When @LAUSD still had a policy of random searches, student Princess Powell's (unlucky) number often came up. She would be pulled from class, her belongings dumped on a table for inspection. She said her heart would pound even though she knew she had done nothing wrong. #EWA20
I'm just going to say it: If you're not talking to the students in your district about what they've experienced with school police, how they feel about it, and where they think the money should go: you're missing some very important voices. #EWA20
At Princess Powell's @LAUSD high school, there were plenty of campus police but only one guidance counselor for every 300-400 students. "My needs were not being met. I was not getting the one-on-one time I needed." #EWA20
"We've inherently lost trust in the police department. It does not take away from the good work some of our school resource officers have done. But the reaction is to the institution, the oppression, and violence. It's not aligned to our values." - @MPS_News Eric Moore #EWA20
In Minneapolis, the school board voted to cut ties with city police force in wake of George Floyd's death. Now district is working with experts and community leaders to rethink approach to campus safety, says @MPS_News' Eric Moore. #EWA20
Growing up in East Los Angeles and then transferring to a school on a "better side of town," @LAUSD student Princess Powell discovered not every campus had intensive police presence. She's a youth advocate for putting more money into communities and less in campus guards. #EWA20
In Baltimore County Public Schools, school police are mentors and role models as well as protectors, says longtime SRO Don Bridges. He points to 20-year-old program that's adopted that philosophy and mission. #EWA20
What's the future of school police? @SSKedreporter will moderate discussion with past NASRO president and current SRO Don Bridges, @MPS_News Eric Moore, and rising @LAUSD high school senior Princess Powell. Join us at 3:30 p.m. ET! #EWA20
"I went through eight hurricanes and four tropical storms as governor. This is worse than that." - @JebBush on economic and societal impact of COVID-19 pandemic #EWA20
At #EWA20, @ByMoriah referenced @rklein90's reporting on #LGBTQ kids being disciplined with "conversion therapy" at parochial schools getting public money. Hear more with this episode of #EWARadio....
On reopening schools in wake of COVID-19, @jebbush says "I’m a 10th amendment guy. I've been pretty consistent that these decisions should be made at the local level.” #EWA20
Thanks to @usedgov's Jim Blew for his kind words for the #EWARadio podcast. Each week I have lively and informative chats with @EdWriters journalists about the backstory to their reporting. Subscribe! https://www.ewa.org/highlight/subscribe-ewa-radio #EWA20
On deck at #EWA20: @ByMoriah chats with @JebBush about A 'Classic Conservative' Approach to Education."
"Having the president saying 'reopen your schools or I'll cut your funding,' -- well, that's not a plan." -@BobbyScott #EWA20
In suburban areas of states like VA and MD, where COVID-19 is less prevalent, why aren't more schools offering hybrid options instead of remote-only this fall? asks @laurameckler.
Because there isn't time or money to safely and equitably get it done, @BobbyScott responds. #EWA20
If the feds don't help states and local governments shore up their economies, huge cuts are coming for public school systems, says @BobbyScott #EWA20
"If you're in a high-incidence (of COVID-19) area, the CDC has told you not to reopen schools," @BobbyScott #EWA20
The new @CDCgov guidelines for reopening schools are largely the same as prior ones, says @BobbyScott: "They just changed the flavor and decoration" of some of the language. #EWA20
“You’re not going to reopen the economy without reopening the schools, IF it can be done safely. If it can’t be done safely it shouldn’t be done at all.” - @BobbyScott #EWA20
Happening NOW at #EWA20: @laurameckler interviews @BobbyScott.
In the online chat, @edwriters member @nicoleMfoy challenges @usedgov Jim Blew's reference to "media elite," noting that local education reporters -- like many journalists -- often work for very low pay.
"That's fair," Blew responds. "Sorry about that." #EWA20
"If anything, COVID-19 underscores the importance of having choice," says @usedgov Jim Blew. He cites low-income parents who are essential workers and can't afford childcare if their traditional public schools opt not to reopen. #EWA20
On COVID-19 re-openings: "We believe in choice," says @usedgov's Jim Blew. It should be up to parents whether their kids go back to bricks-and-mortar schools, "and it should be up to teachers to decide if they want to continue to teach remotely or return to classrooms." #EWA20
Federal education officials have estimated the cost of safely reopening schools at $25-$30 billion -- a figure that's still being negotiated, says @usedgov's Jim Blew. #EWA20
At #EWA20, @usedgov Jim Blew says he respects the hardworking school employees who are trapped in a "factory-model system" that doesn't work for today's students. @BetsyDeVosED's vision is for education system that guides students to "his or her full potential."
3rd point: @BetsyDeVosED's signature @usedgov program -- school choice -- is hugely popular with Black and Hispanic families (Blew cites multiple national polls). He adds poor families should also have as many educational options for their kids as affluent ones. #EWA20
Next: Education expenditures are up overall nationally, says Blew. He urges reporters to be skeptical of claims that lack of $ is driving force for schools that are underperforming. Sometimes that's true but it's not an automatic, Blew says. #EWA20
Get ready: @usedgov's Jim Blew is sharing "3 facts every education reporter should know" in 7 minutes. #EWA20
Get those computers fired up, @EdWriters members! We're minutes away from our Day 4 Kickoff Conversation at #EWA20: @usedgov's James Blew chats with @SDrummondNPR.
