Alyson Klein

Bethesda

Covering technology & the future of work for @educationweek. Co-founder @PoliticsK12. Toddler mom. Welcome tips & takes on how tech is reshaping K-12 schools.

Articles

Why Some Schools Are Ditching Class Rank and Weighted GPAs

1 month ago | edweek.org | Alyson Klein

Superintendent Alison Villanueva was about a month into leading Connecticut’s Watertown school district when she suddenly found herself facing a “catastrophe, PR nightmare.”A high school principal published the names of that year’s valedictorian and salutatorian in a press release and on social media. Then, the district got a call from a parent arguing that the information was wrong and that their own child had, in fact, come in second in the graduating class.
Instagram Wants Teachers to Report Cyberbullying. But How Much Will That Help?

1 month ago | edweek.org | Alyson Klein

Instagram announced a new Schools Partnership program designed to help educators report instances of potential cyberbullying, a move in response to rising criticism about the negative impact social media is having on the health of young people. Cyberbullying concerns from educators at participating schools will automatically be prioritized for review, and educators who report the problems will be notified if the company acts on their requests.
The First Rule of SEL for Older Students? Don’t Be Boring

1 month ago | flipboard.com | Alyson Klein

4 hours agoIt's hard to find anyone who has a bad word to say about de-escalation. The problem is that de-escalation isn't always possible and right now some powerful institutions seem to view only one other path as possible: appeasement, a method of engagement far less likely to elicit praise and far more …
The First Rule of SEL for Older Students? Don’t Be Boring

1 month ago | edweek.org | Alyson Klein

Social-emotional learning—particularly skills such as listening and sharing—seem like a natural extension of an elementary school curriculum. But middle and high schoolers can be a much tougher audience for that kind of learning.
The Skills Employers Want Most in the AI Age All Have Something in Common

1 month ago | edweek.org | Alyson Klein

Growth mindset and resilience. Effective teamwork. Cognitive flexibility. Those are among the list of skills that major employers—including Apple, Delta Airlines, Microsoft, and Southwest Airlines—said they want schools to impart to the future workforce. That doesn’t come as a surprise to Karen VanAusdal, the senior director of practice for the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), a national organization that advocates for social-emotional learning.
States Are Testing How Much Leeway They Can Get From Trump's Ed. Dept.

1 month ago | edweek.org | Alyson Klein |Brooke Schultz

With a wholesale revamping of the U.S. Department of Education underway, some state leaders are now gearing up to test just how much leeway the agency is willing to grant through its waiver authority to change key rules about how federal funds are distributed and schools held accountable for progress.
Why Understanding AI Starts With Math

1 month ago | flipboard.com | Alyson Klein

1 day agoBuilding financial independence isn’t just about saving—it’s about growing your income and taking charge of your future by making wise decisions. For many, that means starting a business to fuel their financial freedom. In the past, launching a company—especially one in tech—came with a pricey tag. …
Why Understanding AI Starts With Math

1 month ago | edweek.org | Alyson Klein

Can you predict whether a passenger would have survived the sinking of the Titanic based on factors like gender and income? How do you know if a mushroom is poisonous or safe to eat? What separates a cancerous cell from a typical one? Students in Clayton Dagler’s machine-learning class at Elk Grove High School near Sacramento, Calif., puzzle over such complex problems by pairing a computer-coding language commonly used in artificial intelligence technologies with math concepts.
The College Board Adds Two New AP Courses. Here’s What Makes Them Different

1 month ago | edweek.org | Alyson Klein

For decades, the College Board partnered with college and universities to design courses for its sprawling Advanced Placement program, which is offered at about 16,000 high schools, making it the most widespread vehicle for bringing college-level expectations to high school classrooms. Now the nonprofit is putting a new twist on AP: It is crafting courses not just with higher education at the table, but industry partners such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the technology giant IBM.
College Board's CEO on How AP Courses Are Changing for the AI Era

1 month ago | edweek.org | Alyson Klein

The College Board is making a key addition to its 70-year-old Advanced Placement program: creating courses with significant input from the business community—not just higher education—and with career development in mind. The change is in part a response to students’ disengagement with high school courses that feel irrelevant to their futures, said David Coleman, the non-profit’s CEO in a wide-ranging interview last month.