2025 America’s Best Schools Symposium

2025 America’s Best Schools Symposium Top Schools Share the Keys to Success! Where else can you be surrounded by administrators and teacher leaders from otherwise typical schools where ALL groups of students excel? During last month’s annual NCUST America’s Best Schools Symposium, participants enjoyed remarkable opportunities to learn from the 2024 winners of the America’s […]

A Message from Dr. Francisco Escobedo

A Message from Dr. Francisco Escobedo As I conclude my tenure as the Executive Director of the National Center for Urban School Transformation (NCUST), I find myself reflecting on the incredible journey we have shared. It has been a profound honor to work alongside passionate, dedicated, and inspiring educators and community leaders who are steadfast […]

Theory to Practice Toolkit: Promoting Clarity

By introducing lessons with clarity and in ways that students perceive as clear, logical, and concise, lessons are more likely to maximize student learning.

Theory to Practice Toolkit: Focusing on Understanding and Mastery

THEORY TO PRACTICE TOOLKIT Focusing on Understanding and Mastery We are excited to add a section to our monthly newsletter where we highlight research-based practices that are making a profound impact on student learning at 175 award-winning NCUST schools. We discovered 8 specific practices common in these schools. Central to our findings is the ability […]

Using Affirming Learning Walks to Build Capacity

Using Affirming Learning Walks to Build Capacity While “Learning Walks” may serve as a valuable tool for professional development, school improvement, and accountability in the educational setting, how the observation data is shared with the staff is critical. The nature of these feedback sessions can determine whether they contribute to a culture of ongoing learning […]

Theory to Practice Toolkit: Making Students Feel Valued and Capable

THEORY TO PRACTICE TOOLKIT Making Students Feel Valued and Capable We are excited to share a new monthly article series where we highlight research-based practices that are making a profound impact on student learning at 175 award-winning NCUST schools. We discovered 8 specific practices common in these schools. Central to our findings is the ability […]

The Importance of Great Early Childhood Education in America’s Best Schools

The Importance of Great Early Childhood Education in America’s Best Schools Joseph F. Johnson Jr., Ph.D. Frequently, when NCUST identifies and awards outstanding elementary schools, those schools have amazing preschool programs. Children (and especially children of color) are more likely to succeed in the elementary school grades because of impressive foundations formed in preschool programs. […]

Francisco Escobedo to Fill State Board Vacancy

California’s Governor Newsom Appoints New NCUST Executive Director, Dr. Francisco Escobedo, to Fill State Board Vacancy On September 3rd, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced the appointment of Dr. Francisco Escobedo to the California State Board of Education. Governor Newsom appointed Dr. Escobedo in recognition of his successes as Superintendent of the Chula Vista Elementary School […]

Special Tribute to Jessica Schroeder

SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO JESSICA SCHROEDER A few years ago, the NCUST team was excited to hear about a couple of teachers in Salt Lake City who arranged a series of book study meetings focused on Teaching Practices from America’s Best Urban Schools. In December of 2019, I had the opportunity to travel to Salt Lake City to […]

COLLABORATION WITH NCUST

COLLABORATION WITH NCUST Funding Sources If you are actively collaborating with NCUST or considering it, please do not forget to consider using Elementary and Secondary School Relief (ESSER) funds, particularly ESSER III. ESSER funds are intended to ensure students have sustained access to in-person instruction and support as they recover from the impact of COVID-19. […]