WestEd

In this new edition of WestEd 360°, we share updates on the impact of federal contract cancellations, shine a light on the importance of Career and Technical Education, discuss effective ed tech research, and more! #Education #EdTech #CareerAndTechnicalEducation #CTEMonth

WestEd's Early Childhood Development, Learning, and Systems team enjoyed the dynamic discussions on inquiry-based learning experiences at the 2025 California STEAM Symposium! Pictured from left to right: Osnat Zur, Lexi Alexander, Lynneth Solis, Madhu Govind Kapoor, PhD, Lesly Escobar, and Gina Morimoto

Strategic leadership actions are essential for rapid school improvement. Sr. School and District Improvement Facilitator Contann Dabney discusses how leaders can spark and sustain transformative shifts in this session of WestEd's Leading Together Virtual Series. Watch the 30-minute webinar: https://bit.ly/3Uxky52 #SchoolLeaders #SchoolImprovement #Education

New Q&A! WestEd's Angela Estacion and Alisha Hyslop from the Association for Career and Technical Education share research and insights on driving economic mobility through Career and Technical Education ?? Here are three key takeaways: ? CTE Programs and Career Pathways: Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs provide students with hands-on experience and practical skills needed for in-demand careers, typically through certificates and associate degrees, often aligning with local labor market needs to ensure employability and career growth. ?? Challenges in CTE Programs: CTE programs face challenges such as limited financial resources, teacher shortages, and difficulty maintaining partnerships with local employers, which impact program quality and availability, especially in high-need fields like cybersecurity. ?? Improving Student Access: To broaden access to CTE, institutions must provide clear, transparent information on program details, create stackable credentials for career progression, and strengthen partnerships with schools and workforce systems, ensuring financial support for eligible students. Read the full Q&A blog to learn more from these experts! https://bit.ly/4bnzAl9 #CommunityColleges #CareerAndTechnicalEducation #FutureOfWork

Educators and leaders, we're here to support you in deepening your knowledge and strengthening your practice. On the new WestEd.org, learn about our highly-rated professional learning offerings and how WestEd experts can help you achieve your teaching and leading goals for 2025 and beyond! Visit today ?? https://www.wested.org/

Why is middle school is an ideal time to engage students in thinking about their future and fostering career development skills? Sr. Research Associate Thomas Torre Gibney shares insights in this new WestEd Perspectives article! ?? #CTEMonth #FutureofWork

Tanner Higgin, Ph.D., Senior Research Associate on WestEd's Learning and Technology team, will share insights on expanding media literacy at this year's SXSW EDU Conference! ??? On March 4, join a live recording of MindShift, a KQED podcast, to learn about enhancing media literacy instruction with an emphasis on empathy and human connection. Event details: https://bit.ly/4hpHSLD

Harnessing logic models can help guide continuous improvement efforts. Join WestEd experts Tran Keys and Ryan Huynh tomorrow 2/25 at 1pm for an engaging webinar on this topic! Sign up today: https://bit.ly/3EB0fi8 #Education #SchoolImprovement #EdData

It's been a wonderful experience sharing our work to promote success for every learner during the National ESEA Network Conference in Austin, TX! Here's some highlights from WestEd staff and our partners ?? Kudos to everyone who offered their wisdom over the past several days. If you couldn't attend this year's ESEA Conference, we invite you to discover related resources, blogs, and learning opportunities here: https://lnkd.in/gkwT8fzy

We appreciate everyone who attended our presentations and connected with WestEd experts at the Annual NABE (National Association for Bilingual Education) Conference! ?? Pictured in the WestEd booth from left to right: Greg Uchishiba (Hawaii Department of Education), Annette Gregg (WestEd), David Holbrook (National Association of English Learner Program Administrators), Sharon Sáez (WestEd), Jennifer Blitz (WestEd), Melissa Castillo, and Yvonne Anderson. Next up, WestEd's Pía Castilleja? co-led an interactive workshop with Math, ELA, and Social Studies educators from the School District of Philadelphia, Amelia Stasko, Donna Sharer, Christina Kelly, and Maria Minaya. Together, they guided participants through a unified pedagogical framework and how it can help educators create transformative experiences for English Learners. And finally, WestEd's Jennifer Blitz and Barbara Jones presented with Melissa Castillo on how to accelerate English Learner success using formative assessment. #Multilingualism #EnglishLearners #EdConference