Human Capital Management

Talk Data to Me: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Recruiting and Hiring Practices

The Frontline Research and Learning Institute recently surveyed district and school administrators regarding their organization’s past, present, and future focus of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I). We heard from 567 respondents representing 49 states and small and large public, private, and charter schools. 84.4% of respondents answered very important or important when asked to rate […]

Human Capital Management

Moving Toward Action: Cultivating a Diverse Teacher Workforce

Time after time, study after study, research has shown that a more diverse teacher workforce positively impacts student outcomes. But students of color aren’t the only ones who benefit — diverse teachers and leaders can serve as positive role models and challenge stereotypes for all students. But the teacher pool and new educator pipeline don’t […]

School Health

What School Nurses Want You to Consider Before Re-Opening K-12 Schools During COVID-19

Robin Cogan is a school nurse in Camden, NJ and the author of the blog The Relentless School Nurse. In a recent episode of Frontline’s Field Trip podcast, Robin discussed questions school leaders would need to answer as they consider re-opening. Where do kids go when they don’t feel well, skin their knees, or have […]

Frontline

A Teacher, a Superintendent, a Special Ed Director: 4 Real-life Stories About Equity in Education

Coming from a small town in the not-Philadelphia-and-not-Pittsburgh part of Pennsylvania, the idea of equity in education wasn’t top-of-mind for me when I was a high school student. Nor was the whole idea that some kids might not have the same kind of opportunities as others. Sure, some came from families with more money than […]

Professional Growth

Are Teacher Evaluations Worth It?

DR. JAMES STRONGE ON THE GATES FOUNDATION’S INTENSIVE PARTNERSHIPS FOR EFFECTIVE TEACHING INITIATIVE. Last June, the RAND Corporation published research[1] looking at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Intensive Partnerships for Effective Teaching initiative. The initiative worked with three school districts and several charter management organizations to redesign teacher evaluations that factored in not only […]

Professional Growth

11 Ways to Get Teacher Buy-in to Micro-credentials

Micro-credentials have been making waves in schools around the country for several years now. Maybe you’ve had the opportunity to earn them, or see them implemented into professional learning programs. Maybe you’re thinking about taking the leap, offering competency-based learning for the teachers you serve. Our world moves fast, and teachers can get inundated with […]

Professional Growth

Dr. Jim Knight: Videotaping Lessons as Professional Development for Teachers

“Video is a central part of my own personal growth, because you need feedback to grow. You need to see where you are, you need to see where you’re trying to get to. So it’s a key part of what I do, not just professionally but personally.” Dr. Jim Knight is widely known in the […]

Professional Growth

Professional Development for Principals

HOW FRANKLIN PUBLIC SCHOOLS USED IN-DISTRICT EXPERTISE TO PROMOTE EFFECTIVE OBSERVATIONS.   When you talk about employee evaluations in K-12, the first thing most people think is “teachers.” That’s true at Franklin Public Schools in Wisconsin, too. But as they work to build the capacity of teachers in the district, they also place a strong […]

Special Education

Podcast: Special Education Software Companies as District Partners

  In special education, the road to choosing a software program to support administration and program management is different than in other areas of K-12 education. One difference is because of complex, state-specific compliance requirements — but there are other variables that make selecting the right software a complicated journey. This podcast explores the intricacies […]

Talk Data to Me

A data-centric view on the challenges facing school districts

Recruiting & Hiring

Talk Data to Me: Hire Rates

According to a 2021 Frontline survey, about two-thirds of over 1,200 school and district administrators reported having a teacher shortage. Some districts experienced the teacher shortage worse than others. About half of the respondents reported difficulty filling jobs across all grade levels and subjects while the other half felt the effects of the shortage in […]

Teacher Absences & Subs

Talk Data to Me: Trends in Absence Management and Substitute Pools

Troubled by substitute shortages and low fill rates? You’re not alone. These are challenges faced by many districts, and for good reason. Substitute management is no walk in the park: a lot of different elements go into maintaining and managing a healthy substitute pool.   To overcome the challenges associated with the substitute shortage, districts […]

Recruiting & Hiring

Talk Data to Me: The State of the Instructional Teacher Shortage

The Frontline Research and Learning Institute recently published a research brief called “The State of the Instructional Teacher Shortage”. Following a basic supply and demand economic model, the analysis investigates the quantity of candidates applying for jobs (supply) as well as the availability of open positions (demand). Trends show changes to both sides of the […]

Student Data

Talk Data to Me: Supporting the Health Needs of Students and Staff

In early April, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said that schools should be reopened and “full-fledged in person” come fall 2021, regardless of vaccination status. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona echoed this in early May, saying that he expects a full return for all students in the fall. With most states no longer placing restrictions on school […]

Front & Center

A series showcasing various leaders in the K-12 space