Dear Friends: Last month we updated you on our COVID-19 response work, which continues with urgency and gratitude for the valuable partnerships and lessons we are learning from the field.
Photo by Allison Shelley for American Education: Images of Teachers and Students in Action.
Dear Friends,
Last month we updated you on our COVID-19 response work, which continues with urgency and gratitude for the valuable partnerships and lessons we are learning from the field. A core goal of TLA is to build ecosystem capacity to share knowledge and tools with those who are doing the work to transform education. To that end, read more below about new resources for your learning, from strategies from schools that are navigating reopening with in-person learning to a series of “Expert Talk” videos with experts who are guiding schools on some of the key challenges we face in light of COVID-19. As always, we encourage you to share with your networks any of these free and open resources that you think would be helpful, and we stand ready to do the same for you — all in the name of accelerating collective learning and impact.
Beth Rabbitt, CEO
Recent Highlights
Stories and Strategies from School Reopenings
Schools across the country are navigating the challenges of reopening by implementing health and safety protocols to minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission. The Parabola Project (a unique, cross-sector initiative that brings together education expertise from TLA and public health expertise from Ariadne Labs) is collaborating with these schools and districts from across the country to share their protocols and early learnings. Learn more through:
Snapshots: These quick posts showcase videos, photos, and documents that show what school reopening looks like in these schools.
Spotlights: These more in-depth posts focus on specific topics and showcase the approaches various schools have taken.
Expert Talks and Pro Bono Coaching
TLA, in partnership with Bellwether Education Partners and other coaching experts, is helping districts design for a more resilient and equitable future while responding to today’s immediate needs through our Always Ready for Learning Coaching Network and Strategy Lab. We are sharing a series of video presentations from experts on some of the toughest challenges schools are currently facing, including assessment, supporting well-being, remote curriculum and instruction, among others. Schools and districts of any size can also receive pro-bono individualized coaching to support them in planning and thought partnership. Complete this questionnaire to be matched with an expert coach.
Financial and Operational Challenges from COVID-19
As part of TLA’s Always Ready for Learning Coaching Network, Afton Partners has been providing school districts and charter networks with strategic and tactical support, while also assisting financial leadership in developing several financial tools and analyses, including cash flow forecasting, budget modeling scenarios and long-term financial projections. Read more in this recently-released case study of Afton’s work with a growing New York State charter network. The case study includes a simple 12-month cash flow projection tool, which allows charter management organizations to project cash balances on a monthly basis by leveraging the organization-wide annual budget and input assumptions on timing of cash inflows and outflows.
Two additional case studies will be published soon, including a long-range scenario model for mid-sized school districts to contemplate the impact of various funding scenarios both during and after the COVID-19 crisis, and a study on how a charter network could quantify the resources required to meet CDC and state requirements for PPE and other school needs in preparation for school reopening.
Personalized Professional Learning at LUSD
Our research partnership with Lindsay Unified School District in CA continues as we explore the impacts of personalized professional learning on student outcomes. A recent research report examined the experiences of learners in a remote environment, investigating data collected on personalized learning following the shift to remote-only learning as a result of COVID-19 school closures. We are excited that LUSD will be continuing this work after being awarded a two-year extension to its federal Teacher and School Leader Grant.
Other News
New Faces
TLA is happy to welcome several new members to our team, including Roshni Lakhi as Partner working on the Parabola Project, Research Assistant Ling Zhang, Program Intern Janaiya Stephens, and Communications Intern Hali Larkins. Welcome aboard!
