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Summer Learning isn’t just for kids. As we move into the summer season, this is a great time to do a little learning for yourself around education policy and advocacy. We’ve put together some recommendations—whether it’s a podcast, a new study or book, or a documentary—we encourage you to check them out.
Podcasts:
Our friends at NewMexicoKidsCAN and LouisianaKidsMatter take a deep dive into Louisiana’s academic progress in reading over the last few years in this podcast episode.
Interested in Microschools? LiberatED has a great podcast about a microschool that launched in Orlando, FL that has focuses on students with disabilities.
The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), often called “The Nation’s Report Card,” is the largest ongoing national assessment of what U.S. students know and can do in various subjects. It provides crucial data on the condition of education across the country, informing policymakers and the public about student achievement trends over time. Deep dive into the Nation’s Report Card with this podcast.
Interested in the impact of cell phones and screens on kids? Check out this podcast with Jonathan Haidt, author of The Anxious Generation.
Check out this podcast from the Putnam County School System. This episode highlights the STARS program and its impact on preparing students for the workforce.
Interested in Georgia teacher recruitment and retention? Georgia Public Broadcasting Classroom Conversations’ podcast episode focuses on the new Teach in the Peach campaign.
Interested in gifted education? Join Georgia advocate Eric Wearne as he talks about gifted students and their families, the nature of gifted and talented programs, and massively accelerating school.
Documentaries, TV episodes, and Films
The Right to Read
This documentary follows NAACP activist Kareem Weaver’s mission to improve reading scores in Oakland, California. Featuring stories from Weaver, a teacher, and two families, The Right to Read highlights the fight to equip our youngest generation with the foundational skill of reading.
Reading Reset
This investigative series explores the origins of Georgia’s poor reading proficiency, its impact on children and the justice system, and potential solutions. The series reveals that only one in three Georgia fourth graders can read proficiently, a crisis critics attribute to failed teaching methods, inadequate teacher preparation, and ineffective early interventions.
Education of Michelle Rhee
Check out this episode of Frontline as they highlight the work of Michelle Rhee and her efforts to transform education in DC and nationwide.
Miss Virginia
Based on a true story, this film focuses on a struggling inner-city mother sacrifices everything to give her son a good education and launches a movement that could save his future – and that of thousands like him.
Watch on YouTube
Metro Atlanta students are chronically absent from school. Why?
Did you know that in 2023, 35% of APS students were chronically absent? In this investigative report, Atlanta News First deep-dives into the reasons behind chronic absenteeism and explores potential solutions
Books and Studies
No Struggle No Progress: A Warrior’s Life from Black Power to Education Reform by Dr. Howard Fuller
This book chronicles one man’s lifelong dedication to reforming the nation’s schools, driven by the belief that educated and resourceful individuals have a moral obligation to empower poor and working-class Black communities. Inspired by Frederick Douglass’s assertion that “Power concedes nothing without a demand,” Fuller has consistently championed the cause of social justice through education. He continues this fight today, advocating for parental choice in schooling as a revolutionary step towards a better life for underserved children.
The Great School Rethink by Fredrick M. Hess
Frederick M. Hess presents a timely analysis of American education, urging readers to reimagine schooling in the wake of pandemic disruptions. He encourages a critical examination of current practices, from resource utilization to community engagement, to address pressing issues like teacher shortages and declining student performance. This book offers a practical framework for identifying challenges and brainstorming effective solutions, making it an essential read for anyone invested in the future of education.
Districts That Succeed: Breaking the Correlation Between Race, Poverty, and Achievement by Karin Chenoweth
Karin Chenoweth’s Districts That Succeed investigates how five diverse school districts have successfully broken the link between race, poverty, and academic achievement. The book highlights common elements, such as strong leadership and supportive systems, that foster a district-wide culture where all adults are accountable for student success. Chenoweth’s research offers crucial insights for educators and policymakers, demonstrating how districts can “change the path of poverty” through a commitment to data-driven improvement and collective responsibility.