Under the Every Student Succeeds Act, anywhere from 30% to 70% of schools could be classified as "additional targeted schools," according to the Center for Assessment. Such schools may be performing well overall, but they have subgroups of students, such as students in special education, who are struggling academically and require extra support.

The Federal School Safety Commission will suggest eliminating a discipline rule, adopted during former President Barack Obama's administration, when it releases its report later this month. The rule was designed to prevent racial disparities related to school discipline, but many conservatives say it gives the federal government too much authority over local matters.

The US Department of Education will release a plan to help teachers who have been hit with large debts because of problems with the TEACH Grant program. The move comes after it was discovered that some teachers who complied with the requirements of the program had their grants wrongly converted to loans because of paperwork mishaps.

The Indiana State Board of Education has recommended that lawmakers conduct more oversight over the state's virtual charter schools. The recommendations also include suggestions for virtual schools about improving student engagement.

Education researchers at MIT are developing a way to assess students to measure skills such as creativity, critical thinking and curiosity. The "playful assessment" approach has the potential to change teaching and learning overall, in part, by making assessments less threatening, MIT researcher Yoon Jeon Kim says.

Learning disabilities may not be an additional risk factor contributing to the higher rates of suspension of black students, according to a study. While the study's controversial findings suggest that factors, including racism and poverty, may account for black students being suspended at twice the rate of whites, others say the study "controls" for other factors at the expense of the main concern about how schools treat students.

As students across the country seek to influence policy on school safety, bullying, and mental health, some state boards of education are engaging students directly and meaningfully by designating a student member seat on their board or creating student advisory councils. According to a new NASBE analysis, 20 states and territories have at least one student member on their state boards of education. Delaware and Mississippi are in the process of adding student members. At least seven states, like Utah, have set up student advisory councils.

Savvy state boards of education recognize that high-quality civic education not only prepares students to vote and understand how the U.S. Constitution divides political power. It helps students acquire skills needed to make difficult choices that affect their communities, advocate for themselves and others on public matters, and contribute to healthy, informed civic engagement. Despite widespread concerns about divisiveness and disinformation in civic dialogue across the United States, most state boards in 2018 have not revisited civic education policies. A few states have. Read more on State Board Insight.

SmartBrief Education's monthly Editor's Choice Content Award celebrates educator-written content. Our recent winners, Anthony Meals and Kasey Short, talk about why educator burnout is not a badge of honor and how to create a climate of inquiry in your classroom. Tune in Jan. 4 when they discuss these important issues on Education Talk Radio.