scores

Renewed interest could spur another wave of experiments with teacher pay.

www.edweek.org

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Teach Plus @teachplus.bsky.social · 16d

Congratulations to Teach Plus Texas Policy Fellowship alumna JoMeka Gray on being one of five public school educators nationwide to be honored with the NEA Foundation's 2026 Horace Mann Awards for Teaching Excellence!

2026 Horace Mann Awardees - NEA Foundation

Five public school educators are awarded the Horace Mann Award for Teaching Excellence, one of public education’s top honors, each year.

www.neafoundation.org

Teach Plus @teachplus.bsky.social · 17d

"Fulfilling IDEA’s promise often requires more than educators and resources; it demands innovative approaches that adapt to each student’s unique strengths, needs and interests," Leading Edge Fellow Heather Gauck writes. "That's where technology offers one answer."
www.pbs.org/newshour/cla...

Educator Voice: AI can help fulfill the promise of inclusion for students with disabilities

Heather Gauck, a special education teacher in Grand Rapids, Mich. shares how AI technology has helped her students

www.pbs.org

Teach Plus @teachplus.bsky.social · 18d

Today's students need more access to data science courses early, Teach Plus California Policy Fellow Jason Lee Morgan writes.

He shares how project-based data science can resonate with students of different interests, strengths, and aspirations.

Read more: www.gettingsmart.com/2025/10/02/d...

Data Science: A Student’s Tool for Understanding, Advocacy, and Systemic Change

Data science education empowers students to explore real-world issues, develop critical thinking, and unlock new pathways for diverse futures.

www.gettingsmart.com

Teach Plus @teachplus.bsky.social · 19d

For your #MondayMotivation, Teach Plus Massachusetts Senior Fellow Donna Thayer teaches her students to be in community with each other as a key way to prepare them for success.

Read her op-ed here: www.pbs.org/newshour/cla...

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