All Education
Meet the man trying to end affirmative actionEdward Blum has spent decades trying to end what he considers a harmful practice: affirmative action in college admissions. The Supreme Court will rule on two cases by the end of term that may do just that.
鈥楾he reckoning is here鈥�: Where have community college students gone?Seven newsrooms joined together to explore the crisis facing community colleges, and ways to solve it, in a series called Saving the College Dream.聽
First LookNew Mexico tackles food insecurity with free school meals for allNew Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has signed a bill to provide free school meals to all students, setting aside more than $22 million to fund the program. The legislation aims to combat food insecurity rates, boost local agriculture, and reduce food waste.
32 states and counting: Why parents bills of rights are sweeping USIn 2023, at least 32 states are considering a Parents Bill of Rights, as parents look for greater say in the education of their children.
First LookBasketball, fashion, personality: Student athletes cash in with NILMarch Madness is fueling opportunities for student athletes to showcase their talents and the brands they support on social media. How聽NIL (name, image, and likeness) deals are helping potential future pros establish a financial foundation.聽
First LookShould media literacy be as important as driver's ed? Some say yes.The importance of teaching students how to use the internet safely is often overlooked. Educators across the US are advocating for greater digital media literacy in schools, expanding聽digital education programs to cope with misinformation and polarization.
The ExplainerHow much say does a governor have over the classroom?As the culture wars drift further into the education realm, they鈥檙e spawning questions fundamentally tied to American democracy.
First LookL.A. strike: Custodians, counselors, school workers picket for payLos Angeles school workers聽are striking for three days over stalled contracts. In the second-largest school system in the country, working conditions have gone down every year, said Danielle Murray, a聽special education assistant on the picket line.
First LookYoung Americans pass on 鈥榩iece of paper,鈥� find path without collegeWhether avoiding high tuition or finding jobs out of high school, Americans are increasingly pursuing alternatives to college. Experts had predicted that students would return to college after a pandemic-era lull, but schools still see low enrollment.
Cover StoryBig backers of public schools in Texas? Rural Republicans.Rural Texans are deeply conservative 鈥� and deeply committed to their public schools. How will that play out in an era when school choice has become a GOP litmus test?
FocusWhere women athletic directors outnumber menThree of every four athletic directors across the NCAA are male.聽But in one conference, women are the majority.聽
How these HBCU presidents fixed their colleges鈥� financial futuresHistorically Black Colleges and Universities have grappled with a long history of being ignored financially. What鈥檚 different today, several presidents say, is that people outside of HBCU circles are starting to notice the inequities.
FocusFamilies are leaving public schools. How will that change education?The pandemic led to enrollment declines in public schools across the United States. As more parents mull other options, how are districts rethinking their bottom line 鈥� and their mission?聽
First LookRepublican campaigns increasingly aim to shape school curriculumsMore conservative politicians are raising concerns about education and promoting a 鈥減arents鈥� rights鈥� movement leading up to the 2024 presidential race. It could be an effort to win over suburban women who have left the GOP, says one political analyst.
First LookPost-pandemic learning includes fewer students. Where are they?An estimated 230,000 students are considered 鈥渕issing鈥� from public school.聽Pandemic-era online classes made learning hard, but ongoing challenges led some students out of the system completely.
First Look鈥楬istoric victory鈥� in Pennsylvania lifts hope for underfunded schoolsA Pennsylvania judge has ruled underfunding public schools is a violation of students鈥� rights.聽The ruling marks progress in a lawsuit that claims poorer districts are more likely to have larger class sizes, less qualified faculty, and outdated buildings.
First LookMove over frozen nuggets, kids prefer farm-fresh school lunchesSome U.S. school cafeterias are finding students don鈥檛 miss corn dogs when given baguette sandwiches and free-range chicken simmered in a chipotle broth. But most school districts still lack funding and staffing to make the move from reheated frozen meals.
First fire, then floods. How a school district helps students recover.After fire and floods, life moves on 鈥� so does school. One resilient district in rural New Mexico is linking lessons of land recovery to student recovery.
Reading, writing, and paychecks. What鈥檚 a teacher worth?Some U.S. states are channeling more money into teacher salaries. But what鈥檚 a fair wage? A bill being introduced in Congress this week seeks to recognize educators as professionals.
First LookFlorida Gov. DeSantis rejects AP African American studies courseFlorida Gov. Ron DeSantis rejected a proposed nationwide African American studies course over a chapter on 鈥淏lack Queer Studies.鈥� Authors and educators say that history is not political and Mr. DeSantis seeks to only advance his own conservative agenda.