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Notes from the Evidence Project
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- Overall, the majority of pod families (two-thirds) noted at least one benefit for their child compared to pre-pandemic schooling. Additionally, pod instructors reported satisfaction with their experience.
- Families participating in pods that primarily relied on remote instruction tended to report less satisfaction with the learning pod experience. Some participants also felt cut off from essential supports such as special education services for students and professional development opportunities for instructors.
- These learning communities could also lead to stronger social bonds between pod collaborators. However, some pods experienced conflicts over health precautions and societal issues. Many pods also tended towards homogenous groupings, losing the opportunity to bring students of different ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds together.
In summary, the learning pod model can serve as a new way to approach schooling that is more customized and relationship-based for both students and educators. Those who recognize the added benefits of pandemic-era innovations can support such initiatives by offering targeted resources for low-income families, allowing these families to tap into school resources, and investing in new learning models both within and outside of school systems. Read the full report for other notable findings and recommendations for the field.
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| | NEW SURVEY & POLLING DATA
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Survey results from EdChoice show there is potentially a robust market for learning pods, or similar arrangements such as microschools, hybrid homeschools, and homeschool cooperatives. See the findings from Michael McShane and Paul DiPerna.
Morgan Polikoff analyzes key findings about how to improve access to a challenging academic curriculum, whether in the classroom or nontraditional settings such as pods.
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According to mid-year progress monitoring data from Amplify, first and second graders are making academic progress but still have yet to catch up to where students in those grades were performing during this time before schools shut down. Fourth and fifth graders, in comparison, have made greater progress. Read a summary of findings via The 74 and EdWeek.
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Phyllis Jordan and Bella DiMarco provide a breakdown of how LEA’s plan to spend $50 billion of the $67 billion in ESSER III money. Their analysis estimates $31 billion in funds will go towards academic interventions, $25 billion on teachers and staff, and $26 billion on school facilities and operations.
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Approaching retirement age, switching between instructional modes, health concerns, and high levels of burnout were all listed as predictors for teachers considering leaving or retiring from the profession, according to findings from the RAND American Teacher Panel.
A new working paper surveyed teachers on their preferences for various work-related features. The study found that 1) access to special education specialists, counselors, and nurses was more preferable than a 10% salary increase or a small reduction of class size, 2) investing in counselors and nurses would be cost effective given the value teachers place on these positions, and 3) teachers with children see a 10% salary increase and child care subsidy as nearly equal in value as a benefit.
A study assessing the reallocation of teachers within a school district saw meaningful student achievement gains when teachers’ school preferences were directly affected; directly affecting principals’ selection of teachers, on the other hand, can lower student achievement.
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| | SCHOOL/ DISTRICT OPERATIONS
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New data from the American School District Panel revealed insights on public schools’ staffing crisis: the majority of school leaders believe the pandemic has caused a shortage of teachers. The report also notes acute shortages for substitutes, bus drivers, special education teachers, and paraprofessionals. A discussion with four superintendents reveals more about the impact these shortages have on schools.
A new report from Bellwether Education examines emergent policy trends–including open enrollment, charter schools, and education savings accounts–and offers recommendations to ensure that all families have equitable access to these education options.
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Center on Reinventing Public Education
Improving education through transformative,
evidence-based ideas
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