This tool kit is designed to support educators and school staff in implementing and improving programs for immigrant students, including asylees, refugees, and their families. The stated goals of this resource are to help teachers, school leaders, and school site personnel expand opportunities for newcomers, realize our legal obligations to newcomers, provide welcoming classrooms and schools, provide rigorous academic and language supports, and support the development of newcomers’ social emotional skills. The tool kit includes knowledge-building summaries, clearly articulated recommendations and school-based strategies, as well as resources to use for professional development and home-school connections. The tool kit has five chapters: (1) Who Are Our Newcomers? (2) Welcoming Newcomers to a Safe and Thriving School Environment, (3) Providing High-Quality Instruction for Newcomer Students, (4) Supporting Newcomers’ Social Emotional Needs, and (5) Establishing Partnerships with Families.
Menu of Possible Interventions for Native American Students: Guidance, Practices, Programs, Strategies and Resources
As suggested by its title, this resource covers a broad number of methods and tools for supporting Native American student learning, including research-based support systems, effective teaching strategies, links to national and state Native American programs/initiatives, and links to miscellaneous resources.
Assessment Literacy Defined
In 2016, the National Task Force on Assessment Education for Teachers met and created this publication to promote “deeper understanding of sound assessment practice throughout the fabric of American education.” Their intended audiences include teachers, students, parents, policymakers, communities, college of education faculty, and school leaders. This publication hopes to help each audience “understand the importance of …
— Beginning assessment with a clear purpose;
— Starting with clear and specific learning target(s) to be assessed;
— Building high-quality assessments to fit this intended context;
— Communicating results in ways that assure understanding by recipients, and;
— Linking assessment and student motivation in ways that keep all students striving for academic success.”
Parent Assessment Event Toolkit
The purpose of this PTA toolkit is to help answer parents’ questions about new state assessments aligned to new college and career readiness standards. The toolkit includes a broad variety of resources, including information about PARCC and Smarter Balanced assessments, assessment PowerPoint presentation templates for Common Core-participating states, event-planning tools to inform parents about changes in assessments, assessment fact sheets, and tips to help students prepare for the new standards and assessments.
Understanding Disabilities in American Indian & Alaska Native Communities Toolkit Guide
The National Council on Disability created this toolkit guide to provide information and suggestions for improving services and protections for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities, with overview information on the prevalence of disabilities in these communities. The toolkit is divided into dedicated sections for healthy living, education, independent living, vocational rehabilitation and employment resources, assistive technology, housing and facilities, and transportation. Additional information provides overviews on federal disabilities laws, initiatives, agencies, and organizations that support work with AI/AN individuals with disabilities and communities. In the education section, the toolkit reviews individualized education programs (IEPs), outlines what each IEP should include, and provides tips for parents as they work with their child’s school to develop an IEP. The education section also lists organization contact information for supports and resources. While the other sections are not focused on educational issues, there are still valuable resources and contact information for anyone working with AI/AN students with disabilities.
Raising the Bar: Implementing Common Core State Standards for Latino Student Success
The purpose of this implementation guide is to inform state education leaders on key elements and questions that will help them build effective strategies to ensure educational success for Latino and English language learner (ELL) children and families. The National Council of La Raza (NCLR) believes that the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) represents an opportunity to improve education for Latino students. This guide poses questions related to implementation of the CCSS and ELLs for state policymakers to consider for the following areas: state and district implementation plans, implications for students and teachers, assessments, and active parent and community participation.