Our team is always seeking the latest news in the field of education. As advocates for a high-quality education for ALL students, we know we have to stay up-to-date on everything that’s going on in the education spheres of our nation…from the White House to the local public school district, from new legislation to the small acts of bravery and kindness made by a single teacher, from the milestones and celebrations to the hazardous injustices affecting many of our nation’s students.

Here are some stories we came across last week that we’re focused on.

Just what are ‘zero tolerance’ policies – and are they still common in America’s schools? via The Conversation

Zero tolerance policies are likely to get more attention now that education secretary Betsy DeVos has repealed Obama-era guidance that sought to reduce suspensions, particularly among children of color. Some claimed that the guidance may have made things worse – and even contributed to school shootings – by discouraging schools from reporting problem behavior.

A better understanding of zero tolerance is important, then, as schools nationwide once again grapple with the proper approach to discipline.

Educational Justice Can’t Wait via The Education Trust

What do you think is the most pressing issue facing education right now?

Resource equity. I don’t know if I want to call it that. But really achieving equity when it comes to resources, when it comes to teachers, when it comes to racial equity. How are we going to deliver on what is needed for low-income kids and kids of color? And make sure that not only can they participate in a world-class education system, but that they are getting a world-class system.

How one school came together to create a safe place for immigrants via The Hechinger Report

At the heart of all this work is a strategy and “whole student, whole teacher” focus that other schools can learn from. We have built a community where teachers are treated and trusted as the experts they are. They are true decision-makers who feel a collective responsibility to meet the needs of all students and their families, who in turn feel empowered to have a voice in their own education.

One thing to read this week…

America’s Teachers Are Furious via The Atlantic

These issues “get at the heart of public education,” says Kent Wong, the director of UCLA’s Labor Center, meaning that, in a sense, teachers’ unions aren’t fighting just for teachers anymore, but also for students themselves. By expanding their demands beyond their own compensation, teachers’ unions are transforming into some of the most significant advocacy groups striving for socioeconomic equality in America today. As part of the tentative agreement announced Tuesday, the Los Angeles school district will shrink class sizes and better incorporate the real world into curricula on top of increasing teachers’ salaries by 6 percent.