What We’re Reading: Week of August 30, 2021
Happy Friday, and welcome back to What We’re Reading! This week, we round up some articles on recent federal policy announcements on mental health and COVID-19, a call to close equity gaps in apprenticeships, and more.
Have a story you think the Linked Learning field should read? Reach out to me at ava@linkedlearning.org!
COVID-19
A school year like no other: The class of 2021 played ‘the hand we were dealt’, Hechinger Report
As they finished high school during one of the most tumultuous years in this nation’s history, three Colorado students navigated mental health struggles, family pressures and big questions about their post-graduation plans.
Linked Learning News
The Alliance Kicks Off 2021-2022 Linked Learning Fellows Program, Linked Learning Alliance
The Linked Learning Alliance is excited to launch the 2021-2022 Linked Learning Fellows program!
Policy
Biden administration pledges $85M to support student mental health, Washington Post
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Friday pledged $85 million in funding to address growing mental healthcare demands for children and teens.
Ed Dept resource examines how schools can use ARP funds to address learning loss, K-12 Dive
To assist schools in supporting students in the return to in-person learning, the U.S. Department of Education released a new resource, "Strategies for Using American Rescue Plan Funding to Address the Impact of Lost Instructional Time," examining evidence-based strategies for addressing pandemic-related learning loss using their share of the $122 billion in American Rescue Plan funds earmarked for K-12 education.
Practice
How Math and English Teachers Encourage Civic Engagement, Edutopia
Linked Learning pathways know the value of cross-curricular projects and teachings. Edutopia covers some appealing, thought-provoking opportunities outside of social studies for teaching students how to be involved citizens.
Work-Based Learning
It's time to close apprenticeship's long-overlooked equity gaps, The Hill
To fully realize the apprenticeship model’s potential, we must create a more purposeful approach to inclusive apprenticeship — one that seeks to right the historic wrongs in workforce opportunity, write Eric Seleznow and Latitia McCaine.
Student Supports
It's now or never: Let's use this investment opportunity to create a new US education system, K-12 Dive
Karen Niemi, CEO of the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), writes that bolstering the school-based approach to partner with students, families and communities is crucial to systemic change.