Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Not a Lot of Coverage

  • By Jerry Enderle
  • 04/01/19

You wouldn’t know it by watching the news, but on April 12, the President signed H.R. 276, the “Recognizing Achievement in Classified School Employees Act”, which directs the Secretary of Education to establish the Recognizing Inspiring School Employees (RISE) Award Program to acknowledge excellence exhibited by classified school employees. Job titles included in this category are paraprofessionals, clerical staff, custodial and maintenance services, transportation services, food services, skilled trades, health and student services, security services, and technical services.

Often overlooked and lumped into the category of “support staff”, these people are essential to keep schools safe and successful. Some districts and states have recognition programs for classified employees, but it seems only fitting that there be a national award.

Report Time?

It’s not only students who need to complete reports this time of year. Just as we were going to press, a number of national reports were published—more than I have room to mention. Here are a few.

The U.S. Department of Education released “Parent and Educator Guide to School Climate Resources”, which provides best practices and includes resources school leaders and teachers can utilize as they work to achieve a positive school climate, lower disciplinary issues, and enhance school safety. Download it at www2.ed.gov.

The Chiefs for Change issued “Breaking Through: Shattering the Glass Ceiling for Women Leaders”. The report addresses the fact that despite the increasing diversity of our nation’s schools, and the enormous representation of women at other levels of our public school systems, the vast majority of district superintendents and state chiefs are white men. You can read it at chiefsforchange.org.

The State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA) published “State K-12 Broadband Leadership: Driving Connectivity and Access.” It highlights the powerful impact of state leadership in driving critical policy decisions at the national and state level to support broadband networks, bandwidth capacity and home access for low-income families. Find it at www.setda.org.

This article originally appeared in the School Planning & Management April/May 2019 issue of Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • Baton Rouge Center for Visual and Performing Arts

    Baton Rouge Center for Visual and Performing Arts

    Established in 1999, the Education Design Showcase is a vehicle for showing off innovative — yet practical — solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction. The Baton Rouge Center for Visual and Performing Arts has been recognized with an EDS 2026 Project of Distinction award in the category of New Construction.

  • Western Kentucky University, Gilbane Announce “Elevate WKU” Partnership

    Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Ky., recently announced that it has reached the financial close on a on a public-private partnership (P3) with Gilbane Development, according to a news release.

  • Back-to-School Playground Safety: 7 Common Hazards to Look for After Summer Break

    As summer break comes to an end, school administrators have plenty to prepare before students return. While classrooms, hallways and common areas often receive attention during all the back-to-school preparations, the playground should not be overlooked. Months of weather exposure, storms, and regular wear can leave behind hazards that may not be immediately noticeable.

  • California High School Opens New Classroom Building for 7th-, 8th-Graders

    Santa Rosa City Schools in Santa Rosa, Calif., recently announced the completion of a new classroom building for Piner High School. As the campus transitions to a Junior/Senior High School, the facility will play home to the school’s new population of seventh- and eighth-grade students.