Laura Bornfreund

4 Early Care and Education Issues to Watch in 2026 From immigration enforcement to universal child care, policy experts preview what to expect in early care and education in the year ahead.

4 Early Care and Education Issues to Watch in 2026 www.the74million.org/zero2eight/4...

Downgrading Education Is a Disastrous Misreading of What Our Country Needs www.the74million.org/article/down... by @lisaguernsey.bsky.social

A Popular Method for Teaching Phonemic Awareness Doesn't Boost Reading In a new study, a highly used program didn't lead to improvements in students' word-reading abilities.

This is somewhat misleading. Heggerty isn't intended to replace phonics instruction. There are multiple key components of reading, only one of which is phonemic awareness. Also need phonics, comprehension, fluency, vocabulary, plus oral language and writing! www.edweek.org/teaching-lea...

@educationwork.newamerica.org

High Quality Pre-K Starts with Supported Teachers: A Role for Curricula in Bridging Preschool and Early Elementary The preschool years need to be followed by meaningful learning in early elementary grades.

Laura Bornfreund
I wrote on a role for curricula in bridging preschool and early elementary newamerica.org/education-po... via
@NewAmericaEd

The #Sajaboys definitely opened and run the #Dunkindonuts at #GreatWolfLodge in Naples. Slowly sucking our souls while we wait 45 mins+ for coffee and a single hashbrown.

Great First Eight is another curriculum that brings SOR and play together... And more! @nellkduke.bsky.social

The Science of Reading and Play Go Hand-in-Hand. Schools Must Make It Happen Roberts & McCormick: Activities like blocks, drawing and dramatic play can make learning feel like a game for young kids. But the gains are real.

The Science of Reading and Play Go Hand-in-Hand. Schools Must Make It Happen www.the74million.org/zero2eight/t...

Excited to share that my book "Rediscovering Kindergarten: Embracing Play and Joy in Learning" will be published by @GryphonHouse in June 2026! 📚✨

How a California Principal Reduced Absenteeism, Raised Reading Scores By prioritizing caregiver access and opening classrooms to families, Dr. Brittany Daley made real headway on some of her school’s major post-pandemic problems.

"And in those early days, we didn’t post about literacy, math or anything related to academics. Instead, we focused solely on attendance and getting families to come inside the school as much as possible." www.governing.com/management-a...

‘The impact has been profound’: the headteacher bringing play back to the classroom Tina Farr has put play-based learning at the heart of lessons at her Oxford primary – with ‘phenomenal’ results

‘The impact has been profound’: the headteacher bringing play back to the classroom | Teaching | The Guardian share.google/yZ0yETzwefqb...

Opinion | The Trump Administration Is Trying to Unravel One of Our Greatest National Accomplishments

The Trump Administration Is Trying to Unravel One of Our Greatest National Accomplishments www.nytimes.com/2025/05/25/o...

Monday morning. Asst. Principal in a training, a number of teachers out, AC not working in 5th grade classrooms, bus late.

Has America Given Up on Children’s Learning?

Has America Given Up on Children’s Learning? www.nytimes.com/2025/05/10/u...

Some Kansas kindergartens are bringing back an old-school concept — free play As kindergarten becomes more academically intense, some schools in Wichita are incorporating self-directed free play — known among educators as purposeful play — into the daily schedule as a way to en...

Lots to learn from here: Kids need playful learning. www.kmuw.org/news/2025-04...

A Gutted Education Department’s New Agenda: Roll Back Civil Rights Cases, Target Transgender Students The Trump administration is subverting the traditional priorities of the department’s decimated civil rights office by making discrimination investigations practically impossible — instead enforcing i...

ED is gutted and has a new agenda www.propublica.org/article/educ...

When kids are evicted, they often lose both home and school Children threatened with eviction are more likely to end up in another district or transfer to another school, often one with less funding, more poverty and lower test scores.

When kids are evicted, they often lose both home and school hechingerreport.org/when-kids-ar...

As federal dollars for Head Start slow, rural parents left without other options - The Hechinger Report In the rural Methow Valley in northeast Washington state, parents have few options for child care. There are only two licensed programs in the community — one of which is a Head Start center. About 40...

As federal dollars for Head Start slow, rural parents left without other options hechingerreport.org/as-federal-d...

Defending the Department of Education New research, analysis, and commentary from New America’s Education & Work teams related to the Department of Education and a push by the Trump administration to shutter it.

My colleagues at @newamerica.org published article after article about why the U.S. Department of Education (ED) matters. Make no mistake, there is much at stake if it were shut down. For insights on why, read more here: www.newamerica.org/education-po...

This is definitely not normal. #SOTU

I wonder what Trump thinks the American dream is. #SOTU

It's already disturbing. #SOTU

The Rise of Teacher Apprenticeships: How States Are Leading the Way Check out this analysis of Ed Trust's 50 State Scan on Registered Teacher Apprenticeships.

The Rise of Teacher Apprenticeships: How States Are Leading the Way newamerica.org/education-po... via @newamerica

Defending the Department of Education New research, analysis, and commentary from New America’s Education & Work teams related to the Department of Education and a push by the Trump administration to shutter it.

Last week, my colleagues at @newamerica.org published article after article about defending the U.S. Department of Education (ED). Make no mistake, there is much at stake if it were shut down. For insights on why, read more here: www.newamerica.org/education-po...

Helping teachers learn what works in the classroom − and what doesn’t − will get a lot harder without the Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences The nonpartisan arm of the Education Department supports research and shares data on student progress. It identifies what works and what doesn’t.

Helping teachers learn what works in the classroom − and what doesn’t − will get a lot harder without the Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences
theconversation.com/helping-teac...

Today I play the role of 5th grade teacher. Lots of teachers out with now enough subs. #lifeofaresourceteacher

Why We Need Research and Data at the U.S. Department of Ed The Institute of Education Sciences funds research and data collection on how students are faring and what helps them succeed. Canceling research already underway will waste public dollars and set Ame...

We need IES!

Inefficiency Multiplied: What Happens When Research and Data are Halted at U.S. Dept. of Ed newamerica.org/education-po... via
@newamerica

Trump administration targets Education Department research arm in latest cuts The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) is responsible for gathering data on a wide range of topics, including research-backed teaching practices and the state of U.S. student achievement.

Trump targets Education Department research arm in latest cuts www.npr.org/2025/02/10/n...

EdCounsel on why families with young students may be leaving Atlanta Public Schools educationcounsel.com/our_work/pub...

Looking for a great literacy blog, which you can also consume via podcast? Check out Shanahan on Literacy. I love it. Thanks @nellkduke.bsky.social for introducing it to me. www.shanahanonliteracy.com