A flurry of education hearings in the House of Representatives and Senate; All4Ed releases a new analysis on the identification of schools for support and a new video on how federal education funding can support dual enrollment; and the middle grades are celebrated.

Programs such as dual enrollment, concurrent enrollment, and early college high school that allow students to complete college-level course work during high school are effective and increasingly popular models for improving student access, affordability, and completion of college. Such programs are particularly important for and effective at improving outcomes for students from low-income families and students of color.

Under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), states have reimagined their school accountability systems and come up with new ways to identify schools for support and improvement. Although the federal law allows some flexibility in designing these methodologies, it requires states to identify schools for three categories of support: comprehensive, additional targeted, and targeted support and improvement (CSI, ATS, or TSI, respectively).

Today’s episode of Federal Flash examines which programs are funded, cut, or eliminated in President Trump’s education budget. It also covers new action from Education Secretary Betsy DeVos that could prompt a lawsuit, as well as a separate court order ruling against the Education Department on students of color being disproportionally identified for special education services.

A yearlong performance assessment may sound like a lot for a high school senior. But in Oakland, California, seniors are using their capstone projects to solve problems facing their community while building critical skills for college and careers.

Today’s digest highlights how Oakland’s Graduate Capstone Project is making a difference for high school seniors and how Oakland Unified School District is empowering students through Linked Learning. It also covers a new book on deeper learning schools and the upcoming Deeper Learning Conference.

Oakland, California. The name by itself is so rich in history it exudes feelings of nostalgia or grief—or both. The city housed the late Maya Angelou and the infamous Black Power movement and helped fuel a generation of critical dissenters to the racial and social injustices that plagued America. Like many other American cities, Oakland segregated its populace by placing African Americans into overcrowded public housing units on the city’s west side and whites into government-sponsored suburban developments on the east side. But Oakland is a city that has been raising its voice for generations.

Technology is a powerful tool that, when paired with good instruction, can transform classrooms. Don’t believe us? Take it from the thousands of educators and students who celebrated on Digital Learning Day (DLDay) on February 28.

Federal Flash examines how Republicans and Democrats differ in their priorities for rewriting the Higher Education Act. It also covers two new proposals related to education funding and new guidance on the Every Student Succeeds Act from the U.S. Department of Education.

The local boba shop across the street from my high school was the place to be. Every day, when the bell rang at 2:44 p.m., hordes of high schoolers made their way there. Usually people grabbed their drinks and left. Only a select few lingered and this group of cigarette-smoking teenagers intimidated anyone who entered the shop.

Technology can be a powerful way to support deeper learning. Don’t believe it? Take a look at how thousands of students and teachers use technology to bring learning to life.

Today’s digest highlights examples of effective use of technology in classrooms, how teachers can design for deeper learning, and news from the Deeper Learning Equity Fellows.