All Education
- First Look‘Historic victory’ in Pennsylvania lifts hope for underfunded schools
A Pennsylvania judge has ruled underfunding public schools is a violation of students’ rights. 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in a lawsuit that claims poorer districts are more likely to have larger class sizes, less qualified faculty, and outdated buildings.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 lunches
Some U.S. school cafeterias are finding students don’t 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 – so does school. One resilient district in rural New Mexico is linking lessons of land recovery to student recovery.
- Reading, writing, and paychecks. What’s a teacher worth?
Some U.S. states are channeling more money into teacher salaries. But what’s 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 course
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis rejected a proposed nationwide African American studies course over a chapter on “Black Queer Studies.” Authors and educators say that history is not political and Mr. DeSantis seeks to only advance his own conservative agenda.
- Welcome back to college, pandemic students. This year is different.
What’s the best way to help pandemic-era college students who arrived less prepared than previous years? Colleges add tutors, mental health resources – and a measure of grace.
- Civics in the shadow of Capitol Hill: Letter from a D.C. high school
A letter from a civics skills classroom in the shadow of Capitol Hill – what’s important is experiential practice, say teachers.
- College while in high school: How dual credit is aiming for equity
The option of taking college courses while in high school is booming in the U.S. What will it take to transform dual credit learning into a true tool to advance equity?
- Robot pals and AI tools: What’s ahead for tech in the classroom?
The Monitor’s K-12 education reporter visited the recent CES show in Las Vegas to see how the technology on display and educator needs match up.
- First LookWhite House proposes ‘generous’ student debt repayment plan
The Biden administration unveiled a new student loan repayment plan on Tuesday that would prevent borrowers from getting overloaded with student debt. A proposal for a one-time student debt cancellation faces an uncertain fate before the Supreme Court.
- First Look‘Horse wisdom’: New Mexico equine therapy center aids those in need
My Little Horse Listener, an equine therapy facility in Los Cerillos, New Mexico, uses horses to help people strengthen relationships. Students from the New Mexico School for the Deaf recently visited to practice reading books to the horses.
- First LookInternational student athletes want to cash in on NIL, too
Traveling out of the United States for college sports is helping international athletes get in on the rush for name, image, likeness endorsements prohibited by student visa rules.
- First LookClaudine Gay, Harvard's first Black president, calls for collaboration
Claudine Gay, the current Edgerley Family Dean of Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences, will become president of Harvard University in 2023. With her appointment in July, women will outnumber men as chiefs of the eight Ivy League schools.
- Pods live on: Schools use a pandemic invention to address ‘learning loss’
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 war
A Russian language camp in Minnesota that welcomes children through the fall wasn’t sure how it would fare this year because of the war in Ukraine. Organizers found that unity and hope prevailed.
- 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 finds
The 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 students facing the largest setbacks.
- First LookPandemic’s effect on US education revealed in ‘nation’s report card’
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 generations
Changing migration patterns and China’s 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 succeed
An Alabama district is using pandemic funds to hire temporary staff to support English learners – and to show state legislators that with the right support, learning gains are possible.