Engaging students as pedagogical partners creates a brave space for students to become critical thinkers and beings that shapes not just what they know, but also who they are (Arao & Clemens, 2013; Bovill, Cook-Sather, & Felten, 2011). The language of brave space conveys a tone for engagement while also proposing a manner of engagement…

This account of practice explores the use of an action learning programme with a team in a Public Relations agency in Bangkok, Thailand. The programme aimed at improving team and individual performance, including leadership, self-awareness, ownership of work, communication and collaboration. The article describes the context and intended purpose…

The year 2020 saw significant state legislative actions, executive orders, and budget provisions that had a profound impact on funding related to Career and Technical Education (CTE) and career readiness. This report from the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE) and Advance CTE is the eighth annual review of CTE and career…

This report is the executive summary to a paper that argues for a radical restructuring of education for grades 11-14--by erasing the arbitrary dividing line between high school and college--to open opportunities for the learners the current systems leave behind. The authors make the case for an entirely new type of institution--neither high…

Oklahoma was one of the 10 states selected to participate in New Skills for Youth (NSFY). NSFY, launched by JPMorgan Chase & Co. in 2016, is a $75 million, five-year initiative, aimed at strengthening and expanding high-quality career pathways for youth. As part of this initiative, the Council of Chief State School Officers, Advance CTE, and…

Today, in conjunction with the Alliance for Childhood, we are thrilled to release our new report "Reading Instruction in Kindergarten: Little to Gain and Much to Lose." In the report we concluded that Common Core reading requirements for kindergarten are inappropriate and not well-grounded in research. Under Common Core, students are…

On the federal and state levels, 2019 was an important year for Career Technical Education (CTE). In addition to creating their four-year state plans for the federal Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act (Perkins V), at least 45 states and Palau enacted at least 208 policy actions related to CTE and career…

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015 includes several provisions that support the implementation of Linked Learning in California. Linked Learning is an approach to high school redesign that combines: (1) rigorous academics; (2) career-based learning in the classroom; (3) work-based learning; and (4) integrated student supports. These…

This year's Action Guide examines the need for new ways of measuring student success. Academic test scores are just one method of measuring student progress, offering an incomplete picture of student learning and growth. Educators and state leaders recognize that serving all students well requires focusing on their individual needs, including…

In the 2018 calendar year, 42 states and Washington, D.C., passed a total of 146 policy actions related to Career and Technical Education (CTE) and career readiness, including legislation, executive orders, board of education actions, budget provisions and ballot initiatives. While roughly 100 fewer policies were passed in 2018 than in 2017, this…

Various state and national forces are influencing principal preparation programs, including competition from online for-profit institutions, teacher evaluation, school accountability, equity, and Response to Intervention mandates that require university-based leadership preparation programs to re-examine and revise program delivery and content.…

While most states require testing in social studies or civic education, two states attach consequences for students and schools based on required statewide civics exams. Lawmakers in Florida, in 2010, and in Tennessee, in 2012, approved legislation that holds students accountable for their civics knowledge. Students are taking the tests for the…

Improving teacher preparation is critical to long-term improvement in teacher quality. More than 200,000 new teachers enter classrooms each year. Increasing student enrollment, the retirement of baby boom generation teachers, and high attrition in their first five years (between 40 and 50 percent of new teachers leave the profession) have…

In response to the growing calls for accountability in higher education, accreditation associations are requiring institutions to develop strategic plans designed to enhance student learning. This requirement can be recast as a unique opportunity to promote institution-wide introspection and collaboration. Such a plan can foster an open dialogue…

Supervision, as this author discovered, is about building relationships with groups and individuals, as well as implementing policies and practices to create clear expectations. These policies, practices, expectations, and relationships should give rise to a work environment that encourages creativity, learning, and personal growth. In this…