Students from West Salem Middle School in Wisconsin participated in the school's annual Earth Day cleanup, visiting parks and homes to pick up litter and assist older residents. Principal Ben Wopat emphasized the event's role in teaching leadership and community service, noting that students are eager to contribute to their community and the environment.

The US Department of Education plans to proceed with the National Assessment of Educational Progress in 2026 despite significant layoffs, US Secretary of Education Linda McMahon says. The assessment will include math and reading for fourth- and eighth-graders, as well as US history and civics for eighth-graders.

Physical education classes provide a platform for students to build confidence through supportive peer interactions. Educators are encouraged to pair less confident students with encouraging partners and eliminate activities with exclusionary aspects, like dodgeball, to promote consistent participation.

The San Leandro Unified School District in California has adopted equitable grading to ensure consistency and accuracy in reflecting students' content knowledge. The initiative emerged after discrepancies were found between letter grades and standardized test scores.

Instead of writing lengthy notes, Thomas Courtney, a middle-school teacher, uses short, personalized videos to guide students and support substitute teachers during absences. He says the approach improves student engagement, clarifies expectations and simplifies planning.

Principal turnover is gradually returning to prepandemic levels, according to research from the RAND Corp. The principal turnover rate peaked at 16% during the 2021-22 academic year but dropped to 8% last year, still higher than the 3.3% seen before the pandemic. Teacher turnover shows a similar trend, reaching 10% in 2021-22 and decreasing to 7% last year.

Project-based learning's mischievous sibling, problem-based learning, is once again gaining traction in the educational sphere. Kim Rensch, a district gifted services leader, likes that Todd Stanley's book goes deep into assessment after a thorough look at inquiry learning. Read more.

During Arab American Heritage Month students explore the diversity within the Arab community, its members' contributions to the United States, and the discrimination many Arab Americans have faced in the 21st century. This resource collection can help with the exploration. Read on.

You've spent the school year teaching students skills and strategies and covering the curriculum, giving your best to all your classes. Now as the year winds down, the time has come to let the students take over. See how Kathie Palmieri's middle grades kids share learning. Read more.