'It is not too late': How some middle schools are improving English ILEARN scores

To help keep track of students when they're out of the classroom and limit the disruption of breaks, Tucson-area schools are now usually digital hall passes that logs their departure point and destination with their student ID. Students and teachers say the new system is working well so far, though similar programs in other states have drawn concerns around data collection and privacy.

Facing a youth mental health crisis, some schools are using digital screening tools like BIMAS-2 and DESSA to identify students needing behavioral support. Districts in Green Bay and Alexandria report positive results, but widespread adoption meets resistance due to costs, parent concerns, and limited capacity for follow-up support.

Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) is an approach to student behavior that focuses on how well students embody five standards — respect, responsibility, readiness, safety and pride — and awards points based on their behaviors that can be redeemed for rewards. PBIS offers an alternative to the “zero tolerance” student behavior policies that have been known to hurt academic achievement, particularly among students of color. Studies show that schools with a PBIS approach saw classroom removals decrease by 58% and out-of-school suspensions decreased by about half.

A growing number of U.S. schools are partnering with technology companies and using software programs to monitor students' social media for violent posts. However, some are expressing concern about how this practice and its algorithms may violate student privacy and lead to further discrimination against students of color.

For-profit companies are making good private schools available even to Africa’s poor. They can do it – and can do it on an enormous scale – by hiring neighborhood residents to teach, and scripting out every word of every lesson on an e-reader.

The Phoenix School of Discovery is an alternative school designed for students with learning and social challenges, with roughly half of students on an individualized education plan, or IEP. The school prioritizes hands-on learning, has multiple teachers in each classroom, and offers accommodations like sensory-friendly lighting and a space for “quiet lunch” for students who find the traditional cafeteria over-stimulating.

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans gave control of its schools to a Recovery School District that replaced the majority of the city’s existing schools with public charter schools. Following the reforms, research showed improvements in student achievement, graduation rates, and college matriculation, though the gains have slowed in recent years.

In response to growing political polarization and controversial policies on local NYC school councils, grassroots community groups such as "the Aunties" have mobilized parent engagement through organized protests, canvassing and digital activism. Their efforts have notably raised community awareness, significantly increased parent participation at public council meetings, and compelled influential groups to reconsider key candidate endorsements.

Despite having less money and staff than similar districts, Steubenville schools excel at teaching youth to read, consistently getting 95% to 99% of its third graders over the proficiency level. The schools achieve this with various strategies, including offering subsidized preschool starting at age three, prioritizing reading time across all school subjects and allowing students to work with their peers to read aloud and practice their fluency skills.

To curb academic backsliding as students returned to the classroom following the COVID-19 pandemic, Boone County Schools tried various initiatives, such as encouraging teachers to keep students on track by not trying to catch them up on everything they missed during remote learning. This ensures students are learning the material relevant to their grade level, and has yielded significant improvements in academic performance.