Last week, the U.S. Congress passed Senate Resolution 520, designating Feb. 21-25 as “Public Schools Week,” to celebrate the nation’s public schools and their students, as well as the many education professionals and school officials who work to help students reach their full potential.
“NJSBA applauds members of the school community for making the education of our young people their driving priority,” said Dr. Lawrence S. Feinsod, executive director of NJSBA. “The stellar education that students receive at public schools has given them the foundation they need to succeed as adults – and that would not be possible without the dedicated work of board members, educators, administrators and staff.”
Public schools educate some 48.1 million students, according to Learning First Alliance. That represents about nine out of every 10 students. There are approximately 3.2 million public school teachers, and 3.4 million other professional, administrative and support staff serving those students.
In helping lead the push to celebrate Public Schools Week, LFA noted this has been a school year “unlike any other.” On its website, it states, “Schools have welcomed back students with varying degrees of trauma, academic loss and many social-emotional needs. Meeting these needs under intense pressures has been a tremendous challenge.”
NJSBA has helped the school community navigate these challenges with virtual meetings, Workshop programs, informational articles and numerous research papers, including “Rebuilding Opportunities for Students,” “Eye on the Future as Districts Monitor Student Mental Health” and “Reopening Schools: Online Learning and the Digital Divide.”
You can get a bevy of resources from LFA to celebrate Public Schools Week. Use the hashtags #PublicSchoolProud, #PSW22 or #PublicSchoolsWeek2022 on social media.