Blog – Broader BOLDER Approach to Education

HuffPost piece: Making Christmas Shine Bright All Year Round

Elaine Weiss — Fri, 23 Dec 2016 15:15:31 +0000

As we reflect on 2016 and look forward to holidays and a new year, in communities across the country, many children and their families are struggling to find reasons to celebrate. But a broader bolder initiative, Bright Futures, is bringing joy not only at Christmas, but year-round, to students, families, and teachers alike. So add it to the list of things to cheer!

In Our Schools, Black Lives Matter, Too

Elaine Weiss — Fri, 22 Jul 2016 13:33:30 +0000

The Black Lives Matter Movement has drawn attention to the disparities African Americans face in the criminal justice system, but this blog post acknowledges that the discussion needs to include that black lives of all ages matter. These disparities actually begin in preschool, and then continue throughout the rest of a child’s education. Our education system must address these inequalities.

Appalachian Schools are Helping Isolated Students Go to College. Here’s How.

Elaine Weiss — Tue, 12 Jul 2016 16:46:25 +0000

Appalachia has some of the worst rural poverty in our nation, but schools are creating new strategies to improve access to mentors, tackling summer learning loss and increase high school graduation rates. Elaine Weiss writes on how community engagement and family supports in Appalachian schools have been critical in the efforts to improve educational outcomes in rural communities.

How one struggling school can help education policy-makers do the right thing

Elaine Weiss — Tue, 05 Jul 2016 16:18:53 +0000

The documentary “Oyler: One School, One Year” provides a firsthand look at the economic and social factors that can affect academic success. This post encourages the policy-makers creating the Every Student Succeeds Act to watch the documentary in order to understand the challenges that schools, principals, teachers, and students face. New rules under ESSA must address the diverse needs of individual schools and the unique problems they face in their communities.

Student Poverty isn’t an Excuse, It’s a Barrier

Elaine Weiss — Wed, 11 May 2016 20:32:18 +0000

The four co-chairs of the Broader, Bolder Approach to Education -- Helen Ladd, Pedro Noguera, Paul Reville, and Joshua Starr -- write for EdWeek about why this is BBA's ed policy moment. Increasingly widespread recognition that poverty is not an excuse, but a serious barrier to student and school success, is a first, and important step. And the passage of ESSA may make future steps easier. But if we are to build on those, and on growing momentum for investments in early childhood education, wraparound services, and systems to develop and support educators, we must seize this moment, not blow it!

A Broader, Bolder Approach to Early Childhood Education

Don Long — Fri, 22 Apr 2016 15:30:00 +0000

This BBA blog highlights a comprehensive approach to early childhood education in the context of the national election. While education in general is receiving little play, ECE is on the radar of several leading candidates, and advocacy groups are making access to high-quality early care and education a high priority.

Arne Duncan’s mixed legacy

Elaine Weiss — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 18:05:22 +0000

This Op-Ed by BBA National Coordinator Elaine Weiss reflects the emerging policy environment – which recognizes that reaching higher standards and ensuring accountability require addressing poverty’s impacts and incorporating educator perspective – in which BBA is poised to take on a new leadership role.