"Curriculum playlists" and understanding that math standards follow a spiralized progression rather than offering either/or options are among ways to address learning gaps, says math professor and Illustrative Mathematics CEO William McCallum. Math apps and games designed for families also play an important role, NWEA learning consultant Kelly McCormick explains.

To mark Teacher Appreciation Week, this article surveyed 15 educators to ask them if prolonged school closures and remote instruction has changed the way parents view what it takes to be a teacher. Most teachers said the situation has changed perceptions, with Erin Haley, a middle-school teacher at The Bayshore School in Daly City, Calif., noting a "family reached out and said they have a deeper understanding of all we do as teachers and apologized for ever being difficult."

Shared decision-making -- the deliberate process of school leaders enlisting the input of teachers, parents, community members and others -- has benefits and some challenges, write leadership consultants Ron Williamson and Barbara Blackburn. In this article, they offer ways to implement shared decision-making, including through leadership teams.

After the state made required revisions, the US Education Department has approved Michigan's school accountability plan under the Every Student Succeeds Act. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos encouraged state leaders to see their plan "as a baseline upon which to build, strengthen and expand."

Sixth- and seventh-grade math classes at a New York City school are piloting "Family Playlists," a program that uses technology to increase family involvement in student learning. Playlists involve homework assignments in which students demonstrate understanding by teaching parents about a concept.