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Byline: Robin L. Flanigan IN MAY, when billionaire philanthropists Bill and Melinda Gates announced they were divorcing after 27 years of marriage, a unified panic could be felt among long-married [...]

The article focuses on the increasing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) measures for school safety and security in response to rising incidents of school shootings. Topics include the use of AI technologies such as weapons detection scanners and visual gun detection systems, the concerns about privacy and effectiveness, and the experiences of school districts such as Appoquinimink, in implementing AI solutions to address safety challenges.

The article focuses on the efforts of the U.S. school system to prepare students for the future. It cites a Skills Gap Study, which found that unfilled jobs could cost the U.S. economy more than 2.5 trillion dollars. Topics include the number of job openings that reached a high of 7.3 million in 2019, the law passed by Indiana that required all schools to incorporate interdisciplinary employability skills and the role of Career and technical education (CTE) programs in improving soft skills.

The article discusses how the realm of professional sport has been taken by storm by the rise of eSports. It is mentioned that schools looking to build local leagues for minimal cost could emulate the Wisconsin High School eSports Conference (WHSEC). The article adds that benefits and drawbacks of esports including better inclusivity and diversity among the sports group, glorifying violence in video games, and how it offer better job opportunity in marketing, accounting, and cybersecurity.

The article discusses that with social-emotional learning (SEL) initiatives becoming standard practice, more attention is being placed on teaching empathy helping students understand and accept someone else's perspective and experience at a time when the impacts of technology and social media demand it. Topics include studies show that when young people have empathy, they display more classroom engagement, higher academic achievement, and better communication skills.

The article talks about the activity of the science teacher at Riverdale Grade School in Portland, Oregon in making the sixth-graders to the school's outdoor classroom and garden, and various garden programs to promote STEM education. Topics discussed include impact of students activities in school garden on the academic performance of students; positive effect of school garden such as interpersonal relationships and experimental education; and use of school garden in teaching nutrition.

The article reports that meditation in schools calms nerves and improves focus. Topics include Amanda J. Moreno, an associate professor and child development program director at the Erikson Institute in Chicago, Illinois, stated to be working with Chicago Public Schools in Chicago on the largest study of mindfulness with a child-directed program ever funded by the U.S. Department of Education.

The article discusses how home visit, the practice of teachers scheduling a trip to their students' homes to meet families, help schools connect with their students and families. Topics covered include the benefits of home visits, the core practices of the Parent Teacher Home Visits (PTHV) home visit model and how home visits help families access precious resources.

The article describes some campaigns undertaken by universities and institutions such as Victor Valley College, California, Clemson University, South Carolina, and Delaware County Community College, for finding alumni and also offers suggestions on how to coax lost alumni out of hiding.

The article focuses on Jana Simpson, a graduate of the Ohio State University in 1989 who attended a university-sponsored alumni career fair and accepted a job as a senior analyst. Simpson mentions the importance of networking in job seeking. It notes that career services are not just for students but for older alumni as well. INSET: A Virtual Impact.

The article offers tips for making sustainable buildings. It mentions about improving indoor air quality, which has both environmental and economic benefits; testing water source that's used for either drinking or food preparation; and investment to create green schoolyards, and investing in electric buses.

The article discusses school policies regarding student use of digital and mobile computer devices for learning, adapted from Robin L. Flanigan's article in the February 6, 2013 issue of the magazine "Education Week."

The article looks at the use of technology by educators that are highly interactive and developmentally appropriate for elementary students in each grade level. Particular focus is given to several points including the designs of the lessons and the appropriate method of delivering them online, whether there should be limits and if these limits are really needed, and offline time for interaction with teachers. The first online elementary school Marion eLearning was also described.

The article focuses on the need for U.S. school districts to monitor foods being served at school cafeterias in order to prevent the occurrence of food allergies in 2006. Life-threatening food allergies have become an increasingly public health concern, and the American Academy of Pediatrics and other medical associations have been stressing the significance of managing them on school grounds. Worst-case scenarios can be avoided if school administrators, teachers, bus drivers and other staff members are educated about treating food allergies.

The article presents information on the occurrence of illnesses caused by foods prepared in school cafeterias in the U.S. in 2006. Although school cafeterias boast an excellent overall safety record, scenarios such as the occurrence of food-borne illnesses do happen. Based on the record of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of such incidents increased by 56% from 1990 to 1997. The increase is particularly worrisome, according to food safety advocates, given that food-borne illnesses are grossly under-reported. This is because symptoms such as diarrhea and abdominal cramps mirror those of common stomach viruses. INSETS: Does irradiated meat belong in schools?;A food safety checklist.

Deals with exit exams, the tests students must pass to graduate high school, being implemented in some states in the U.S. to improve student achievement. Advantages and disadvantages of exit exams; Effects of exit exams on dropout rates; Information on the report of Pew Hispanic Center.

The article explores how education leaders can improve classroom acoustics, air quality, lighting, and temperature to prioritize academic outcomes. Topics include considered that several billions of dollars in aid from the federal government's COVID-19 relief packages essential for creating a nurturing post-pandemic learning environment especially since funding for school facilities varies greatly based on location.

The article presents information on the use of assessing skills through digital games in U.S. education. The author looks at the video game SimCityEDU: Pollution Challenge developed by the digital learning game-development company GlassLab, the learning technologies company GameDesk, and the professional development of teachers.

The article reports on trends in U.S. teacher education as of 2014, highlighting increased attention toward technology use in classroom instruction. Topics addressed include a 2012 report that criticized the level of digital skills instruction provided in U.S. teacher education programs, initiatives being made by educational associations, teachers and government officials to improve technological integration, and the emergence of specialist degrees in educational technology.

The article announces that Miguel Cardona became the twelfth U.S. Secretary of Education with sound track record of listening to constituents, collaborating with stakeholders, and prioritizing equity and innovation.

The article discusses the challenges and innovations in remote learning for preschoolers and kindergarteners during the pandemic. Topics include maintaining routines for stability, fostering relationships through creative means like using toys and adjusting teaching methods, and prioritizing fun activities to engage young learners socially and emotionally.

The article looks at the "flipped professional development" or job-embedded coaching in education leadership circles, which offers personalized online resources and face-to-face support by technology-integration specialists in Stillwater Area Public Schools, in Minnesota. Several considerations include context, grade level, and the interests of each teacher and specialist. Results and lessons learned through the application of this system were also discussed.

The article discusses various challenges faced by public companies involved in the kindergarten through twelfth (K-12) grade education industry. Particular focus is given to the financial difficulties experienced by the education companies K12 Inc. and EdisonLearning Inc. due to their failure to improve academic achievement at their partner schools. Mergers and acquisitions related to education companies such as Connections Education and Pearson are highlighted.

The article discusses online professional learning networks (PLNs) for educators. Particular focus is given to what the author sees as the teacher-directed nature of the networks. It is suggested that PLNs can help teachers and administrators to overcome financial and logistical issues to teacher professional development (PD). Details related to the use of the online PLN Edmodo by students and teachers are presented. Other topics include online conferences and administrators' use of PLNs.

The article examines the readiness of U.S. schools to respond to crisis situations including food allergies, school shootings and suicide. School psychologist Scott Poland notes that administrators often forget the importance of communicating honestly with parents. The significance of creating a plan before a crisis happens is emphasized. Clinical psychologist Mark Lerner suggests that school officials obtain facts from families affected before addressing the public, particularly in cases involving suicide.

The article addresses the challenges schools face due to the academic regression caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, known as the COVID slide. It highlights the varying degrees of online and at-home instruction students received during school closures and the resultant disparities, particularly among children of color and those from low-income families. It also emphasizes the necessity of equitable access to resources and additional academic support for disadvantaged students.

The article discusses student engagement that is correlated with success in school and mentions common meme formats concerning leaders. It also discusses factors that contribute towards academic and personal outcomes such as parental involvement, and a quantifiable starting point by school districts.

The article stresses the need for school boards and community leaders to trust that poor and minority children can learn as well as those who have more advantages to convince students that education offers their best opportunity for a better life. Certainly, there are plenty of excuses not to expect much from urban schools. High faculty turnover, transient students, and ambivalent parents are just some of the reasons cited in the link between poverty and low test scores. Teaching can be an isolating experience. And with urban schools as a whole hiring the least-experienced teachers in the field, school boards and administrators must find the funds to provide them with consistent support.

The article discusses the use of technology coaches in U.S. classrooms. Maria Deolazo, a grade two teacher at Abingdon Elementary School, compares the need for technology coaches to being in the driver's seat for the first time. According to Heather Zeigler, a digital-literacy specialist, they often find that teachers who try a new technology lesson or integration strategy without a coach are reluctant to try it again.

The article reports on efforts being made in places such as the school district of Mentor, Ohio to promote teacher development with regard to educational technology and technological literacy. Details are given noting that with trends of increased technology use in classrooms come concerns of teacher skill gaps. A profile is then offered of a teacher workshop aimed at promoting technological skill development among peers.

The article examines how the implementation of the Common Core State Standards, a set of national U.S. education standards, could impact the educational technology (ed-tech) industry once schools and districts purchase the necessary hardware and broadband. It cites several market analysts who suggest that funds previously allocated to preparing for the common core will shift to investments on digitally delivered personalized instruction and professional development for teachers.

The article presents information on digital literacy in U.S. education. The article looks at educational technology, educational innovations related to digital learning standards, and digital assessments related to the U.S. Common Core State Standards developed by the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) and the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium.

The article examines how the lack of independent research on the effectiveness of education products has made it difficult for educators to select products that address the need for new approaches to education and educational technology. It notes that many smaller companies and smaller school districts do not have the resources to properly research products, which has led some districts to encourage teachers to test products individually.

The article discusses teacher development to prepare instructors for online education in the U.S. Skills such as technology-based pedagogy, academic integrity monitoring, and written communication are discussed. Examples of teacher education programs from states such as Georgia, Idaho, and Hawaii are discussed, addressing topics such as online or alternative teacher certification, endorsement competencies, and training for blended learning.

The article discusses social entrepreneurs working in the U.S. to improve kindergarten through twelfth grade (K-12) public education. The author reports on organizations such as Little Kids Rock, NewSchools Venture Fund, and CK-12 which provide support for students in topics including music, science and technology. The competition for financial backing is also mentioned.

The article discusses the use of educational technology to allow international communication between U.S. schools and schools abroad. Topics include the use of video conferencing equipment to connect Florida students to Egyptian students during the 2011 fall of Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak, comments by teacher Suzie Nestico about classroom worldwide connectivity and the benefits of international education, and a project developed by teacher Melissa McMullan about the 2010 Haiti earthquake.