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The Southern Poverty Law Center says there are 68 known hate groups active in Florida. That's only four less than California, which has twice the population. Of them, 47 are White supremacy groups, like those involved in the insurrection at the U.S Capitol in January.

Extremism in Florida, however, isn't confined to one ideology. The center says 21 of the hate groups involve Black separatists.

Most of the White supremacist groups existed deep in the shadows until January's insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

Scott Ernest was intimately familiar with these white supremacy groups now in the national spotlight.

He was a student at the University of South Florida when he moved to Montana 10 years ago, lured by a group that wanted to create a whites-only community. There, he was a moderator for Stormfront, a discussion board for white nationalists and the alt-right.

At one point, the West Palm Beach group had more than 300,000 members.

"As someone who actually recruited for it and ran a hate group that was on that map that was just taken off this year because it's dead," he said.

ALSO READ: These Are The Floridians Among Those Facing Charges In The Capitol Siege

Ernest left the movement several years ago because he identifies as LGBT, something that didn't exactly mesh with the beliefs of most people in that group. He says the final straw was when one of the white nationalists he was working with was arrested for threatening to shoot local school children.

"That was my own personal Capitol insurrection," Ernest said. "That was where I kind of realized I'm not on the right path here. And I do see other people having that very same thing."

Today, Ernest splits his time between Montana and Florida, trying to lead people out of the wilderness of hate.

Lori Hall is a professor specializing in race-based hate groups at the University of South Florida's St. Petersburg campus. She says the number of groups in Florida are growing slightly, and existing groups are gaining members.

"It's not that it's not occurring other places," Hall said. "It's that we're not seeing it other places as much as we're seeing it here. And there's a lot more movement in Florida for various reasons whether that be tourism, whether that be Southern culture, whether that be because we're a Republican state."

She says the Sunshine State is home to White supremacist groups such as the KKK, Proud Boys and Neo-Nazis, racist skinhead groups and neo-Confederates. It's also home to Black separatist movements such as the Nation of Islam and the New Black Panther Party.

Sicarii 1715 is a San Diego-based anti-Semitic and racist fringe religious group whose followers believe that Blacks, Hispanics, and Native Americans are the true descendants of the 12 Tribes of Israel.

Of Florida's 68 hate groups identified by the Southern Poverty Law Center, 14 are statewide. The rest are groups with chapters, nestled in urban, suburban and rural communities.

Hall says the members come from all walks of life.

"They're lawyers and they're construction workers and they're all of these different people that hold power within society, and they're making decisions about other people based on their bigoted beliefs," she said.

"That is the invisible harm that occurs," Hall said. "The things that we see visibly we can understand and we can quantify. But the things that we don't see are where the real harm and the perpetuation of inequality occurs."

One of those people, Kelly Meggs of Dunnellon, heads the Florida chapter of the Oath Keepers. It's a militia composed of current and former military, police, and first responders and are considered white supremacists. Meggs, his wife and another man from Englewood were charged with domestic terrorism in February for storming the U.S. Capitol.

There's also Sharkhunters International, a southwest Florida group that organizes tours to sites that were historically important to the Third Reich. And the neo-Nazi Atomwaffen Division came to light in 2017 when one of their former members was accused in a double murder in Tampa.

Because of our First Amendment rights of freedom of expression, the U.S. is one of the few developed countries that doesn't outlaw hate groups.

Radicalization, she says, occurs in different ways for different people.

"Some people hold these beliefs, and they go out looking for solace and they find it," Hall said. "Then, there are some people who lack education on topics, and they go out looking for education, and they find it in the wrong places. And then, they get kind of what we call infiltrated. Their mind starts to get all of the same imagery and the same messages and they buy into this, and they become radicalized."

While Hall says the numbers of groups in Florida is growing, Scott Ernest believes acts like the Capitol insurrection are a lashing out from what he describes as a "last gasp."

"I don't see the movement as growing," Ernest said. "A lot of what I'm seeing right now like the Capitol breach it's the last gasp of a dying movement. They know that people are moving on from hate. People are becoming more tolerant."

But when people think they're backed into a corner, they lash out. Ernest says we can expect more outbursts like the Capitol insurrection as they perceive their movement to be weakening.

"Just like Trump lashing out, it was a very similar situation, whereas Trump's ideology is a dying ideology. So he lashes out. And because he lashes out, his cultists lash out also," he said. "And that's just what's been happening in Florida, that's what's happening all over the place."

But Ernest believes there will be a time when these hate groups will become so marginalized that we'll see fewer organized marches like in Charlottesville, for instance, and more acts of violence.

He says hearing a lot lately from people want to escape the cauldron of never-ending hate, They're reaching out to his group called Hands of Eir. It's named after a Norse goddess who heals people.

"You know, sometimes they're not necessarily trying to have big changes in their lives. Sometimes, they just want to do things better," Ernest said.

"A lot of them are probably ones that they may be racist themselves, but they prefer the dog whistles, rather than the outright racism. I think that there have also been people that have woken up after the insurrection and have basically decided, hey, I need to change," he said.

"Yeah, we've been getting quite a few. It's been crazy."

Ernest says he's helping people turn their lives around, one person at a time.

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Florida Is Home To Second-Most Hate Groups In The U.S. A Former Member Explains Why - WJCT NEWS

Authorities investigating the January 6th insurrection at the Capitol say two extremist groups that traveled to Washington along with thousands of other Trump supporters weren't whipped into an impulsive frenzy by President Donald Trump. (March 10) AP Domestic

Government documents leading to the arrest of an East Naples man linked to violence at the U.S. Capitolclaim heis a memberof the far-right group, theProud Boys.

Christopher Worrell, 49, was arrested after FBI agents executed asearch and arrest warrant by 6 a.m. Friday in the 200 block of Stanhope Circle, according to the FBI.

In a statement of facts filed in courtby an unidentified FBI officer who is assigned to the Fort Myers Resident Agency of the Tampa Field Office, the officer outlines his probable cause to charge Worrell in a Jan. 6 incident in Washington, D.C.

More: East Naples arrest could have connection to Capitol Riots and Proud Boys. Here's what we know

More: FBI: Man arrested at East Naples home in connection with Capitol riot

Read: 'Zip tie guy' Eric Gavelek Munchel charged in connection to Capitol invasion has ties to Lee County

The officer states that Worrell violated multiple laws including:

entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds without lawful authority,

knowingly and with intent to impede or disrupt the orderly conduct of Government business,

knowingly engaged in any act of physical violence against a person or property in any restricted building or grounds,

used orcarried a deadly or dangerous weapon in relation to his violations,

willfully and knowingly uttered loud, threatening or abusive language, or engaged in disorderly conduct at any place in the grounds or in any Capitol Buildings with the intent to impede, disrupt or disturb the session of Congress or either House of Congress.

On Jan. 13, a tipster contacted the FBI to report that they believed Worrell traveled to the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, and potentially participated in the riot. The details are included in the FBI statement of facts a federal magistratesigned March 10.

Christopher Worrell of East Naples at the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, a photo included in an FBI statement of facts a federal magistrate signed March 10, 2021.(Photo: Photo courtesy of the FBI)

The tipster said they are an acquaintance of Worrell's live-in girlfriend.

During a raid Friday, FBI agents arrested Worrell at a home owned byTrish Priller. Worrell's Facebook Page says he and Priller are in a relationship.

Priller, who declined comment Saturday, isan executive assistant at the Naples Daily News. As of Saturday, Priller'ssupervisors could not be reached for comment.

In the report, Priller is not identified, but thetipster saidthe girlfriend told them that Worrell is a Proud Boy and that she and Worrell went to Washington, D.C., to be there on Jan. 6, according to the statement of facts.

The tipster also told the FBI that they had seen a video on Worrell's Facebook page that showed him participating in the riots.

On Jan. 18, the officer interviewed Worrell and askedif he had participated in the U.S. Capitol riots. The report indicated he was agitated that the FBI was at his house, but admitted that he was at the Capitol on Jan. 6. Hedenied entering the Capitol building and denied criminal conduct.

He also was agitated when asked about the Proud Boys, stating, "the Proud Boys were not a racist white supremacist group like the media tries to portray."

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The Proud boys were established in 2016 and "are self-described 'Western chauvinists'who adamantly deny any connection to the racist 'alt-right.'They insist they are simply a fraternal group spreading an 'anti-political correctness'and 'anti-white guilt'agenda," according to the Southern Poverty Law Center.

As of Feb. 3, USAToday reported six people charged for their involvement in the Capitol riots were linked to the Proud Boys, stating they arean extremist group with ties to white nationalism.

The investigator also found images of Worrell on various Twitter accounts, but noted he does not know the credibility of the information posted on the account.

In some of those photos, Worrell wears what looks to be a Proud Boys patch on his tactical vest, which appears to be the same vest he wore at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, the statement of facts states.

Worrell was also identified in multiple images and videos showing the events of Jan. 6, and placing him within the restricted area.

In those images it shows Worrell with a canister clipped to his vest that appears to match paper spray gel and is later seen in a photo spraying a substance from a canister.

It is not certain who the target was that Worrell was spraying, but in other photos and videos from that time of day, law enforcement officers are positioned where he appears to direct the pepper spray, according to the statement of facts.

As of Saturday, Worrell's attorney could not be reached for comment.

Worrell on Friday appeared in federal court, where a judge in the Middle District of Florida ordered him released. The Justice Department appealed and a chief judge in Washington, D.C., federal courttemporarily halted his release pending further review.

A videoconference hearing to determine whether to release Worrell is set for 12:30 p.m. Tuesday.

In 2009, Worrell was arrested for impersonating an officer after he followed and pulled up toa woman onU.S. 41 East and Guilford Road in East Naples trying to get her to pull over for running a red light, according to his arrest report.

He had a loaded handgun, handcuffs, knives, boxes of ammunitionand a fake badge in his possession when deputies arrested him.

In May 2010, Worrell was sentenced to three years probation and two years of community control for his charge of impersonating a law enforcement officer.

Read or Share this story: https://www.naplesnews.com/story/news/crime/2021/03/13/capitol-riot-east-naples-man-arrested-involvement-believed-proud-boy/4679842001/

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East Naples man arrested for involvement in Capitol riot believed to be 'Proud Boy' - Naples Daily News

An open letter to Gov. Ronald DeSantis:

I really have not recovered from the shock of national broadcast news and newspapers reporting that Floridas governor had set aside thousands of vials of COVID-19 doses specifically for folks who reside in affluent Florida ZIP codes.

Add to that the searing sight of our American flag, along with the Capitol building, being desecrated on Jan. 6, adding another permanent scar to our history.

Yet here again you are using the muscle of your office to do as you please rules regarding the American flag be damned:

Section 7m of the U.S. Flag Code authorizes a governor to place the American flag at half-staff upon the death of a present or former government official or the death of a member of the Armed Forces from the state who is killed while serving on active duty.

Listening to Rush Limbaugh 40-plus years ago when he began his radio career, he underscored that he was catering only to the rich and those who were as far right as possible. Just as we listen to whomever we choose in our homes, listening to Limbaugh was a personal choice. Those who foster racial hatred, homophobia and all other phobias are the Limbaugh crowd and ones personal choice to listen.

Im wondering if your recent behavior is your way of letting the alt-right folks know youre in their ballpark?

While America is trying to heal and find solace with one another, I find your behavior (placing the American flag at half-staff for Limbaugh) is indeed shortsighted and a tragedy for all Floridians.

Original post:
Letter to the Editor: Disagrees with Florida governor - The West Volusia Beacon

Last week, the killer behind the wheel during the April 2018 vehicular attack in Toronto was convicted. He claimed he was on a mission for the incel movement, an online subculture of so-called involuntarily celibate men who direct misogynistic rage at women.

This week, for International Womens Day, we take time to honour and recognize the progress that has been made to reduce gendered limitations. We can also use this day to acknowledge where dangers still exist and how societal structures continue to perpetuate and encourage harmful narratives about women.

Brad Congdon, an instructor with the Department of English whose research focuses on forms of masculinity, answers questions about misogynistic subcultures, the pervasiveness of violence against women and how we can continue to support positive gender identity. Have groups like incel always existed or are they a product of online culture?

Theres nothing new about misogyny, or men meeting for the purpose of resenting women. Its only because of online culture that we can speak of incels as a subculture, with their own terminology (e.g., Chads and Stacys; Supreme Gentlemen; gymceling; steroidmaxxing), routines, and spaces. Its only because men from different localities, regions, and countries can easily and anonymously meet, communicate, and socialize in these online spaces that incels can collaboratively articulate and disseminate an extremist ideology. There was certainly male resentment in a pre-internet eralots of itbut the fact that men can now go online and receive an informal education in, and ongoing encouragement for, a type of juvenile, insecure misogyny is relatively new.

Theres obviously a long history of men-only groups, but the latter part of the 20th century is when we started seeing mens rights and mens liberation groups. Most of these groups are post- or anti-feminist, arguing that womens social and economic advances have negatively impacted men. Rather than focusing on, say, economic changes that might have resulted in mens changing position, they accept the current political and economic system for what it is and turn their attention to either changing masculinity or blaming women generally, and feminists in particular.

The kind of stochastic terrorism that has been occurring against women is possible because the internet is such a powerful tool for communication and organization.

Women often seem to be the target of male violence. What does research tell you about why this happens?

Im reminded of this quotation from Nicole Brossard, writing about, and not long after, the 1989 Polytechnique Massacre in Montreal. Brossard wrote of the killer, All things considered, M.L. was no young man. He was as old as all the sexist, misogynist proverbs, as old as all the Church fathers who ever doubted women had a soul. He was as old as all the legislators who ever forbade women the university, the right to vote, access to the public sphere. M.L. was as old as Man and his contempt for women.

Which is to say that, historically, violence against women is everywhere. It often takes the form of systemic or symbolic violence. Historically, systemic violence has involved laws that disadvantage women, that stop them from voting or owning businesses, holding office or opening bank accounts. It involves men controlling their bodies. It involves the ways that laws are shaped to make it difficult to prosecute sexual crimes against women. And the list goes on. Symbolic violence includes, among other things, the abundance of images in our culture that indoctrinate girls to be submissive, sexy, and unequal partners in society.Research indicates that men target women for a variety of reasons, but Id suggest that these incidents of physical, illegal violence all happen in the context of a society that has long been structured by violence against women. Were pretty bad at preventing or punishing violence against women, at least comparably speaking, but were more likely to act out against acts of assault or murder than we are to punish those who, for example, work to limit womens access to healthcare. Prosecuting individuals, though necessary, is a way of implying the violence is the result of individual moral failings, rather than a societal problem.

Its been noted that theres a powerful gender dynamic to most terrorism and violent extremism. In your opinion, how do certain gender perspectives or expectations foster extremism?

I admit that Im not expert in extremism, but gender seems to play a substantial role. Cynthia Enloe wrote that nationalism comes from masculinized memory, masculinized humiliation and masculinized hope. Michael Kimmels recent book on extremism argues that, at the root of extremist, right-wing politics, is the idea that modern men have been emasculated and humiliated, and that part of what they seek is a restoration of the centrality of mens bodies and authority. Similarly, Annie Kelly, writing about the alt-right, sees at the heart of this extremism a discourse of anxiety about traditional masculinity.

There are different forms of extremism and nationalism, but theyre united by the idea that the world as it is, is flawed. Theyre typically conservative, in that they view a better version of the world in the past, whether its the past represented in history or religion or both. So, almost all extremism involves some idea of returning to previous social structures, and in particular what are considered traditional gender roles.

What are some of the steps we can take as a society to counteract the way we ascribe gender and support people of all genders in developing positive identities?

There are probably too many to list, but Ill start by saying that representation is important. The more we see people of all genders in roles that have traditionally been set aside for cisgender white men whether those are real roles, like parents, partners, friends, CEOs and presidents, or imaginary roles, like superhero or space captain the more children will grow up seeing a degree of gender equality and acceptance, and thinking of those things as normal. More importantly, we need to see women, whether cis-gender or trans, in those actual roles, since popular representation can only do so much. And we need to see anti-sexist policies put in place, because without institutional and systemic support, it might all be tokenism or window-dressing.

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Ask an expert: Brad Congdon on violence against women and the importance of representation - Dal News

Every month, we round up our most popular and shared articles from the past four weeks. (Go deeper: See our top highlights from December, November and beyond right here)

Vaccines, CDC guidance for safe classrooms and a growing consensus that districts will need additional federal funds to facilitate reopening the conversation surrounding the nations schools turned towards the future this month, and President Bidens commitment to get many reopened within his first 100 days. At The 74, our February coverage focused extensively on the learning losses associated with school closures and new strategies to accelerate learning, as well as new research on such issues as teacher quality, socioeconomic segregation and evolving attitudes on the value of virtual learning even after the pandemic is over. Below are our most popular articles of the month. (Reminder: You can also get alerts about our latest news coverage, essays and exclusives by signing up for The 74 Newsletter)

(Getty Images)

Student Safety: Five days after extremists used the fringe video gaming platform Dlive to livestream a mob attack on the U.S. Capitol Jan. 6, a youthful white nationalist logged on to the site and offered his take about the future of a movement he helped create a radical agenda, experts warn, thats targeted at teens. As the Capitol riot reawakens many Americans to the persistent reality of white supremacists among us, experts on extremism are sounding the alarm about the ways alt-right groups weaponize video games and streaming platforms to recruit and radicalize impressionable young minds. For teenagers whose isolation has been heightened by the pandemic, the desire for connection makes them particularly vulnerable, particularly in the current political climate. But experts say parents and educators can intervene before its too late. Read more by The 74s Mark Keierleber.

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Accelerating Learning: The news about pandemic-related learning loss keeps getting worse. A recent McKinsey & Co. study predicted that cumulative loss due to COVID-19 could be substantial, especially in mathematics, with students likely to lose five to nine months of learning by the end of this school year. Key educators are advocating an unusual remedy: a national, online volunteer tutoring force. 74 contributor Greg Toppo describes it as a sort of digital Peace Corps meets Homework Helpers. The idea has been endorsed by three former U.S. education secretaries. But as Congress and the Biden administration work out their early priorities, the nonprofit sector has begun to step in. Sal Khan, founder of Khan Academy, has created what he and others think is a scalable blueprint for a national tutoring effort, one that could match knowledgeable adult volunteers as well as millions of young people who have mastered key concepts with students in need. Already, two states Rhode Island and New Hampshire have signed on to Schoolhouse.World, with more expected soon. This is like a lifeline, said Rhode Island Education Commissioner Angelica Infante-Green.

Catherine Lhamon, Miguel Cardona and Carmel Martin (Getty Images)

Education Department: President Joe Biden has assembled a domestic policy team that includes officials who held high-level positions at the Department of Education during the Obama years. Education secretary nominee Miguel Cardona would bring the voice of classroom experience to the department. With so many urgent demands on the administration related to reopening schools, some wonder whether the White House and department officials will send a unified message to schools and families about getting students back in classrooms, or whether tensions will arise. Theres a precedent for the White House taking the lead on ed policy, and former Education Secretary Margaret Spellings suggests that for now, the power center will be the White House. Speaking on the radio last week, Cardona said it will be important to make sure there is consistency in messaging, to make sure there is one message, one plan. At least one expert is calling for a blue-ribbon commission on the federal governments role in reopening a monumental task even if everyone is on the same page. Linda Jacobson reports.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announces changes to Ohios school quarantine rules for students having close contact with infected students. (The Ohio Channel)

Reopening: Calling plans by the Cleveland school district to ignore its commitment to reopen schools by March 1 simply unacceptable, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine threatened to pull early vaccines from school staff. District CEO Eric Gordon, who had moved back the reopening target to April 6, changed course in a phone call with DeWine, the governor said at a Feb. 12 press conference. Your commitment is not just to me, DeWine said. Your commitment is to the children in your district and your commitment is to your parents, your parents who said, Yes, I want my child back. A press release from the district did not commit to reopening by March 1 but said Gordon will announce plans Feb. 19, as scheduled. Reopening delays by the Akron school district and one high school in Cincinnati also drew DeWines attention. Patrick ODonnell reports.

Luis Martinez, 11 and a fifth grader in Los Angeles, next to his mother, Tania Rivera, upon receiving an award two years ago. Luis, who has autism and is non-verbal, rarely missed a day of instruction prior to the pandemic. (Tania Rivera)

Special Education: In the waning days of the Trump administration, the U.S. Department of Educations civil rights office launched four investigations into whether schools failed to serve students with disabilities during the pandemic. As 74 contributor Jo Napolitano reports, the inquiries came as no surprise to many parents who have watched their children lose skills it took them years to build. The probes covering the state school system in Indiana, as well as districts in Los Angeles, Seattle and Fairfax, Virginia reflect similar complaints from all across the country, said Denise Stile Marshall, head of The Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates, a group that works on behalf of children with disabilities. Many parents are desperate and at their wits end.

Summer School: Americas rapid transition to virtual learning left huge numbers of teachers discouraged and parents worried about disastrous academic setbacks for their children. Some policymakers have wondered whether schools should stay open this summer to make up for lost time, including President Joe Biden, who suggested as much earlier this week. Now, a study finds that a summer program providing remote instruction in the midst of the pandemic has earned high marks from participants. The National Summer School Initiative, established last spring by a coalition of education reformers, offered five weeks of virtual math, literacy and enrichment classes to nearly 12,000 students. Some 500 educators were paired with 15 mentors who sent videos of their own teaching, advised on methods and debriefed after classes. And according to surveys and interviews, most participants were satisfied with the results: By the final week of the program, 65 percent of students said they were happy to be participating in summer school, and 86 percent of teachers said it improved their perception of online instruction. What were finding here is that the folks who participated felt like this was a really engaging and positive kind of virtual experience, study co-author Beth Schueler told Kevin Mahnken.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican from Georgia (Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Civics Education: As newly elected GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greenes embrace of conspiracy theories about the mass school shooting in Parkland, Florida, generated national headlines and calls for her expulsion from Congress, a teacher who lived through the violence did what he does best: turn the moment into a learning opportunity. Jeff Foster, who teaches Advanced Placement Government at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where 17 people died in the 2018 shooting, frequently uses current events as lessons about the importance of civic participation. Even the Jan. 6 mob attack on the U.S. Capitol sparked lively debate among his politically engaged students. But this conversation was different: Everybody in the class agreed that the comments from Greene, a freshman congresswoman from Georgia, were reprehensible. But even more shocking, Foster and other Parkland survivors said, was the failure of Republican leadership to respond with swift action. Read more by The 74s Mark Keierleber.

(Michael Hobbiss, Sam Sims, and Rebecca Allen/British Educational Research Association)

Teacher Quality: For teachers, the development of habits is a necessary concession to the unpredictable nature of their job. Morning assignments, class transitions, even behavior management need to be governed by routines that are as predictable for kids as they are effective for adults. But according to new research, these habits may be responsible for the slowing rate of improvement after teachers first few years on the job. As classroom practices become more automatic, they are also harder to change when they stop achieving their desired results. The profession is consistently subject to so many ambitious reforms from the Common Core to the science of reading to implicit bias training that practitioners need to be open to new methods, the authors argue. Kevin Mahnken explains.

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History: Contributor Chad Aldeman has some bad news: The effects of COVID-19 are likely to linger for decades. And if the Spanish Flu is any indication, babies born during the pandemic may suffer some devastating consequences. Compared with children born just before or after, babies born during the flu pandemic in 1919 were less likely to finish high school, earned less money and were more likely to depend on welfare assistance and serve time in jail. The harmful effects were twice as large for nonwhite children. It may take a few years to see whether similar educational and economic effects from COVID-19 start to materialize, but these are ominous findings suggesting that hidden economic factors may influence a childs life in ways that arent obvious in the moment. Hopefully, they will give policymakers more reasons to speed economic recovery efforts and make sure they deliver benefits to families and children who are going to need them the most.

Future of Education: Will the forced adoption of online learning accelerate innovation in K-12 education and its transformation toward more student-centered learning? Results from a nationally representative survey research project co-led by contributor Thomas Arnett offer some answers. The survey of 596 U.S. K-12 teachers and 694 school and district administrators found many teaching remotely or in a hybrid arrangement and issues with both synchronous (live class meetings over video calls) and asynchronous (via independent study materials and delayed communication such as email) approaches. One solution: A mix of asynchronous and synchronous online learning, when executed effectively, can have important benefits for students. Teachers adoption of online learning resources does not guarantee that online instruction becomes student-centered. Nonetheless, their growing familiarity with these resources makes the shift to student-centered practices much easier. When schools can go back to normal, many families and educators may be eager to say good riddance to online learning. But its encouraging to see educators discovering ways to use it to make their instruction more student-centered.

Income segregation levels within North Carolina schools increased from 2007 to 2014. (Dave Marcotte and Kari Dalane, via Annenberg Institute at Brown University)

Socioeconomic Segregation: Its a foundational premise of the American dream that through hard work and diligent study, young people can use education to access opportunities denied to their parents. However, mounting evidence suggests that segregation not just by race, but also by income within school systems may stymie those meritocratic aspirations. Previous research has documented the steady uptick in wealth gaps between schools, but a new working paper published by the Annenberg Institute at Brown University finds that income segregation within schools, from classroom to classroom, is also on the rise. However, its not all bad news. The researchers also show that in North Carolina, districts with more economically integrated schools also tended to have schools with more economically integrated classrooms. Its not inevitable that when we take affirmative measures to integrate by income, that schools will invariably resegregate at the classroom level, said Richard Kahlenberg of The Century Foundation. Asher Lehrer-Small has the story.

(RAND Corporation)

Remote Learning: A new, nationally representative survey of district leaders shows that remote coursework is here to stay and school systems will have to apply the lessons from their forced experiments with virtual learning during the pandemic to better adapt. The first survey conducted through the new American School District Panel shows 1 in 5 districts are considering, planning to adopt or have already adopted a fully online school in future years, and 1 in 10 has adopted blended or hybrid instruction, or plans to. Of all the pandemic-driven changes in public education, the creation of virtual schools was the one that the greatest number of district leaders anticipated would continue into the future. Remote instruction is a fundamentally different task than what school districts are designed for, as school systems nationwide learned when they were forced to suddenly close last spring. But, write contributors Heather Schwartz and Paul Hill, lessons from six case studies demonstrate how districts can use their pandemic-related momentum to make online learning a common staple of public schooling.

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The 12 Best Education Articles from February: How Extremists Are Teaching Kids to Hate, the White House Staffs Up With Education Experts, Recruiting...