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Financial aid reform was his legacy. Now, Lamar Alexander calls it ‘a big mess’
The turbulent rollout of a new federal financial aid application could mean thousands of low-income students miss out on college this fall. But one person feels especially perturbed by the botched implementation of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. Lamar Alexander — former governor of Tennessee, U.S. education secretary and Republican...
By Linda Jacobson | April 24, 2024
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California launches new mental health-based apps for families and youth
Blanca Paniagua was nervous. The young adult was set to speak at a webinar about one of CalHope’s new experimental apps. “I saw how many participants there (were) and I was like, I’m about to use the app so it could calm me down”, said Paniagua. But Paniagua had some strategies from the app –...
By Erick Trevino | April 23, 2024
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WATCH: Legos & Rubik’s Cube inspired California teen’s homelessness solution
There are more than 180,000 unhoused people in California, and only half of them can be accommodated by the existing shelter system. That’s why Renee Wang, a rising senior at The Bishop’s School in San Diego, California, wanted to find a better solution. Her project, Rubix, inspired by the Rubik’s Cube and Lego, is a...
By Jim Fields | April 19, 2024
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Exclusive: Microschools fill niche for students with disabilities, survey shows
When Steve and Jenny Balbaugh’s daughter turned 5, they were hesitant to enroll her in the Fort Wayne, Indiana, schools. Ali was born with a rare brain defect that affects her learning and had been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. “I didn’t want her to get lost,” Jenny said. But private options fell short. A...
By Linda Jacobson | April 17, 2024
Schools After COVID: 6 Ways For Districts to Better Engage Parents Amid Concerns About COVID Learning Loss
74 Interview: Why Social Media is Being Blamed for the Youth Suicide Crisis
Thousands of Schools at Risk of Closing Due to Enrollment Loss
Free New AI Tool to Help Americans Search and Compare Student Test Scores Across All 50 States
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LAUSD opens housing complex to combat rising student homelessness
As homeless student numbers rise in LA Unified schools, a 26-unit housing complex for unhoused families was opened last month. It took five years for the project to be completed — a timeline that did not go unmentioned by representatives of the organizations involved. “Once we know better, we need to do better,” said LAUSD...
By Katie VanArnam | April 16, 2024
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A Cautionary AI tale: Why IBM’s dazzling Watson supercomputer made a lousy tutor
In the annals of artificial intelligence, Feb. 16, 2011, was a watershed moment. That day, IBM’s Watson supercomputer finished off a three-game shellacking of Jeopardy! champions Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter. Trailing by over $30,000, Jennings, now the show’s host, wrote out his Final Jeopardy answer in mock resignation: “I, for one, welcome our computer...
By Greg Toppo | April 15, 2024
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Q&A: USC’s Morgan Polikoff on new poll data & the ‘purple classroom’
A recent poll from a pair of University of Southern California researchers found broad agreement among Americans about the value of public education but partisan divides regarding what schools should teach and at what grade levels. Respondents also favor parental rights as a concept but don’t appear to have considered the practical aspects of how...
By Beth Hawkins | April 11, 2024
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Exclusive: Over 80% of women leaders in education experience bias, survey shows
At 5 feet tall, Uyen Tieu doesn’t tower over anyone, including many students. So when a superior said she was too petite to be anything but an elementary school principal, she figured he was probably right. “I accepted it, because I didn’t know any better,” said Tieu, who didn’t find encouragement from her own Vietnamese...
By Linda Jacobson | April 8, 2024
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New poll finds overwhelming support for more trade classes in L.A. high schools
A new survey of Los Angeles County voters, parents and students finds strong support for the expansion of skilled trades education in Los Angeles public high schools. More than 80% of those surveyed believe trade classes can better prepare students for a career, and the majority think it can be valuable for both college- and...
By Sierra Lyons | April 3, 2024
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Final push to save expanded child tax credit as Senate hopes dim
The last time Congress increased the child tax credit — during the pandemic — Sarah Izabel used the extra cash to enroll her son in an afterschool program so she could apply to graduate school. “If my son was home, then I would be taking care of him,” said the Stanford University student, who’s...
By Linda Jacobson | March 28, 2024