From the outside, the Meriden Public Schools system looks like a network of struggling city schools. The state has designated it an Alliance District and one of the “lowest-performing districts” since more than one-quarter of the students are multiple grades behind in English, math and science. It is also an economically isolated district that spends 30 percent less per student than the state average despite three-quarters of its students coming.
From the outside, the Meriden Public Schools system looks like a network of struggling city schools.
The state has designated it an Alliance District and one of the “lowest-performing districts” since more than one-quarter of the students are multiple grades behind in English, math and science. It is also an economically isolated district that spends 30% less per student than the state average despite three-quarters of its students coming from low-income families. And the school ratings often used in real estate listings don’t look favorably on the district, either.
This is where Miguel Cardona President-elect Joe Biden’s pick to become the next U.S. education secretary grew up and spent 21 years of his 23-year career as an educator. And his experiences there his battles and the district’s successes will likely be front-of-mind as he coordinates policy for all the public schools in the country.
Published January 12, 2021 at 9:57 AM EST
Public school enrollment in New England is down during the pandemic. But even when kids are enrolled, it can be a struggle to get some to show up. This week on NEXT, how one district is tackling absenteeism and why doctors are increasingly concerned about youth mental health. Plus, Massachusetts school districts try to cope with a teacher shortage. And when a Vermonter’s business plummeted after COVID hit, she donned an inflatable T-Rex costume and started dancing.
Guests:
Jennie Weiner, associate professor of educational leadership at the University of Connecticut’s Neag School of Education.
UConn Researchers to Reimagine Dual Language Education
The University of Connecticut has been awarded a $179,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Postsecondary Education for a new research project centered on reimagining dual language education. The project’s purpose is to improve the ability of dual language programs to promote the equitable bilingualism and biliteracy development of all students through a greater focus on sociocultural competence.
To better understand the role of sociocultural competence among dual language students, the project will focus on upper-elementary dual language teachers in an urban Connecticut school district. (Tetra Images – Erik Isakson/Getty Images)
Leveraging Soft Skills to Improve College and Career Readiness
Neag School of Education associate professor Jennifer Freeman is working to improve college and career readiness for students with emotional and behavioral disorders.
Image by Dickson Donatus from Pixabay Copy Link
The transition from high school to college or the workforce is a major one for all students. While high schools work to ensure their graduates are prepared, students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) often find themselves lacking the non-academic skills they need to succeed.
Through a collaboration with Lehigh University, Neag School of Education associate professor Jennifer Freeman will develop an intervention to improve college and career readiness for students with emotional and behavioral disorders. This $500,000 grant is sponsored by the Institute of Educational Sciences (IES). Freeman is a Co-PI with Lee Kern and Chris Liang at Lehigh University.