Education and Training Archives

The power of youth voice _feature: female student gives presentation in front of classroom

The power of voice

Debate’s transferable skills — including public speaking, critical thinking and intellectual humility — empower youth voice.

Childcare: several young children stand in a line with arms around each others shoulders

604

Opinion

Entering the life space of the child: Frank Fecser’s legacy in action

Re-Education is a systematic, relational, ecological approach to working with children with mental/behavioral challenges.

youth workforce, credit for prior learning: group of youth at youth camp building wooden structure through teamwork

628

Opinion

From training to education: College credit for youth workers

When youth workers apply to college, their work experience doesn't count. One solution lies in Credit for Prior Learning (CPL).

Paying it forward_how mentoring orgs are helping students with college admissions_feature: mentor figure helps young female student by pointing to something on piece of paper

691

News

Paying it forward: How mentoring organizations are helping students with college admissions

School-based mentorship programs help students navigate financial aid, college admissions and stay on track.

Five shifts that would change everything_feature: black teenage girl speaks with black female adult

703

Opinion

Five shifts that would change everything

A podcast discusses five concrete changes that can be made in any youth development setting.

How a scholarship for homeless youth gave me the stability to build a future_feature: an old college building with tall tower on a nice day with clear, blue skies

645

From the Field

How a scholarship for homeless youth gave me the stability to build a future

The scholarship didn’t just help me go to college. It helped me build a life.

Workforce readiness should start before college_feature: young female mentor helping high school student one-on-one

739

From the Field

Workforce readiness should start before college

Workforce readiness must start in high school with paid opportunities, responsibilities, and cross-sector partnerships.

Strengthening school-afterschool partnership_Tips trends 2026 School Superintendents Conference_feature: man speaks and presents in front of room full of people with a screen to his left

909

From the Field

Strengthening school/afterschool partnership: Tips and trends from the 2026 School Superintendents Conference

At the 2026 National Conference on Education hosted in Nashville by the School Superintendents Association, I heard a sentence that defined my...

learning environments What John King's teachers were actually doing_feature: group of students listens to black male teacher outdoors teaching them about plants

746

Opinion

What John King’s teachers were actually doing

Helping youth thrive is about designing learning environments that prioritize consistency, challenge, and agency.

Structure, control and leaving room, youth environments _feature: image of clay pot spinning on record player

850

Opinion

Structure, control and leaving room

Youth practitioners play a critical role in shaping youth environments by establishing norms, safety, and a larger vision — not by controlling...

Childcare, early care, OST: Group young children holding hands while running towards camera across green grass with trees in background

864

From the Field

Beyond fragmentation: Advancing continuity of care and cumulative opportunities in OST

OST can move from a patchwork of programs to a cohesive ecosystem boosting equity and learning; becoming a vital part of the...

civic skills, youth thriving, Six reasons to read Teen Centered Civics for Human Thriving_feature: group of teens put hands together over world map

1.8K

From the Field

Civic skills for 20 million young people: A Q&A with Rajiv Vinnakota

Karen Pittman speaks with Rajiv Vinnakota about cultivating civic skills that develop effective citizens.

AI in schools: person on laptop while also using AI chatbot on smartphone

2.1K

From the Field

Flourishing in the Age of AI: Q&A with Courtney Garcia of LearnerStudio

Merita Irby speaks with LearnerStudio's Courtney Garcia about a new anthology exploring what it means for young people to flourish in the...

To fix student chronic absenteeism schools ust support families first_feature: Young teacher having meeting with parent of schoolboy, they sitting at table and talking together after lessons

1.3K

From the Field

To fix student absenteeism, schools must support families first

With chronic absenteeism still 50% above pre-pandemic levels, schools are using ineffective punitive or reward-based strategies instead of family supports.

Joy, partnership and play create belonging and increase attendance_feature: recess, group of very happy children playing game with yellow ball

1.0K

From the Field

Joy, partnership and play create belonging and increase attendance

We must ensure kids are experiencing high-quality recess and a school climate that makes them want to attend every day.

QA_ Karen Pittman _2026 NEA Foundation’s Outstanding Service Public Education Award_older black woman stand at podium with hands clasped in front of her

2.4K

From the Field

Q&A with Karen Pittman, 2026 recipient of the NEA Foundation’s Outstanding Service to Public Education Award

Youth Today's Karen Pittman, often referred to as the godmother of positive youth development, received the award on February 13.

The overlooked link between literacy, STEM and student success_feature: Little children with microscope studying Chemistry in science classroom

973

From the Field

The overlooked link between literacy, STEM and student success

For decades, schools across the country have invested heavily in literacy reform. New curricula, mandates and funding have reshaped classrooms, yet reading...

When accomodations exist on paper but not in practice_how ACT testing fails students with disabilities: male high school student taking test on laptop

1.8K

Opinion

When accommodations exist on paper but not in practice: How ACT testing fails students with disabilities

Students with disabilities face barriers when trying to access standardized testing accommodations, especially those without strong adult support networks.