3 Evolving Trends of the Education Sector

By CIOReview | Friday, June 14, 2019

FREMONT, CA: The new leadership models, the evolving school environment, and the changing culture are driving the transformation in the education industry. Over the past year, the Federal Commission of School Safety hosted several listening sessions to finalize the accountability plans of Every Student Succeeds Act.

Schools across the United States are upgrading their approaches to augment the educational opportunities for students in terms of professional development. The educational conferences held across the year 2018 had mostly focused on enhancing school climate and culture to boost equity in educational institutions. However, the accountability plans under the new act include the assessment of student performance in areas such as absenteeism, suspensions, general climate surveys, and so on.

Advancement of School Safety and Culture

The rising concerns over safety in schools have escalated the discussions of school climate and culture in terms of security. Many schools have initiated social-emotional learning workshops to equip students with soft skills, which can assist them in their future careers, as well as develop in them a sense of empathy and compassion. Often incorporated into the mental health program at schools, the new approach acts as a preventative measure designed to help them in worst-case scenarios. However, these techniques can potentially turn a school into a correctional facility, rather than a place to learn.

Improvement in School Discipline

The efforts of the new act are aimed at taking the schools away from stringent discipline strategies toward restorative measures such as positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) model. Since the strict approaches often impact students of color and those with disabilities, the act is aimed at reducing the suspension rate due to minor infractions. Researchers are studying the different approaches which can augment the learning of young children at schools. The concerns over the school climate and culture have also drawn the attention of leaders, philanthropists, and businesses to invest in the education sector.

Development of Leadership Models

The expansion of leadership models includes the hiring of school business managers to promote teacher leadership and facilitate effective instruction in the learning space. For instance, the Wallace Foundation has launched programs to rethink the approaches of principal training and deliver guidance to states and districts in equipping school administrators with active professional development.