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Here are some of the things we’ve been reading about this week:

An Ohio State University study finds that up to 70% of children struggle with the transition to kindergarten. 

States are looking at how to invest in the “science of reading” to help school children.

South Carolina doubles the number of school counselors.

To read more, click on the following links.

Research & Practice

EdWeek: 5 Ways Schools Can Find Homeless Students That They Might Overlook
According to federal housing data, the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. homeless population is children, either living with families or independently. Schools struggle to locate many of these students, and a study in Educational Researcher suggests that districts could identify up to five times as many homeless students by utilizing existing student data differently. Over a quarter of homeless students went unnoticed during the pandemic, and an increasing number are losing housing. Homeless students face higher rates of chronic absenteeism and lower academic performance. The study recommends innovative ways to use school and community data to identify hidden homelessness. Experts predict a surge in homelessness as pandemic aid expires, emphasizing the need for proactive school outreach and support for vulnerable families.

ScienceDaily: Navigating the ‘big little leap’ to kindergarten
A study by researchers at The Ohio State University’s Crane Center for Early Childhood Research and Policy found that successful transitions in the first 10-14 weeks of kindergarten positively impacted academic and social-behavioral skills at the end of the school year. The transition, deemed a “big little leap,” involved making new friends, adapting to academic demands, and working with others. The study, involving 626 kindergarten students in 15 Ohio schools, revealed that even children initially ready for school were affected by transition difficulties. Up to 70% of kindergartners reportedly face transition challenges, impacting their connections with teachers and peers. The findings underscore the need for communication between pre-K and kindergarten teachers, parent involvement, and interventions to support children adjusting to kindergarten.

K-12 Dive: Young students still lag on school readiness post-pandemic
Results from Curriculum Associates’ i-Ready Diagnostic tool indicate that early elementary schoolchildren, who were 1-4 years old during the spring 2020 COVID-19 shutdown, continue to exhibit a lack of school readiness in math and reading. Fall 2023 data shows more kindergartners beginning the school year below grade level in reading compared to those in fall 2019. The analysis reveals a substantial growth in students starting the year well below grade level, with no signs of recovery to pre-pandemic levels. For 1st graders, who were 2-3 years old during the pandemic, 12.5% performed two grades below in math in fall 2023. Performance disparities by race are evident, with students in majority white schools showing greater proportions performing on grade level. The data underscores the challenges faced by early childhood educators and emphasizes the importance of early intervention.

Policy

K-12 Dive: HHS, Ed Dept announce $50M for school-based Medicaid services
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will allocate $50 million in grants to states for the enhancement and expansion of Medicaid school-based services, focusing on rural and underserved areas. The grants, funded by the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, support Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program school-based services, covering preventive care, mental health services, substance use disorder services, physical and occupational therapy, and disease management. The initiative encourages governors to increase Medicaid funding for healthcare provided in schools. The U.S. Department of Education has also proposed changes to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, requiring one-time parental consent before schools submit first-time invoices for school-based specialized services for Medicaid-eligible children. Advocates believe this change could alleviate service and billing barriers.

EdWeek: The ‘Science of Reading’ in 2024: 5 State Initiatives to Watch
The “science of reading” is gaining prominence in state legislatures, with governors and lawmakers prioritizing evidence-based reading practices. In Massachusetts, Governor Maura Healey proposed a five-year early literacy plan, allocating $30 million in her 2025 budget for evidence-based reading instruction in grades K-3. New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s 2025 budget includes $10 million to train 20,000 teachers in the science of reading. Maryland’s board of education approved a resolution requiring districts to align all literacy instruction with the science of reading by 2024-25. Indiana lawmakers proposed bills adding a 3rd-grade retention requirement and extending support for struggling readers through grade 8. In Iowa, a new bill mandates evidence-based reading instruction, and Governor Kim Reynolds announced more professional development opportunities for educators.

Around the Nation

EdWeek: 2 Billion People Celebrate Lunar New Year. Your Class Can, Too
New York public schools will observe a day off for Lunar New Year, joining other states in recognizing the holiday. Efforts are underway to incorporate Lunar New Year celebrations in classrooms, irrespective of official school calendars. Suggestions for educators include inviting individuals from Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and Singaporean backgrounds to share cultural insights. Teachers can contact local cultural organizations or colleges for guest speakers or virtual interactions. Engaging classroom activities include playing traditional music, simulating a Lunar New Year meal with labeled dishes, encouraging students to wear red (symbolizing good luck), teaching common phrases in Mandarin, creating red envelopes with class cash, and incorporating age-appropriate riddles related to the festival. These initiatives promote cultural understanding and empathy among students.

The 74: Mental Health Counselors in South Carolina Schools Doubled Since 2022
A report from South Carolina’s Medicaid agency reveals a doubling of mental health counselors in the state’s schools within a year and a half. The increase is attributed in part to the agency nearly doubling the payment for licensed therapists in schools. The rate for a 30-minute session rose from $37 to $71 since 2022. In September 2023, the state achieved its goal, with one counselor for every 653 students. The total number of mental health counselors increased from 600 in January 2022 to 1,200 in September 2023. Although progress has been made, the numbers still fall short of national recommendations, with a long-term goal of having one therapist for every 325 students in South Carolina.

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