All Education
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 – regardless of income levels – 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’s next for mental healthA reporting collaborative, including the Monitor, offers examples of the mental health solutions being offered to support children and young adults.
After high court ruling, is it tremors or earthquakes for public education?What does this week’s Supreme Court decision, allowing tax dollars to be spent on religious schools, mean for the future of public education?
FocusCitizen building: What’s 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’t we have both? Part 3 in a series.
Cover StoryTitle IX at 50: How 37 words changed the world for womenA 37-word law passed 50 years ago has dramatically expanded the rights of women on America’s athletic fields – 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.
First LookAs classroom numbers dwindle, US public schools face tough choicesAs more families opt for homeschool and private schools, public school systems are feeling the pinch as enrollment drops. Corresponding budget cuts are forcing schools to cut jobs, close schools, and merge classrooms.
First LookFor some US families, homeschooling is here to stayThe onset of the pandemic precipitated a record rise in homeschooling across the United States. Even as schools have re-opened, some families have opted to stick with at-home education, finding that more tailored lessons help their children learn better.
How Oakland closed the digital divide for nearly all its studentsRecent success in closing the digital divide in Oakland, California, schools suggests what a partnership approach can achieve.
First LookNew Mexico has an ambitious free-college program. Will it last?New Mexico is expanding its free college program, “Opportunity Scholarship,” by removing restrictions requiring students to be recent high school graduates and full-time students. The new program will also allow them to use grants for personal expenses.
Cover StoryWhy a conservative Florida county raised taxes to help childrenIn the same election where Escambia County overwhelmingly supported Donald Trump, voters also raised taxes to create the Escambia Children’s Trust.
Brain gain: Universities worldwide step up to help Ukrainian scholarsCulture makes a country, but so do scholarly contributions. Organizations around the world are helping Ukrainians stay engaged in research and learning.
First LookBiden administration to extend freeze on student loan paymentsThe Biden administration is planning to extend the pause on federal loan payments to Aug. 31 as the current May 1 expiration date looms. The decision will affect more than 43 million Americans who need to repay a combined $1.6 trillion in student loans.
First LookSacramento, Minneapolis teachers walk out as school strikes returnTeachers and school employees in Sacramento, California, walked off their jobs Wednesday, clashing with the district over staffing shortages, funding, and low pay – cancelling classes in 76 schools. A similar teacher strike in Minneapolis has entered its third week.
From lawsuits to giveaway drives, a push against book bansBanning books can have unintended consequences. In the United States, one result has been a redoubled effort to ensure those books are freely available.
First LookAfter two years, nonprofits eager for return of student volunteersMost U.S. schools eliminated or shortened mandatory community service to protect students during the pandemic. Now they are working to bring volunteers back. When teens help others, “that’s when they’re at their best,” says one educator.
Last of its kind: Vermont town weighs future of one-room schoolhouseCommunity and identity: Citizens in Elmore, Vermont, consider the value of preserving the state’s last one-room schoolhouse.
