American Federation of Teachers New Jersey, AFL-CIO

Month: July 2022

AFTNJ NewsCOVID-19NewsPre-K to 12 News
AFTNJ

Mastery learning can accelerate learning recovery, teacher survey says

Nearly 85 percent of teachers “believe mastery learning can help address learning loss from the pandemic,” according to a new nationally representative survey from Khan Academy, a nonprofit providing free education resources.

“Mastery can play a critical role in recovery,” says Sal Khan, founder of Khan Academy. “It allows teachers to personalize learning so that each student can progress through their grade level while also addressing the areas where they may need extra help.”…

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AFTNJ NewsHigher Ed NewsNews
AFTNJ

CUPA-HR: Higher education faces crisis in retaining talent

About 57 percent of the higher education workforce is at least somewhat likely to look into other employment opportunities during the next 12 months, according to a new employee retention survey from the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources.

“The most common reason for seeking other employment (provided by three-fourths of those likely to look for another job) is an increase in pay,” four CUPA-HR researchers wrote in the survey’s conclusions.…

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AFTNJ NewsNewsPre-K to 12 News
AFTNJ

New U.S. DOE resources provide schools with support for students with disabilities

On July 19, the U.S. Department of Education issued guidance and resources designed to help public elementary and secondary schools “fulfill their responsibilities to meet the needs of students with disabilities and avoid the discriminatory use of student discipline,” per a U.S. DOE press release.

“The guidance we’re releasing today will help ensure that students with disabilities are treated fairly and have access to supports and services to meet their needs — including their disability-based behavior,” U.S.…

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AFT NewsAFTNJ NewsNewsPre-K to 12 News
AFTNJ

AFT report: Supporting diversity, mentorship could revitalize educator, school staff pipeline

Developing a federal Diverse Teacher Corps fund/grant and maintaining state-funded support for mentorship programs are among the AFT Teacher and School Staff Shortage Task Force’s recommended implementation strategies for revitalizing the educator and school staff pipeline.

In its July report — officially named “Here Today, Gone Tomorrow?” — the task force also offers strategies for creating a culture that supports all workers and for creating a system that provides them with the time, tools, trust and training to do their jobs.…

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AFTNJ NewsHigher Ed NewsMental healthNewsPre-K to 12 News
AFTNJ

GAO updates Cardona on its priority open recommendations

The U.S. Government Accountability Office recently sent a letter to U.S. Education Secretary Dr. Miguel A. Cardona with an update on its priority open recommendations for the U.S. Department of Education.

As of the June 28 letter (made available to the public in early July), the GAO had five priority recommendations that fall into two areas: protecting the investment in higher education, and ensuring the well-being and education of the nation’s school-age children.…

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AFTNJ NewsCOVID-19NewsPre-K to 12 NewsRemote learning
AFTNJ

Black, special ed students received ‘exclusionary discipline’ during pandemic, study shows

With most students in virtual classroom during the 2020-21 school year, suspensions declined, “yet African American students and students with disabilities disproportionately received exclusionary discipline,” writes New York University’s Dr. Richard O. Welsh in a recently released study.

“In 2021–22, suspensions seem to be on the rise as educators grapple with stress accompanying the return to in-person learning,” adds Dr.…

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AFT NewsAFTNJ NewsNewsPre-K to 12 News
AFTNJ

AFT survey: 2021-22 was one of the worst years for PreK-12 teachers, staff

More than 70 percent of AFT members who participated in a recent Hart Research Associates-AFT survey described the 2021-22 academic year as one of the worst for PreK-12 teachers and staff.

Interviews were conducted June 17-21 with 2,379 AFT members. Other key findings:

• 60 percent said they probably will stay or definitely will stay in their current job in the next one to two years

• 51 percent said they were represented very well by their local union

• 44 percent said they are either fairly worried or very worried about the possibility of a mass shooting where they work

To view and download “Under Siege: The Outlook of AFT Members,” click here.…

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AFTNJ NewsHigher Ed NewsNewsPre-K to 12 NewsShare My Lesson
AFTNJ

Win tickets to ‘Hamilton’ through SML

As part of its Summer of Learning 2022 series, Share My Lesson is giving away three grand-prize packages to see “Hamilton” at the Richard Rodgers Theater in New York.

The entry deadline for the “Hamilton” and the Big Apple Educator Sweepstakes is Aug. 5; the prize drawing will occur Aug. 10.

For more info, contest rules and to enter, click here.…

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AFTNJ NewsNewsPre-K to 12 News
AFTNJ

NCES: Student, teacher absenteeism rose in 2021-22

Around 40 percent of schools experienced an increase in chronic absenteeism among their students in 2021-22, and about half of schools said teacher absenteeism went up during that academic year, reports The Washington Post’s Donna St. George, citing recent government data.

Collected by the National Center for Education Statistics, the data in the 2022 School Pulse Panel study also showed that more than 80 percent of public schools have asked for additional mental health support.…

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AFTNJ NewsCOVID-19Mental healthNewsPre-K to 12 News
AFTNJ

NPSS will expand tutoring and mentoring

On July 5, the Biden administration, the U.S. Department of Education and others launched the National Partnership for Student Success to provide students with more tutors and mentors, according to a White House press release.

“America’s students are on average two to four months behind in reading and math because of the COVID-19 pandemic,” the White House said July 5.…

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AFT NewsAFTNJ NewsNewsPre-K to 12 NewsShare My Lesson
AFTNJ

Share My Lesson launches its Summer of Learning

The Share My Lesson team worked earlier this year with its leading partners to create content intended to refresh and inspire AFT members during the summer months.

SML’s free Summer of Learning offerings include the webinars “Missing Migration Narratives in American History” on July 26, “Podcast-Inspired, Solutions-Driven Climate Education” on July 27 and “Managing the Differentiated Classroom” on Aug.…

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