The "IDRA Newsletter" serves as a vehicle for communication with educators, school board members, decision-makers, parents, and the general public concerning the educational needs of all children across the United States. This issue is the "50th Anniversary Edition." Contents include: (1) IDRA Milestones Across Five Decades to…

Assessment News first announced the launch of the New Zealand Assessment Institute (NZAI) 4 years ago, and this current article looks at how NZAI has progressed, highlighting its key publications and activities from 2021. This update should be of use to teachers and school leaders who want to explore assessment more deeply, gain practical tips, or…

In recent years, the field of education has been fraught with a variety of different challenges. A multi-year pandemic, book banning, and legislative efforts seeking to ban Critical Race Theory and LGBTQ positive curriculum have had negative effects on K-12 education, leaving many educators feeling the progress made in several states and…

A concise "go to" guide for new language educators that provides basic practical information, suggestions, and templates, without going into the detail found in a more comprehensive methods textbook. Since the publication of the first edition in 2007, concepts of planning, instruction, and grading have evolved, proficiency-based…

Assistive technology (AT) for students with visual impairments (VI) is an essential part of their educational program. AT allows students to develop skills, engage in the academic environment, and function independently. Despite the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) mandate for AT as part of a student's Individualized Education…

Media literacy expands the traditional concept of literacy to include the forms of communication that dominate the lives of our students. If our students are to be literate, we must teach them the skills and habits of literacy for print and non-print mediated messages. This National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) position statement…

"Transformative Teachers" offers an insightful look at the growing movement of civic-minded educators who are using twenty-first-century participatory practices and connected technologies to organize change from the ground up. Kira J. Baker-Doyle highlights the collaborative, grassroots tactics that activist teachers are implementing to…

NSTA initiated the student chapter program in 2001 to help preservice science teachers at universities and colleges gain access to professional development opportunities and provide support as they enter the profession. Here the authors share examples of how a student chapter contributes to professional development of preservice teachers and…

In 1985, the leaders of the Smithsonian Institution and the National Academies established the National Science Resources Center (NSRC) to address the critical problem identified by the "A Nation at Risk" report. Through its Curriculum Development Center and in partnership with its publisher, Carolina Biological Supply Company, the NSRC developed…

Citizenship preparation is recognized as a main goal of education (Parker, 2009); however, some individuals believe that only social studies teachers are required to prepare students for citizenship. At a Southeastern university, 77 teacher education students consisting of 28 men and 49 women from various content areas were interviewed on civic…

The Partnership for 21st Century Skills (P21) has forged alliances with key national organizations representing the core academic subjects, including Social Studies, English, Math, Science, Geography, World Languages and the Arts. These collaborations have resulted in the development of 21st Century Skills Maps that illustrate the essential…

Compelling evidence illustrates place-based education (PBE) as a catalyst for inspiring teachers to create dynamic curricula that energizes the student. PBE curriculum typically encompasses all traditional subjects and entails hands-on classroom and field studies utilizing the natural world and local community. The purpose of this literature…

"Business Week" and "Fortune Magazine" suggest that Teach for America (TFA) is a beneficial postgraduation option for corps members, who teach for a finite commitment in low-socioeconomic status urban school districts. This longitudinal qualitative study examines the complex issues that surround TFA through the voices of TFA corps members,…

Concerned about the lack of focus on students' needs for support in order to meet rigorous academic standards at the secondary and postsecondary levels, the Pathways to College Network--a partnership of national organizations and funders working to improve postsecondary opportunities for underserved populations--is undertaking a national…

Information about 191 art education organizations is provided in this guide. The entries are arranged in six sections: State Arts Agencies, State Departments of Education, State Arts Education Alliances, National Arts Education Associations, National Arts Service Organizations, and National Education Associations. Each entry includes the…