All Education
Student loans: How a new White House forgiveness plan worksThe Biden administration is forgiving the college debt of thousands of Americans, including nurses and firefighters. What does the latest plan entail?
AI in the classroom: Why some teachers are embracing itEducators are trying to balance concerns about artificial intelligence with how to prepare students for using it in the future. What does teaching look like when AI is part of the curriculum?
Comeback college: How Morris Brown kept its doors openAcross the U.S., the news has been about plummeting enrollment and small colleges shutting their doors. Here鈥檚 how one HBCU turned it all around.
Letter from Berkeley: Requiem for People鈥檚 ParkPeople鈥檚 Park 鈥� Berkeley鈥檚 iconic gathering spot, founded in the 1960s 鈥� sits on valuable real estate in the heart of the university town. Plans to develop聽on聽the site raise questions about public space and what鈥檚 best for a community.
Harvard president steps down: Why charges of plagiarism still stickClaudine Gay stepped down as president of Harvard Jan. 2. She and her defenders say her ouster was politically motivated. Critics say academic standards still matter.
What does a 鈥榖right kid鈥� look like? New York expands its gifted program.How can the U.S. make sure all students who are capable of advanced work are given that opportunity? Politicians and educators are leaning toward gifted programs that are more inclusive.聽
FocusSchooled in 鈥榮ocial justice,鈥� more students flock to Palestinian causeA generational divide over Israel has roiled college campuses and led to the resignation of one Ivy League president. For many, views about the conflict reflect the context in which they came of age.
First LookWomen ran 6 of 8 Ivy League schools. Then came the Israel-Hamas war.The university presidents called to testify before a congressional hearing聽on antisemitism on their campuses were all women. Yet, men still outnumber women by a 2-to-1 ratio in college presidencies and women of color account for just 1 in 10 presidents.
First LookPenn president steps down after backlash from congressional testimonyUniversity of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill resigned Dec. 9 amid pressure from donors and criticism over testimony relating to antisemitism.
Controversy in California over 鈥榥eutral鈥� Middle East historyThe University of California plans to start programs with a 鈥渧iewpoint-neutral history鈥� of the Middle East, drawing criticism from professors.
MIT via community college? Transfer students find a new path to a degree.To help more people obtain a four-year degree, one initiative started with a simple idea: What if you make it easier for top community college students to connect with selective schools?聽
鈥楾he elephant in the room鈥�: How US schools are talking about the MideastEducators are helping young people and their families process the Israel-Hamas war. Finding a way forward includes making sure students feel physically safe, but also supporting their curiosity and thoughtfulness.聽
First LookCal State University faculty are striking. What are their demands?A series of one-day strikes, held by the California Faculty Association, have begun across California State University campuses, pushing for a 12% salary increase and other benefits. The university chancellor鈥檚 office says the pay increase is not feasible.
FocusAmericans need help with child care. One solution is catching on in Maine.The pandemic brought more attention to the challenges of working parents. In Maine, a new model for expanding day care options is offering one solution to America鈥檚 child care need.
First LookFlorida banned Palestinian groups on campus. ACLU says that鈥檚 illegal.Florida鈥檚聽ban聽on聽pro-Palestinian聽university聽groups is unconstitutional, according to the聽American Civil Liberties Union. They are challenging the order from Gov. Ron DeSantis last month as violating students鈥� 1st Amendment rights.
Parents鈥� election plea: Could schools get back to teaching?Voters across the U.S. spoke clearly to school boards in Tuesday鈥檚 election: Please just teach our kids and keep the culture wars out of the classroom.
Congrats! You鈥檙e the first in your family to get into college. Now what?As more attention is paid to first-generation college students, more is known about how to support them 鈥� and about how to help people successfully access and graduate from college.聽
First LookClean energy projects spur disputes. New MIT course trains mediators.The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is offering a first-of-its-kind course that trains students to be mediators in conflicts over green energy projects. Students work directly with developers, local officials, and community members.聽
FocusSchools get serious about a different kind of bully: CybercriminalsPart of education is providing a safe environment. As the use of technology increases in schools, how can they ensure that not only students, but their private data, are protected?
AI may disrupt math and computer science classes. Is there an upside?As schools across the country聽debate banning AI tools, some math and computer science teachers are embracing the change because of the nature of their discipline.聽