World language educators can enhance student learning by incorporating creative performance tasks that focus on authentic communication. Examples include debates, digital storytelling, mock interviews, podcasting, visual projects, role-playing, collaborative storytelling and travel itinerary planning. These tasks help students apply language skills in real-world scenarios, boosting confidence and proficiency.

A pilot program in Kentucky -- CLIMB 2.0 -- offers high-school students a pathway to careers in behavioral and mental health. The initiative, launched by the state's Council on Postsecondary Education along with the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, allows students to earn certifications that open the door to roles in the behavioral health sector after graduation or pursue further credentials.

The international schools network Globeducate has launched a comprehensive strategy to address declining reading proficiency among students, focusing on priorities such as integrating literacy across all subjects, leveraging digital resources and fostering professional collaboration, writes Oanh Crouch, education director. The aim is to not only improve literacy but also to develop critically minded global citizens, Crouch writes.

AI literacy requires students to do more than prompt chatbots, and computer science education can give them an understanding of the data, algorithms and models that underpin AI, writes Jake Baskin of the Computer Science Teachers Association. Professional development, learning communities and curriculum support for computer science educators can help them guide students through evolving concepts and technologies, Baskin notes.

Industry leaders and advocates at EdTech Week highlighted the challenges of data inoperability in K-12 education, especially for students with disabilities. The lack of standardized, transferable data systems disrupts services when students move between schools, particularly for military families who relocate frequently. Panelists emphasized the need for robust information exchange to ensure continuity of services and discussed the technical and emotional challenges faced by families and schools. Recent federal policy shifts and funding uncertainties add to the complexity, underscoring the importance of improving data interoperability.

Education Savings Accounts are driving rapid growth in the affordable private school sector, with 18 states having passed ESA laws and more expected. However, the growth is supply-limited, as there are not enough affordable private schools to meet demand. This has led to the rise of microschools, which are more affordable but often lack business expertise, a segment that outside services can provide.

For school leaders, being fully present and receptive to educators’ perspectives can turn routine exchanges into opportunities for authentic growth. Read more from Chris Munro and John Campbell from Growth Coaching International on the ISTE+ASCD Blog.

In the latest issue of EL, columnis