All Education
First LookBoon to borrowers: Biden announces student loan debt forgiveness planPresident Joe Biden announced his administration would cancel $10,000 of student debt for millions of Americans. The controversial plan represents a huge potential boost to borrowers鈥� prosperity and dignity.
FocusMore cash, fewer requirements: States scramble for teachersAt the heart of the struggle to retain and attract teachers is restoring a sense of dignity to the profession. Beneath political finger-pointing, that goal is shared by a wide swath of Americans.
鈥業 put the students first鈥�: A public school librarian on book bansAs some parents push book bans, scrutiny extends to school staff. Yet school librarians like Martha Hickson defend their responsibility to students.
The ExplainerNew California law: Let teens sleep in on school daysCalifornia has taken a step to help teenagers get more of the sleep they need by mandating school start times, effective immediately.聽
Pandemic learning recovery? Yes, and no.There are signs that public school students have overcome aspects of their pandemic learning loss, but there鈥檚 still plenty of progress to be made. For both students and teachers, perseverance will be key to further growth.
First Look'Academically malnourished': Freshman class begins college behindAs a new group of incoming college freshmen gears up for orientation, the cost of two years of online learning during the pandemic has become apparent in their academic experience and readiness, education experts say.聽
FocusPurdue鈥檚 tuition freeze at year 10: Most students graduate debt-freeStudent loan debt has been reduced dramatically at Purdue University, which 10 years ago instituted a price freeze on tuition and other costs.
First LookFewer new shoes and backpacks: Families feel the inflation pinchBack-to-school season is fast approaching but lower- and middle-income U.S. families are focusing their budgets on food and gas instead of school supplies. It鈥檚 a sharp contrast from last year,聽when parents had more disposable income from increased wages and stimulus checks.
FocusNew path for those recovering from addiction: Training to be peer advocatesThose who have battled addiction now have another avenue for renewal: a chance to both go to school and have a meaningful career supporting others with sobriety.聽
First LookShrinking enrollment in big cities may force public schools shutAcross the U.S., urban public schools are relying on COVID relief money to keep schools open, prioritizing stability for students and their families. But, as homeschooling gains popularity and federal funds dry up, the funds may not be enough to keep some schools open.
FocusEducation owes a lot to parents. But where do their rights begin and end?What lessons does history offer about how much parents can and should shape education in a democracy?聽Part 4 in a series.
First LookUS families brace for the end of pandemic-era free school mealsInitiated in 2020, the federal aid that made school meals available for free to all public school students in the United States 鈥� regardless of income levels 鈥� is ending, raising concerns for those already struggling with rising food prices.
Mental health: Is that a job for schools?Concerns about ethics, privacy, and piling on educators have some wondering: Should schools be shouldering the mental health crisis? Part of a package on solutions for helping students.
Supporting students: What鈥檚 next for mental healthA reporting collaborative, including the Monitor, offers examples of the mental health solutions being offered to support children and young adults.聽
After high court ruling, is it tremors or earthquakes for public education?What does this week鈥檚 Supreme Court decision, allowing tax dollars to be spent on religious schools, mean for the future of public education?聽
FocusCitizen building: What鈥檚 the best way to help students soar in a democracy?Are we better off as a nation investing in a system where talented students can soar, or one in which everyone is educated equally? Can鈥檛 we have both?聽Part 3 in a series.
Cover StoryTitle IX at 50: How 37 words changed the world for womenA 37-word law passed聽50 years ago has dramatically expanded the rights of women on America鈥檚 athletic fields 鈥� and beyond.
FocusOne country, two histories: What does it mean to be an American?At the center of the culture wars are two approaches to teaching U.S. history to students. What do they suggest about what it means to be American?
FocusPublic education, democracy, and the future of AmericaDo Americans agree anymore that public education is fundamental to democracy? Part 1 in a series.
First LookDebt relief: Federal loans for Corinthian students canceledThe Biden administration moved to erase $5.8 billion in student debt for former students of the collapsed for-profit Corinthian Colleges chain. This the largest single federal loan discharge in the history of the Education Department.
