K 12 Education

Just Thinking… About How Multilingualism and Language Development Belong at the Center of Student Learning

For millions of students in America, learning English is only one part of a much larger academic story. A 2024 GAO report found that English learners in U.S. public schools grew from 4.5 million to 5 million students between fall 2010 and fall 2020, and that they speak more than 400 languages. That diversity…

Tiger Woods’ TGR Foundation Is Reimagining Educational Access Through STEAM, AI, and Community Partnerships

As schools across the United States continue grappling with post-pandemic learning loss, declining student engagement, and shrinking emergency funding, nonprofit organizations are increasingly stepping in to fill critical gaps. Recent national studies on literacy recovery, student engagement, and career-connected learning show that educators are facing significant post-pandemic challenges in keeping students connected to pathways that…

Just Thinking… About Federal Funds, Student Support, and the Future of Education with Eric Reaves

As conversations around the future of the U.S. Department of Education continue to intensify, educators and federal program leaders are facing mounting uncertainty about how federal funds will be managed, distributed, and regulated. At the same time, schools serving historically underserved students remain heavily reliant on programs like Title I and other federally supported initiatives…

How Rural Schools Are Redefining School Safety Through Relationships and Proactive Systems

On Principles of Change, a podcast by Raptor Technologies, host Dr. Amy Grosso sits down with Dr. Miguel Salazar, principal of Sundown Middle School in Sundown, Texas, to explore how one rural district is redefining school safety through culture, systems, and human connection. Together, they unpack how proactive frameworks, community values, and intentional relationship-building can…

Understanding Raptor StudentSafe

In this episode of School Safety Today, host Dr. Amy Grosso speaks with Chris Noell, Chief Product Officer at Raptor Technologies, and Will Durgin, Director of Student Well-Being, about the vision behind StudentSafe and how it helps schools move from reactive responses to proactive student support. Together, they emphasize that safer schools depend on giving staff…

Going Slow to Go Fast in School Safety Leadership

In this episode of the Principles of Change podcast, presented by Raptor Technologies, host Dr. Amy Grosso talks with Tim Dykes, Assistant Principal for Culture and Climate at York Community High School in Elmhurst, Illinois. The conversation highlights how strong relationships, student voice, and steady long-term leadership can help schools build environments where people feel…

Rethinking Leadership: Why “Doable” Might Be the Most Powerful Strategy in Education Today

At a time when educator burnout is rising and schools across the U.S. are facing ongoing teacher shortages, leaders are being forced to rethink what sustainable success actually looks like. Research shows that teacher attrition is closely tied to working conditions, job-related stress, and workload demands. As districts push for innovation, data-driven instruction, and…

Building Safer Schools Through Restorative Practices

School Safety Today podcast, presented by Raptor Technologies. In this episode of Principals of Change, host Dr. Amy Grosso sits down with D’Jon Pitchford, Assistant Principal at Kelly Lane Middle School in Pflugerville ISD, to explore what school safety really means. Pitchford reframes safety as more than physical security—emphasizing trust, restorative practices, campus culture,…

Beyond Enforcement: The Evolving Role of School Resource Officers

School Safety Today podcast, presented by Raptor Technologies. In this episode of School Safety Today, host Dr. Amy Grosso sits down with Dr. Penny Schultz, Assistant Director of School Safety and Security at Chesapeake Public Schools, to unpack the often-misunderstood role of School Resource Officers (SROs). The conversation highlights how effective SROs function not…

Beyond Drills: Building a Culture of Safety in Schools

School Safety Today podcast, presented by Raptor Technologies. In this episode of Principals of Change, host Dr. Amy Grosso sits down with Jeff Bryant, Principal of Jefferson Middle School, and David Sally, Associate Principal of West Aurora High School, to explore how effective school safety goes far beyond drills and locked doors. Drawing on…

National Human Trafficking Prevention Month

School Safety Today podcast, presented by Raptor Technologies. In this episode of School Safety Today, host Dr. Amy Grosso speaks with Kelly Brickl, a trainer with SPEAK UP, in recognition of National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. During the conversation, Brickl shares data, real-world warning signs, and explains how age-appropriate, research-based prevention curricula can empower…

Inside SchoolSAFE: Takeaways from Education Leaders

School Safety Today podcast, presented by Raptor Technologies. In this special episode of School Safety Today, host Dr. Amy Grosso interviews several education and safety leaders live from the Raptor 2025 SchoolSAFE Conference. Rachael Freeman (Carrollton-Farmers Branch ISD), Jason Overbay (Sarasota County Schools), Marti Neahring (West Aurora School District), Dr. Penny Schultz (Chesapeake City…

Bringing Community into the Transformation of K-12 Schools: The Impact of Mentors, Local Voices, and Student Entrepreneurs

As K-12 schools across the U.S. struggle to recover from the learning loss and emotional fallout of the pandemic, a deeper reckoning is underway—one that challenges the very foundation of who’s responsible for educating our children. Despite billions in federal relief, a third of U.S. students are not even reading at a basic level…

Safe Schools, Informed Staff: The Power of Seizure Training

In this episode of School Safety Today by Raptor Technologies, host Dr. Amy Grosso is joined by Allison Rone from Epilepsy Alliance Ohio and Tina Hegner from PublicSchoolWORKS to discuss the importance of epilepsy and seizure training for school staff. They explore how proper education, planning, and partnerships are vital to keeping students—and all…

Stride at 25: Redefining the Digital Learning Ecosystem for Today’s K–12 Learners

As virtual learning matures and school choice accelerates across the U.S.,the 25th anniversary of Stride Inc. offers a moment to reflect on how far the digital learning ecosystem has come and where it’s headed.. Once known as K12 Inc., the company helped pioneer online education at scale. But in a landscape shaped by evolving…

Educational Choice Isn’t Enough—Implementation Will Make or Break It

The U.S. education landscape is undergoing a seismic shift as more states adopt education savings accounts (ESAs), signaling a broader push toward personalized, parent-directed learning and broader educational choice. With over a dozen states now offering universal ESA programs, debates around school choice have reached a new level of urgency. Throughout 2024, enthusiasm for…

Generative AI tools Is Taking On the Tedious Tasks—Freeing Teachers to Inspire, Mentor, and Elevate Student Thinking

Artificial intelligence is changing the rules of engagement in education. As generative AI tools like ChatGPT become increasingly integrated into academic environments, they’re reshaping what productivity, personalization, and pedagogy look like. According to McKinsey’s research, teachers typically spend 20 to 40 percent of their time on tasks that could be automated with today’s technology,…

AI in the Classroom: Why AI-Powered Personalized Learning Might Not Deliver on its Promise

AI is everywhere—and it’s evolving rapidly. From predictive algorithms to large language models like ChatGPT, artificial intelligence is reshaping how we work, communicate, and learn. As schools explore AI in the classroom, educators and researchers are asking: Does AI really understand us? Or are we projecting human-like thinking onto systems that are fundamentally different? The…

Rethinking the High School Transcript: ETS and MTC Chart a New Path for Student Success

A major testing organization's acquisition of an alternative transcript platform reflects growing momentum to move beyond traditional grades and standardized me

Educators Must Combine 1:1 Tutoring with the Science of Reading to Close the Reading Gap

Personalized instruction paired with evidence-based reading methods offers schools a proven path to reverse persistent literacy decline

ESA Success Requires Strategy, Infrastructure, and Support Beyond Legislation

Implementation of education savings accounts hinges on operational readiness that extends well beyond passing new laws

TGR Foundation Scales Career-Connected Learning With Measurable Impact

A nonprofit demonstrates how embedding real-world career experiences into K-12 curricula produces measurable gains in student engagement and workforce readiness

Mesa’s Team Teaching Model Tackles Teacher Shortage and Accelerates Learning

Pairing educators in classrooms proves to boost retention while freeing teachers to focus on individualized student growth

AI for Teachers Designed to Untether and Empower—Never Replace

Administrative burden is forcing teachers away from students, but targeted AI tools could reclaim classroom time by handling repetitive tasks

Tackling All That K-12 Schools Try to Do: The Solutions

Schools grapple with impossible mandates while emerging technologies challenge how education's expanding mission should be divided among institutions

What K-12 Education System Tries to Do And Where It Misses

American schools struggle to balance expanding social missions with declining literacy proficiency among core student populations

Empowering Voices: The Role of Anonymous Reporting in Education

When students can report safety concerns without fear, schools unlock crucial information that protects entire communities

How School Districts Can Pay Vendors Based on Student Outcomes

School districts are rethinking vendor payments to align spending with actual improvements in student learning

The DisruptED World of Math Education with Phyllis Hillwig at Eurekii

Tutoring platforms are reshaping how students overcome pandemic-related math deficits and rediscover confidence in the subject

Learning from Averted School Violence to Prevent Tragedies

Analyzing near-miss incidents reveals prevention patterns that can transform how schools protect students