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Should access to a public education be a constitutional right for all children?

Educationdive | January 28, 2019

Close to 40 years after the U.S. Supreme Court issued its landmark ruling in San Antonio Independent School District v. Rodriguez, the decision's implications are still a central topic of debate among educators, scholars, lawmakers and members of school communities across the U.S. Low-income parents in a Texas school district, which was not as well funded as neighboring affluent districts, filed the lawsuit in 1968 alleging that this inequity violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution's 14th Amendment. They argued the state's system — under which public schools rely on local property taxes as a source of revenue — meant poorer districts would inherently be disadvantaged. As a result, they said, the state's public education finance system violated the Equal Protection Clause and was unconstitutional. The court thought otherwise. In a narrow 5-4 ruling, it found that the Texas education funding formula resembled those of some other states and did not systematically put poorer communities at a disadvantage. In coming to this conclusion, the court held the view that in the Constitution, there is no fundamental right to an education.Since the 1972 ruling, the debate has remained very much alive, and almost all states have seen some kind of educational equity lawsuit. In 2016, Michigan schoolchildren argued in a federal lawsuit that a lack of state investment in Detroit schools obstructed their right to literacy — a pillar of education that some say is a federal right, but that others – including the district judge who dismissed the case — don't think is the case.

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Sophia Learning with Labster to Deliver STEM Courses with Virtual Lab Simulations

Sophia Learning | February 13, 2023

An online-learning and on-demand platform, Sophia Learning provides general education-level courses to higher education level students and recently announced a partnership with one of the world's leading edtech platforms Labster, for virtual lab and interactive science. The partnership delivers college-level science courses incorporating Labster's simulation content designed to meet the higher education needs of Sophia Learning's students and working adults. Sophia Learning is an associate of Strategic Education, Inc., a nonprofit with a mission to reduce the cost of higher education while increasing student success and job readiness. The American Council on Education (ACE®) recommends the Chemistry lab course made with Labster for college credit. This signifies that many colleges and universities may accept course credit from it towards a degree. In addition, ACE® is looking at other courses to see if they should be recommended for credit. These courses are a good way to get college-level credits in STEM fields at a low cost. Sophia's Chemistry Lab course was first launched in December with Labster simulations. Sophia Learning will use Labster's simulations to build four more online lab courses in 2023. To help students finish the lab simulations, the courses will have extra Labster content like lab reports, manuals, formative assessments, and introductory videos. Sophia Learning courses with Labster-integrated labs include Introduction to Chemistry, Microbiology, Human Biology, Anatomy and Physiology I and Anatomy and Physiology II. Labster allows teachers to use the internet to explore, improve, and add to their science lessons and classroom activities. Labster's STEM-related virtual lab simulations catalog now has more than 300 titles. These simulations can be used in more than 50 academic courses. In addition, the browser based Labster simulations can be performed on a range of the most commonly used devices, from desktop computers to iPad and tablets to Chromebooks. Independent research and case studies show that the gamification techniques and fun, real-world scenarios of the Labster simulations get students more interested and involved. Learners can explore simulations on their own in high-tech labs through their web browsers, eliminating schools from spending millions building new facilities. Students can try out Sophia Learning courses before signing up for a low-cost monthly plan to take college-level courses. In addition, Labster virtual labs and interactive science solutions are available for free to educators. About Sophia Learning Sophia Learning offers high-quality online college-credit courses with a curriculum tailored to students and working adults. In addition, the platform provides lots of online, low-cost general education-level courses for college credit that ACE® recommends. Over 1,000 colleges and universities received Sophia's transcripts. The company was established in 2012 and believed in making personal and professional affordable and accessible at every educational career stage. About Labster Founded in 2011, Labster is committed to making fully interactive virtual training simulations. These simulations help students learn more by piquing their natural curiosity and showing them how science applies to the real world. The simulations can be used in various ways, from a complete lab replacement to an additional learning activity. As a result, more than 5 million students in high school universities across 70 countries have used Labster to conduct realistic experiments, practice skills in a risk-free environment and learn key science concepts.

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Springboard Partners with Gonzaga University to Deliver Tech Bootcamps

Springboard | January 27, 2023

On January 26, 2023, Springboard, an online learning platform that prepares students for in-demand careers, announced a partnership with Gonzaga University, a Jesuit liberal arts institute in Spokane (Washington), to provide students and prospective students with two bootcamps, namely Cybersecurity and Software Engineering. Employment for information security analysts and software developers is anticipated to increase over the next ten years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Sanam Raza, Vice President and General Manager of University Partnerships at Springboard, shared, "We want to do all that we can to provide the knowledge and support to meet the surge in demand for talent in these fields," She added, "We look forward to working alongside Gonzaga to help close this skills gap in the tech workforce and share in their commitment to expanding what a 21st century educational institution can do." (Source – Business Wire) This is Springboard's first university collaboration in 2023 and its tenth collaboration overall. With a proven track record of success, Springboard has emerged as a leading partner for universities looking to broaden their offerings to students through asynchronous e-learning. Springboard's exceptional, cohort-based, human-guided programs combine one-on-one mentoring with live and instructor-led lessons. Springboard's curriculum is developed by experts in the field, and students receive hands-on assistance from industry professionals as well as career coaching on how to build a network and land a job. Individuals who take the courses will gain real-world experience and create unique work portfolios. The 360-hour Cybersecurity bootcamp will cover industry fundamentals, vulnerability assessment, systems and network security, security operations, and a capstone project to demonstrate specialized skills. The Software Engineering Bootcamp covers front-end and back-end web development, databases, data structures, and algorithms, with two capstone projects included. Students in similar programs at Springboard have received job offers from companies such as Amazon, Salesforce, Google, Microsoft, and others in Fortune 100. The programs will be available to the public, and prospective students can enroll without prior industry or academic experience. Students who complete the program will be awarded an official Gonzaga University certificate. About Springboard Founded in 2013, California-based Springboard is an online learning platform that trains students for the most in-demand careers in the technology industry. More than 20,000 students in over 100 countries have used the company's systematic, mentor-led online learning programs to advance their careers. Employers such as Microsoft, Google, Meta, LinkedIn, Deloitte, Intel, IBM, and Salesforce have hired graduates from its programs. Springboard was recently included on the 2023 GSV EdTech 150 list, ranking the world's 150 most transformative digital learning growth companies.

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PowerSchool Announce the Plan of Opening the First Middle East & Africa Office

EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY | January 16, 2023

PowerSchool, North America's top supplier of cloud-based software for K–12 education, has announced its plans to open its first Middle East & Africa office in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), to accelerate the company's international expansion. The UAE office will service PowerSchool's extensive and increasing customer base in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region and help the company expand customer relationships into surrounding regions. In addition, the new office will serve as a hub for growing its channel partnerships in MEA regions. Hardeep Gulati, CEO of PowerSchool, stated, "As our global customer base grows, it's critical we build the capacity to help power our customers' digital transformation needs," He also said, "We are seeing strong demand for primary and secondary education technology solutions across the MEA region and are in a unique position to provide best-in-class solutions tailored for MEA education leaders who are investing in technology that will enable them to deliver high-quality education for generations to come." (Source – Businesswire) With over 3,000 employees worldwide, members of the senior leadership team, sales and marketing, and solutions engineering teams will be located out of PowerSchool's UAE office to address existing and future client demand in the area. Over the last quarter-century, PowerSchool has expanded to assist more than 45 million students worldwide and offers solutions in more than 90 countries, including well-established and prominent educational institutions in the Gulf (GCC). The current clients in the UAE include Al Ittihad National Private Schools, Liwa Education, ESOL, Aldar Education, and The American International School in Abu Dhabi. About PowerSchool PowerSchool is the leading supplier of cloud-based software for K–12 education in North America. It aims to fuel the education ecosystem with unified technology that enables students and educators to reach their greatest potential in unique ways. The organization brings students, teachers, administrators, and parents together to improve student outcomes. It assists schools and districts to efficiently handle state reporting and associated compliance, finance, special education, human resources, talent, registration, attendance, financing, learning, teaching, grading, assessments, and analytics on a single platform, from the office to the classroom to the home.

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Sophia Learning with Labster to Deliver STEM Courses with Virtual Lab Simulations

Sophia Learning | February 13, 2023

An online-learning and on-demand platform, Sophia Learning provides general education-level courses to higher education level students and recently announced a partnership with one of the world's leading edtech platforms Labster, for virtual lab and interactive science. The partnership delivers college-level science courses incorporating Labster's simulation content designed to meet the higher education needs of Sophia Learning's students and working adults. Sophia Learning is an associate of Strategic Education, Inc., a nonprofit with a mission to reduce the cost of higher education while increasing student success and job readiness. The American Council on Education (ACE®) recommends the Chemistry lab course made with Labster for college credit. This signifies that many colleges and universities may accept course credit from it towards a degree. In addition, ACE® is looking at other courses to see if they should be recommended for credit. These courses are a good way to get college-level credits in STEM fields at a low cost. Sophia's Chemistry Lab course was first launched in December with Labster simulations. Sophia Learning will use Labster's simulations to build four more online lab courses in 2023. To help students finish the lab simulations, the courses will have extra Labster content like lab reports, manuals, formative assessments, and introductory videos. Sophia Learning courses with Labster-integrated labs include Introduction to Chemistry, Microbiology, Human Biology, Anatomy and Physiology I and Anatomy and Physiology II. Labster allows teachers to use the internet to explore, improve, and add to their science lessons and classroom activities. Labster's STEM-related virtual lab simulations catalog now has more than 300 titles. These simulations can be used in more than 50 academic courses. In addition, the browser based Labster simulations can be performed on a range of the most commonly used devices, from desktop computers to iPad and tablets to Chromebooks. Independent research and case studies show that the gamification techniques and fun, real-world scenarios of the Labster simulations get students more interested and involved. Learners can explore simulations on their own in high-tech labs through their web browsers, eliminating schools from spending millions building new facilities. Students can try out Sophia Learning courses before signing up for a low-cost monthly plan to take college-level courses. In addition, Labster virtual labs and interactive science solutions are available for free to educators. About Sophia Learning Sophia Learning offers high-quality online college-credit courses with a curriculum tailored to students and working adults. In addition, the platform provides lots of online, low-cost general education-level courses for college credit that ACE® recommends. Over 1,000 colleges and universities received Sophia's transcripts. The company was established in 2012 and believed in making personal and professional affordable and accessible at every educational career stage. About Labster Founded in 2011, Labster is committed to making fully interactive virtual training simulations. These simulations help students learn more by piquing their natural curiosity and showing them how science applies to the real world. The simulations can be used in various ways, from a complete lab replacement to an additional learning activity. As a result, more than 5 million students in high school universities across 70 countries have used Labster to conduct realistic experiments, practice skills in a risk-free environment and learn key science concepts.

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EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY

Springboard Partners with Gonzaga University to Deliver Tech Bootcamps

Springboard | January 27, 2023

On January 26, 2023, Springboard, an online learning platform that prepares students for in-demand careers, announced a partnership with Gonzaga University, a Jesuit liberal arts institute in Spokane (Washington), to provide students and prospective students with two bootcamps, namely Cybersecurity and Software Engineering. Employment for information security analysts and software developers is anticipated to increase over the next ten years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Sanam Raza, Vice President and General Manager of University Partnerships at Springboard, shared, "We want to do all that we can to provide the knowledge and support to meet the surge in demand for talent in these fields," She added, "We look forward to working alongside Gonzaga to help close this skills gap in the tech workforce and share in their commitment to expanding what a 21st century educational institution can do." (Source – Business Wire) This is Springboard's first university collaboration in 2023 and its tenth collaboration overall. With a proven track record of success, Springboard has emerged as a leading partner for universities looking to broaden their offerings to students through asynchronous e-learning. Springboard's exceptional, cohort-based, human-guided programs combine one-on-one mentoring with live and instructor-led lessons. Springboard's curriculum is developed by experts in the field, and students receive hands-on assistance from industry professionals as well as career coaching on how to build a network and land a job. Individuals who take the courses will gain real-world experience and create unique work portfolios. The 360-hour Cybersecurity bootcamp will cover industry fundamentals, vulnerability assessment, systems and network security, security operations, and a capstone project to demonstrate specialized skills. The Software Engineering Bootcamp covers front-end and back-end web development, databases, data structures, and algorithms, with two capstone projects included. Students in similar programs at Springboard have received job offers from companies such as Amazon, Salesforce, Google, Microsoft, and others in Fortune 100. The programs will be available to the public, and prospective students can enroll without prior industry or academic experience. Students who complete the program will be awarded an official Gonzaga University certificate. About Springboard Founded in 2013, California-based Springboard is an online learning platform that trains students for the most in-demand careers in the technology industry. More than 20,000 students in over 100 countries have used the company's systematic, mentor-led online learning programs to advance their careers. Employers such as Microsoft, Google, Meta, LinkedIn, Deloitte, Intel, IBM, and Salesforce have hired graduates from its programs. Springboard was recently included on the 2023 GSV EdTech 150 list, ranking the world's 150 most transformative digital learning growth companies.

Read More

EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY

PowerSchool Announce the Plan of Opening the First Middle East & Africa Office

EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY | January 16, 2023

PowerSchool, North America's top supplier of cloud-based software for K–12 education, has announced its plans to open its first Middle East & Africa office in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), to accelerate the company's international expansion. The UAE office will service PowerSchool's extensive and increasing customer base in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region and help the company expand customer relationships into surrounding regions. In addition, the new office will serve as a hub for growing its channel partnerships in MEA regions. Hardeep Gulati, CEO of PowerSchool, stated, "As our global customer base grows, it's critical we build the capacity to help power our customers' digital transformation needs," He also said, "We are seeing strong demand for primary and secondary education technology solutions across the MEA region and are in a unique position to provide best-in-class solutions tailored for MEA education leaders who are investing in technology that will enable them to deliver high-quality education for generations to come." (Source – Businesswire) With over 3,000 employees worldwide, members of the senior leadership team, sales and marketing, and solutions engineering teams will be located out of PowerSchool's UAE office to address existing and future client demand in the area. Over the last quarter-century, PowerSchool has expanded to assist more than 45 million students worldwide and offers solutions in more than 90 countries, including well-established and prominent educational institutions in the Gulf (GCC). The current clients in the UAE include Al Ittihad National Private Schools, Liwa Education, ESOL, Aldar Education, and The American International School in Abu Dhabi. About PowerSchool PowerSchool is the leading supplier of cloud-based software for K–12 education in North America. It aims to fuel the education ecosystem with unified technology that enables students and educators to reach their greatest potential in unique ways. The organization brings students, teachers, administrators, and parents together to improve student outcomes. It assists schools and districts to efficiently handle state reporting and associated compliance, finance, special education, human resources, talent, registration, attendance, financing, learning, teaching, grading, assessments, and analytics on a single platform, from the office to the classroom to the home.

Read More

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