All Education
Pods live on: Schools use a pandemic invention to address 鈥榣earning loss鈥�Some public schools are taking the pandemic idea of learning pods and using it as a way to support a wider group of students.
How a US camp helps Russian-speaking kids in time of warA Russian language camp in Minnesota that welcomes children through the fall wasn鈥檛 sure how it would fare聽this year because of the war in Ukraine. Organizers found that unity and hope prevailed.聽
First LookDistricts want to ban cellphone access. Some parents say, no way.School districts are increasingly implementing cellphone bans aimed at improving learning conditions. But some parents say such bans would prevent daily support check-ins and communication during emergencies.
First LookPoverty and online school affected learning losses, US study findsThe average U.S. student lost more than half a year of learning in math, and nearly a quarter of a year in reading since 2019. Children in low-income areas were most affected, but advocates hope this data can direct funding to聽students facing the largest setbacks.
First LookPandemic鈥檚 effect on US education revealed in 鈥榥ation鈥檚 report card鈥�As the U.S. continues to recover from the pandemic, NAEP test results reveal the effect on learning. School districts nationwide saw record-low math scores while reading levels dipped to their lowest since 1992.
First LookAs Cantonese dwindles, teachers preserve it for future generationsChanging migration patterns and China鈥檚 Mandarin-centric language policies have led to diminished interest in Cantonese. As the Cantonese diaspora struggles to hang on to its heritage and culture, teachers work to save it.
In Alabama, a teaching experiment aims to help English learners succeedAn Alabama district is using pandemic funds to hire temporary staff to support English learners 鈥� and to show state legislators that with the right support, learning gains are possible.
First LookUncertified teacher numbers spike as schools work to stem shortagesAs districts in the South and elsewhere face staff shortages, many are looking to ease job requirements. Schools are often left with the choice between uncertified candidates or crowded classrooms.
Where will new teachers come from? Community colleges offer a path.With demand for teachers in some areas outpacing supply, more community colleges are stepping in. In Washington state, for example, efforts include institutions working together to offer degrees.聽
School 2.0: How has the pandemic changed learning?Has the idea of bringing innovation to public schools after the lockdown years come to fruition? The opportunity remains, but for now, small steps rather than big leaps guide progress.
FocusHow Arizona became America鈥檚 school choice labWhat does freedom look like when it comes to education? As school choice discussions ramp up, thanks in part to a new law in Arizona, so do questions about what best serves students.聽
First LookUS teacher shortages stem from low unemployment, stiff competitionTeacher shortages in the U.S. are related more to hiring,聽especially for non-teaching staff positions, than a shortage of educators. As kids return to school, newly created positions are left vacant due to聽low unemployment and stiff competition.
How the 1954 Brown decision still influences today鈥檚 teaching ranksWhat historical patterns have influenced the need for diverse teachers today? The author of a recent book addresses myths and solutions.
Monitor BreakfastEducation Secretary Miguel Cardona on debt relief and teacher shortagesFrom teacher shortages to student debt forgiveness, education in the U.S. is in the news. At a Monitor Breakfast, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona offered both critiques and solutions.聽
With pandemic help ending, should states continue to feed all students?Funding free meals for all students was a pandemic provision. With those programs expiring, what should the next steps be to support learning and battle hunger for a wide range of students?聽
Canceling student loans: What鈥檚 fair for borrowers, taxpayers?To many Americans, a Biden plan to forgive student debt lightens a millstone burdening young generations. Others say the plan is unfair to taxpayers and to past borrowers who paid in full.
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