State Education Standard State Education Standard

September 2021 — Volume 21, No. 3

Equity and English Learners Post-Pandemic

By Julie Sugarman and Melissa Lazarín

The past several years have been exceptionally challenging for the nation’s five million English learners (ELs) and their families. As the pandemic recedes, schools approach normalcy, and a historic investment of federal education dollars flows to states and school districts, state education leaders face the exceptional responsibility of charting a new course for public schools and the ELs whom they serve.


Equity and English Learners Post-Pandemic





Also In this Issue

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Achieving Racial Justice in PreK-12 Education

By John B. King Jr. and Denise Forte

Progress is possible. Back to normal is not good enough.





Designing for Equity

By Hal Smith

It takes a whole community to lift up policies and practices that support equity and end those that don't.





Teacher Diversity and Student Success

By Constance A. Lindsay

State policymakers should name diversity as a marker of teacher quality.





Equity and English Learners Post-Pandemic

By Julie Sugarman and Melissa Lazarín

State leaders should ramp up supports for EL students and their families.





Racial Justice through Expanded Choice

By Derrell Bradford

Decoupling where students receive education from where they live is key to undoing the system's racist roots.





Supporting Youth with the Most Need

By Hailly T.N. Korman

For many, the pandemic has been just one of a host of barriers to a high-quality education.





Engaging Students through Ethnic Studies

By Woody Exley

California, Connecticut, and Texas broaden their elective offerings.





District of Columbia Embeds Antiracist Lens in Update of Social Studies Standards

By Jessica Sutter and Alexander Jue

State board tees up a revision process and standards characterized by civic engagement and cultural responsiveness.







Featured Items

Group of high school students throwing colorful confetti in the air, celebrating graduation on a sunny day i

States’ Role in Transforming High School: Evidence, Trends, and the Path Forward

High school sits at the intersection of everything states want for their young people, yet many young people say high school is not working for them. State leaders have numerous levers to incentivize high school transformation.
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Preparing Principals to Lead Innovative High Schools

By better aligning principal preparation, licensure, and support systems, state boards of education can unlock the potential of innovative high school models.
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School Improvement and Accountability

The authors in this issue share what they have learned about what is most likely to move the needle on student learning and how to ensure states and districts are directing resources toward what matters most for improving outcomes

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