News

In new research published in Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, Michael Gottfried (Penn GSE), J. Jacob Kirksey (Texas Tech) and Tina L. Fletcher (Penn) examine the impact of having a same-race teacher on attendance.

Trina and Tina Fletcher are 35 year old twins, originally from a rural town in Arkansas with just 850 people. They are also highly successful African American women who, from an early age, had their eyes set on earning a Ph.D. and changing the world around them. Trina is currently an assistant professor of Engineering and Computing Education at Florida International University, and Tina is a Ph.D. candidate in educational policy at the University of Pennsylvania.

Laura Perna spoke about accommodating the needs of adult students. “There is a complexity to adult learners,” she said. “It is really recognizing, ‘What are the circumstances of individual people’s lives?’ If someone is to enroll in college, how do you make it possible for them to attend?”

Amalia Daché spoke with Politico about the uprisings in Cuba with respect to Afro-Cubans who are disproportionately affected by the hardships in Cuba and are taking the lead in the protests. “This is one of the reasons I’ve been so active, related to my research and my own identity as an Afro-Cuban, is that Afro-Cubans have been leading this from the beginning.”

Amalia Daché writes, “The first thing the United States needs to do in crafting policy solutions is listen to the brave people risking their lives and freedom to lead these protests, especially Afro-Cubans who have lived at the bottom of the regime’s racist and classist system.”

The decison 'curves, if not cuts off, possibilities' for affected teenagers, Roberto Gonzales said.

Project-based learning could change the game for students this fall. Sarah Schneider Kavanagh and Zachary Herrmann have some thoughts on what school leaders need to do to support it.

Amalia Daché spoke about the history of racial disparities and injustices in Cuba. “When we're thinking about global solidarity with Black people, especially right now, we need all hands on deck,” she said.

Penn GSE’s Amalia Daché has studied Afro Cuban life and educational opportunities under Cuba’s dictatorship. She says the world is seeing Afro Cubans’ frustration with the racist and classist society the regime maintains.

Amalia Daché joins podcast host Jason Johnson to talk about the uprising in Cuba, and the myths and realities of racial equity in Cuba.

A new report from Ryan Baker and the Penn Center for Learning Analytics examines the emerging field of learning engineering and recommends top opportunities where researchers and practitioners should focus their energies.

Amalia Daché joins American Voices with Alicia Menendez to discuss the humanitarian crises fueling the movement in Cuba and explains why this moment is different from the past.

Amalia Daché was interviewed about Cuba’s recent uprisings and its long history of Black resistance. In the 1960s, the Communist government said it would eradicate racism. “It’s counterrevolutionary to talk about Black history in Cuba, to engage Black history,” she said.

To help children prepare to start school, Katie Barghaus and Casey Henderson from the Penn Child Research Center’s Conquering Kindergarten initiative offer some tips.

Howard Stevenson offered tips for how parents can address racist or insensitive comments made by children. “Get a sense of what they understand it to mean from their perspective,” he said. “Where did they hear it from? How is it being used in the social context they’re in? Then you have a better angle to how you can speak to it.”

"There might be a whole lot of pent up frustration and the retiring, quitting can go up dramatically starting this summer." — Richard Ingersoll

Ryan Baker spoke about his new report identifying areas of improvement for ed tech developers. “The number of educators who are fully satisfied with technology solutions is pretty low. They are looking for better ways to save time and effort for auto grading and looking for richer activities,” he said.

Penn GSE has surpassed its goal by more than 30 percent with the campaign’s conclusion, dramatically increasing support for priorities across the School.

By teaching, implementing curricula, creating experiences outside of the classroom, and engaging undergraduates in community service, these alumni are preparing the next generation for U.S. civic life.

Educational and social inequities have long been top of mind for Penn GSE’s Professor Vivian Gadsden, who works with families and educators to uplift the underserved and develop a new definition of child well-being.

Seeing hope amidst current challenges, Penn GSE professors, scholars, and graduates are examining the changing landscape of higher education and envisioning opportunities to advance educational opportunity and racial justice.

Penn GSE’s Dr. Charlotte Jacobs talks about her approach to research, the intersection of research and practice, and how she’s aiming to increase access to her work.

Learning technologies are often dropped into classrooms without the crucial context on how to use them that is needed, says Penn GSE’s Ryan Baker.

Annie McKee recommended people consider their motivations and needs before quitting a job. “So, it’s really not a question of, ‘Can you be happy when you quit your job?’ You definitely can,” she said. “Rather it’s more of a question of: What are you leaving? What do you no longer want in your work life? And more importantly, what do you want?”

Sigal Ben-Porath spoke about the importance of guaranteeing free speech for young people. “You ought to be able to practice this, you ought to be able to make mistakes, correct them, try out ideas—even outrageous ones, even profane ones,” she said. “We have to support young people in developing their voice, and we’re not very good at doing that right now.”

Laura Perna argues that making community college tuition-free should be a national priority.

In a new book, Penn GSE Dean Pam Grossman and GSE’s Zachary Herrmann, Sarah Schneider Kavanagh, and Christopher Pupik Dean say the approach can empower students to be engaged citizens and take on modern challenges.

Three distinguished Penn GSE alumni shared their perspectives on finding strength in the face of adversity, supporting mental health, and rallying to improve social justice.

Richard Ingersoll said that it will take year or two to determine if the pandemic drove teachers to quit the profession. “Everything I have seen on this is anecdotal, or conjecture, or for specific school districts,” he said.

Amalia Daché spoke about the importance of diverse educators. “Although I was successful at navigating higher education, not seeing or identifying with teachers always made me feel like I was an outlier,” she said.

Penn GSE’s Caroline Watts shares what educators can do to take care of themselves with less time to recharge this summer.

Follow your child's lead. Be ready to do some work on your own.

Culturally competent educators set the tone for positive learning environments, which creates space for all people, regardless of how they identify.