Recommended Resources

Rapid Resources
Schools Have a Huge Impact on the Local Economy
Schools Have a Huge Impact on the Local Economy
Schools Have a Huge Impact on the Local Economy

This article details the impacts of not adequately funding public schools.
Reports
New Vision for Education: Fostering Social and Emotional Learning through Technology
New Vision for Education: Fostering Social and Emotional Learning through Technology
New Vision for Education: Fostering Social and Emotional Learning through Technology

This report explores how competencies and skills developed through social and emotional learning (SEL) are as important as the foundational skills required for traditional academic learning. The New Vision for Education project examines the role that technology can potentially play to improve SEL education for the future.
Reports
The Economic Value of Social and Emotional Learning
The Economic Value of Social and Emotional Learning
The Economic Value of Social and Emotional Learning

This study highlights the economic benefits of social and emotional learning and the need for further research by comparing the benefits and costs of six different interventions.
Rapid Resources
The Economic Impact of Good Schools
The Economic Impact of Good Schools
The Economic Impact of Good Schools

This article explains how understanding the economic impact of school quality requires matching the quality of schools attended to each state’s workers and then seeing how economic growth is affected by worker quality.
Rapid Resources
Small Business Innovation Research
Small Business Innovation Research
Small Business Innovation Research

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program is administered out of the Institute of Education Sciences (IES). The program provides up to $1.1M in funding for research and development of innovative forms of learning and instructional technologies for classrooms.
Best Practices
World Class: How to Build a 21st-Century School System
World Class: How to Build a 21st-Century School System
World Class: How to Build a 21st-Century School System

This book spotlights best practices in high-performing school systems worldwide.
Reports
From Response to Reopening: State Efforts to Elevate Social and Emotional Learning During the Pandemic
From Response to Reopening: State Efforts to Elevate Social and Emotional Learning During the Pandemic
From Response to Reopening: State Efforts to Elevate Social and Emotional Learning During the Pandemic

This brief focuses on social and emotional learning-related policy actions due to COVID-19, providing concrete recommendations based on state examples about ways to enhance the social, emotional, and academic learning of all students.
Reports
Expanding Middle School CTE to Promote Lifelong Learner Success
Expanding Middle School CTE to Promote Lifelong Learner Success
Expanding Middle School CTE to Promote Lifelong Learner Success

This report examines leading state approaches to middle school CTE through interviews with state CTE directors, state and local leaders, and practitioners who support or work directly with middle school CTE students.
Rapid Resources
A Quality Approach to School Funding
A Quality Approach to School Funding
A Quality Approach to School Funding

This article shows that future reform must focus on the quality of education.
Reports
Career Readiness: A Business-Led Approach for Supporting K-12 Schools
Career Readiness: A Business-Led Approach for Supporting K-12 Schools
Career Readiness: A Business-Led Approach for Supporting K-12 Schools

This paper reviews how states and districts have historically approached career readiness in K-12 schools and the limitations and challenges with current approaches. This paper also defines career readiness and argues that it should be pursued as an integrated measure under postsecondary readiness as part of ESSA state accountability systems as well as specific recommendations for the business community in addressing key implementation challenges involving the career readiness components of a postsecondary readiness indicator.
Reports
The Effect of Career and Technical Education on Human Capital Accumulation: Causal Evidence from Massachusetts
The Effect of Career and Technical Education on Human Capital Accumulation: Causal Evidence from Massachusetts
The Effect of Career and Technical Education on Human Capital Accumulation: Causal Evidence from Massachusetts

This paper investigates the impact of participating in a specialized high school-based CTE delivery system on high school persistence, completion, earning professional certifications, and standardized test scores. The paper focuses on individuals from low-income families, an overrepresented group in CTE.
Rapid Resources
Coronavirus, Economic Crisis Cloud Resurgence of Career Tech Ed.
Coronavirus, Economic Crisis Cloud Resurgence of Career Tech Ed.
Coronavirus, Economic Crisis Cloud Resurgence of Career Tech Ed.

This article discusses the impacts of COVID-19 on career and technical education.
Rapid Resources
Communicating the Value and Promise of CTE with Parents and Students
Communicating the Value and Promise of CTE with Parents and Students
Communicating the Value and Promise of CTE with Parents and Students

This research highlights the ways how advocates can more effectively communicate about CTE with parents and students.
Rapid Resources
Why Chronic Absence Matters for City and County Officials
Why Chronic Absence Matters for City and County Officials
Why Chronic Absence Matters for City and County Officials

Attendance Works provides recommendations to city and county leaders on how to bring together school and community resources and improve school attendance.
Rapid Resources
The Impact of COVID-19 on Student Achievement and What it May Mean for Educators
The Impact of COVID-19 on Student Achievement and What it May Mean for Educators
The Impact of COVID-19 on Student Achievement and What it May Mean for Educators

This article describes the expected learning losses from the COVID-19 shortened COVID-19 school year.
Rapid Resources
CTE and the Law
CTE and the Law
CTE and the Law

This brief article reviews what school boards need to know about the reauthorized Perkins Act.
Rapid Resources
What Do Test Scores Really Mean for the Economy?
What Do Test Scores Really Mean for the Economy?
What Do Test Scores Really Mean for the Economy?

This article argues that lower reading and math test scores will impact the future U.S. economy.
Rapid Resources
Leveraging Opportunities in Perkins V
Leveraging Opportunities in Perkins V
Leveraging Opportunities in Perkins V

This PowerPoint presentation geared towards state officials provides recommendations on re-thinking CTE, aligning CTE programs with market needs, and fostering collaboration.
Reports
How Children's Social Competence Impacts Their Well-Being in Adulthood
How Children's Social Competence Impacts Their Well-Being in Adulthood
How Children's Social Competence Impacts Their Well-Being in Adulthood

This 20-year study tracked a group of kindergarten students who were evaluated on social capabilities (e.g., listening to other, sharing materials). Researchers followed these children for the next two decades, examining whether these assessments could predict how these same children would fare by early adulthood.
Rapid Resources
Virtual Healthy School
Virtual Healthy School
Virtual Healthy School

The Virtual Health School is an online, interactive tool that provides innovative learning experiences to help make schools healthier.
Best Practices
OECD Future of Education and Skills 2030 - Student Agency
OECD Future of Education and Skills 2030 - Student Agency
OECD Future of Education and Skills 2030 - Student Agency

As part of the Future of Education and Skills 2030, this report provides background on how education systems can help develop students agency.
Rapid Resources
The Essential Components of Physical Education
The Essential Components of Physical Education
The Essential Components of Physical Education

This guidance document reviews what SHAPE America has identified as the “essential components” of physical education.
Rapid Resources
Comprehensive Guide to Educating Through Zoom
Comprehensive Guide to Educating Through Zoom
Comprehensive Guide to Educating Through Zoom

This guide outlines how different individuals within K-12 can leverage Zoom in a virtual learning environment.
Best Practices
The Elements of Success: 10 Million Speak on Schools that Work
The Elements of Success: 10 Million Speak on Schools that Work
The Elements of Success: 10 Million Speak on Schools that Work

This report highlights six elements of successful schools: 1. Focus on the Total Child. 2. Commitment to Equity and Access. 3. Family and Community Engagement. 4. Distributed Leadership. 5. Strong, Supported Teaching Force and Staff. 6. Relationship-Oriented School Climate.