Middle School Changes?

Posted on September 2, 2025 Written by

In my “School Organization and Leadership” course (EDLD 6013), we explore the pros and cons of local school configurations. That’s because there’s an ongoing debate over such configurations (especially for the middle grades) as districts across the country experiment with different models to reflect societal changes and to better meet the needs of their students.

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, traditional K-5, 6-8, and 9-12 schools remain the norm. HOWEVER, K-8 schools are growing in popularity, increasing from 2,500 in 1994 to about 7,000 in 2024.

Education Week recently posted an article that provides more information on this growing trend. It’s a must read for any administrator involved in discussions about the configuration of their local schools.

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SEL Fallout

Posted on December 12, 2023 Written by

Here’s another update on how certain segments of the public are significantly misinformed about what Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is actually designed to do, or why many teachers consider this an important tool in today’s increasingly challenging classrooms.

This article also highlights the growing political fallout connected to SEL, and how some states are reacting to the public outcry from select groups by either revising SEL implementation or banning its use entirely.

Note: Searching “SEL” will bring up my previous posts on this topic that provide useful background as well as links to other resources and commentary.

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