With schools back in session and many states facing teacher shortages, the Center for State and Local Government Excellence and ICMA-RC have released a new research infographic outlining employment trends and demographics for the primary and secondary public school workforce. Among the findings: 

Lynwood Unified has been accepted into the League of Innovative Schools, a national coalition of forward-thinking K-12 school districts that work together to improve outcomes for students through the use of learning technologies. The network is organized by Digital Promise, a nonprofit organization that strives to accelerate innovation in education and improve the opportunity to learn for all through technology and research. Lynwood Unified was selected from a competitive national pool of applicants based on its leadership, evidence of results, innovative vision for learning and commitment to equity and excellence. “We are honored to be included in this national network, which will work to create new practices that prepare young people to thrive in a changing world,” LUSD Superintendent Gudiel Crosthwaite said. “As a district, we continually strive to inspire our students through technology; we now have valuable partners in that effort.” The League of Innovative Schools, launched in 2011, accepts new members through an open application process annually. With its newest members, the League includes 114 school districts in 34 states. The League will officially welcome new members at its fall 2019 meeting on Oct. 16 in Loudoun County, Virginia, where more than 250 educational leaders, partners and researchers will convene.

A bill awaiting Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature could give the Instructional Quality Commission more time to revise the state’s controversial Ethnic Studies model curriculum. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond said the California Department of Education is recommending the IQC take more time to revise the draft before sending it to the State Board of Education for action in 2020. Earlier in September, the Legislature approved AB 114, which would extend the timeline for completion of the ethnic studies model curriculum draft through March 2021. If the IQC acts to extend the timeline for completing the draft, the CDE anticipates holding feedback sessions, panel discussions and listening sessions with ethnic studies teachers, ethnologists, experts, districts and other interested parties to gather input. State Assemblywoman Shirley Weber has agreed to serve on the ethnic studies panel and consult with the CDE and SBE staff to complete the model draft curriculum. Weber is a 40-year educator of Africana Studies who has helped establish ethnic studies in K–12 curriculum throughout the state. In August, a number of stakeholders, including members of the state Legislature, Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond, and SBE President Linda Darling-Hammond, expressed concerns that the draft needed more balance to accurately reflect the experiences of different cultures.