We’re kicking off our series “School Principles” this week!

According to Education Week, in 2022 there have been 29 school shootings in the US that resulted in injuries or deaths, with at least two taking place already this school year. And parents and experts are worried about learning loss during the pandemic. The National Center for Education Statistics recently looked at the education gap during the pandemic. Stats showed a drop in reading and math scores for 9 year olds. This was the largest average score decline in reading since 1990, and the first recorded decline in math scores since 1973.

Add to that the impact of teacher shortages, and the end of pandemic-era school lunch waivers in the midst of rising prices. It’s a lot to consider on top of just getting kids to school every day. 

For more on this, we spoke with John King, EdTrust President and former U.S. Secretary of Education for joining us for this conversation.