Public News Service

School Lunch Hero Day - promoted by the School Nutrition Association - is celebrated annually on the first Friday in May. (Africa Studio/Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, May 7, 2024

School Lunch Heroes? Workers ask for respect via higher wages

School districts around Washington and elsewhere may have celebrated School Lunch Hero Day on Friday, a salute to cafeteria workers - but food …

Electric school buses are in the minority, with about 95% of school buses nationwide running on diesel. (Thomas/Adobe Stock)

WA lawmakers move to electrify school bus fleet

School buses are getting cleaner in Washington state after this year's legislative session. Lawmakers in Olympia passed House Bill 1368, which will …

The decade of 2010-2020 marked the first time in American history the nation's rural population declined. (John/Adobe Stock)

Report: Good-paying jobs available in rural America

Opportunities for good paying jobs exist in rural areas across Washington and the rest of the country, despite myths such places have been hollowed …

Washington state lawmakers are engaging in important budget negotiations this session, including measures that deal with food assistance. (Zack Frank/Adobe Stock)

Anti-hunger advocates call for action at WA Capitol

It's Hunger Action Day at the Washington State Capitol. Advocates are in Olympia to meet with lawmakers and call for policies that curb hunger…

A program that provides mental health consultation for young children is funded by the Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families. (bernardbodo/Adobe Stock)

WA investment could grow reach of child mental health program

A program in Washington state is helping young kids with challenging behaviors. It's hoping to secure more funding during the legislative session …

El Departamento de Ni�os, J�venes y Familias del Estado de Washington financia un programa que brinda consultas de salud mental para ni�os peque�os. (bernardbodo/Adobe Stock)

Inversión en WA podría ampliar alcance de programa de salud mental infantil

Un programa en el estado de Washington ayuda a niños pequeños con comportamientos problemáticos. Espera conseguir más fondos …

Rural Washington is diverse with differing sets of needs for its students. (SeanPavonePhoto/Adobe Stock)

Report: Room to improve for WA's rural students

Washington does well in a new report on how states are supporting rural schools, but it still shows there's room for improvement. The National …

Adjunct professors are often unable to hold traditional office hours, in part because they do not have offices on the campuses of schools where they work. (Monkey Business/Adobe Stock)

WA adjuncts to push for higher pay in 2024 legislative session

With the 2024 legislative session around the corner, Washington state adjunct college faculty hope they will be a priority for lawmakers. Adjunct …

Washington state has 34 community and technical colleges. (Atomic Taco/Wikimedia Commons)

AFT grants to WA help communities find local education solutions

The American Federation of Teachers is partnering with organizations around the country to promote community solutions to the issues education is faci…

More than 6,000 students attend Lower Columbia College. (M.O. Stevens/Adobe Stock)

Vocational, training programs provide bright spots for colleges

While some college programs struggle to bring students back to the classroom, vocational and training programs are becoming a more important part of …

Washington's Running Start program, offering college credit to high school students, began in 1990. (BillionPhotos.com/Adobe Stock)

Running Start lets WA high schoolers explore college courses

A program giving high school students a taste of college and college credits along the way is celebrating its 33rd year of operation in Washington sta…

The Washington Library Association sponsors or supports five book awards for young readers in the state. (Sergey Nivens/Adobe Stock)

American Education Week: WA libraries inspire reading

It's American Education Week and school librarians' role in students' lives are in the spotlight. Elizabeth Roberts, a teacher, librarian and …

At U.S. colleges and universities, 44% of faculty are part-time. (PintoArt/Adobe Stock)

Canada's treatment of adjunct professors could provide roadmap for US

By Jon Marcus for The Hechinger Report.Broadcast version by Eric Tegethoff for Washington News Service reporting for The Hechinger Report-Public News …

School boards play integral roles in how school districts are governed. (designbydx/Adobe Stock)

Far-right candidates running in WA school board races

Extreme candidates are running for school boards across Washington state, and if they win, opponents warned they could threaten the safety of some …

The Alternatives to Violence Project has been offered in schools across the country. (Wikimedia Commons)

WA group brings 'Alternatives to Violence' to secondary students

Skills for reducing violence are becoming essential in schools. At the beginning of the school year, students at a Washington state high school …

Postsecondary enrollment for high school students from the class of 2021 is at 66%. (EduLife Photos/Adobe Stock)

Credential Achievement After High School Dips in WA

Washington state saw a dip in the number of people who gained postsecondary credentials during the pandemic. A new report from the organization …

More than 2,500 unique book titles were targeted for censorship in 2022, according to the American Library Association. (MyJuly/Adobe Stock)

As Book Bans Rise, WA County Could Close Only Library

Attempts to ban books in libraries are increasing across the country, but a small group of residents in one Washington County are going even further…

Nearly 200,000 children in Washington state are facing hunger, according to Feeding America. (FAMILY STOCK/Adobe Stock)

As School Year Nears, Child Hunger Major Struggle in WA

The new school year is around the corner and one issue in the spotlight in Washington state is child hunger. Even with free breakfast and lunch …

In Washington, 18% of Hispanics between ages 18 and 34 are enrolled in higher education. (abraham/Adobe Stock)

Report: Latino Students Lag in College Completion

The gap in college graduation rates between white and Latino students is increasing, a new report finds. An analysis of degree completion across …

The Biden administration has announced student loan forgiveness totaling $39 billion. (darren415/Adobe Stock)

Student Debt Erased for More Than 16,000 Washingtonians

Student debt relief is coming for more than 16,000 Washington state residents. Despite the U.S. Supreme Court's decision not to allow a greater pool …

A new report on child well-being ranks Washington state 10th in its family and community category. (Aleksei Potov/Adobe Stock)

Access to Care Among WA Children's Biggest Challenges

Washington state fares well in a new report released on child well-being, but is facing important challenges in child care. The Annie E. Casey …

Seattle Central College is among Washington's 34 community and technical colleges statewide. (Another Believer/Wikimedia Commons)

Report: Students with Some College, No Credential Increases

A new report found the number of students with some college experience but no credential has increased recently. The National Student Clearinghouse …

Seattle Central College's maritime program was nearly cut in 2022 because of a lack of funding. (Joe Mabel/Wikimedia Commons)

WA Community, Tech College Profs Call for Greater State Investment

Community and technical college staff are planning a day of action Tuesday to urge the Washington state Legislature to provide adequate funding to the…

Fear of death is a core human motivator, according to a theory developed by Ernest Becker. (Takver/Adobe Stock)

Ideas in 'The Denial of Death' Still Alive, 50 Years Later

An influential work of sociology turned 50 this year. "The Denial of Death" by Ernest Becker won the Pulitzer Prize and continues to have a lasting …

As part of the ClimeTime program, teachers attend seminars on topics such as renewable energy. (maxdigi/Adobe Stock)

WA First in Nation to Bring Climate-Change Education to Classrooms

By Ashira Morris for Reasons to be Cheerful.Broadcast version by Eric Tegethoff for Washington News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Net…

Yakima Valley College is a public college in Yakima, Wash. that was established in 1928. (Christopher Boswell/Adobe Stock)

Yakima Valley College Faculty, Staff Frustrated Over School's Policies

Faculty and staff members at Yakima Valley College say they're tired of the lack of transparency and clear policies from the school. Faculty…

Federal waivers allowed every K-12 student to receive free school meals for two years during the pandemic. (Dennis M. Swanson/Adobe Stock)

WA Bill Provides Free School Meals, But Worker Shortage is Hurdle

A measure in the Washington State Legislature would provide free school meals to K-12 students, but nutrition service workers are worried they are …

Central Washington University and its Wildcat Pantry are located in the small town of Ellensburg. (IanDewarPhotography/Adobe Stock)

WA University Student Pantry Confronts Root of Hunger on Campus

Hunger is pervasive on college campuses across the country, including in Washington, and a university in the state is one example of how students are …

As of this fall, more than 5,000 students are enrolled in applied baccalaureate degrees in Washington state. (Gorodenkoff/Adobe Stock)

Less Traditional College Degrees Jump in WA During Pandemic

Enrollment in Washington state's community and technical colleges has suffered during the pandemic, but there has been one bright spot. Programs …

A temporary intellectual property waiver gave countries around the world better access to COVID-19 vaccines, but did not extend to treatments and tests. (tsuguliev/Adobe Stock)

WA Students Call on U.S. to Increase Access to COVID Treatments Globally

As the World Trade Organization meets this week, students across the country are pushing the Biden administration to support more access to COVID-19 …

At the beginning of 2023, lawmakers will head to Olympia for their long, 105-day session. (SeanPavonePhoto/Adobe Stock)

College Staffers Lay Out Priorities for WA Legislative Session

Community and technical college faculty members are preparing for the legislative session in Olympia, and among the top priorities for the American …

A waiver to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program has significantly widened the pool of qualified workers. (wutzkoh/Adobe Stock)

Calls to Extend Waiver Simplifying Public-Worker Student-Loan Forgiveness

A streamlined process for erasing public-sector employees' student debt is expiring soon. State officials, including in Washington, are calling for …

Adding fruits to water is a natural way to add flavor without adding gobs of sugar to the drink. (Mary's/Adobe Stock)

Health Pros: Consider Alternatives to Sugary Drinks as School Returns

It's almost time for kids in Washington state to head back to school, and some might gravitate toward soda and other drinks with lots of sugar…

In the fall of 2020, about three in five faculty members at universities in Washington state were contingency staff. (as-artmedia/Adobe Stock)

Report: University Faculty See Biggest Pay Decrease in 50 Years

College faculty across the country saw the biggest decrease in their wages in nearly a half century, according to an annual report. The American …

Washington state is the country's leading producer of apples. (Bernt Rostad/Flickr)

Groups Fill Food-Access Gaps in WA School District

When school districts are not able to provide summer-school classes, it can have a big effect on how children get meals. Case in point: the Mount …

Since 2010, SEIU 775 Benefits Group has provided more than 7.5 million hours of home-care training. (Kate Baldwin Photography)

Training Provides Crucial Role for Thousands of WA Caregivers

Caregivers provide critical support to people across Washington state. They also get support of their own. SEIU 775 Benefits Group has provided …

Nearly 57% of Washingtonians who attended college but have no degree or certificate are age 35 or older. (Monkey Business/Adobe Stock)

Report: 1 Million-Plus in WA Have Some College, No Credential

The number of people with some higher education but no degree or other credential to show for it has increased in recent years, according to a new …

Washington state ranks 22nd in average student debt. (Andrey Popov/Adobe Stock)

WA Low-Interest Loans Would Cut Student Debt

The cost of higher education is a major headache for people, even years after they've graduated. A program in Washington state aims to make borrowing …

Congress created the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program in 2007. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

Forgiveness Makes Student Debt Disappear for Public Workers

After changes to streamline the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, more workers are getting their student debt erased. The U.S. Education …

There are about 60,000 fewer students enrolled across higher education in Washington state because of the pandemic. (Lisa F. Young/Adobe Stock)

Community, Technical College Enrollment in WA Plummets During Pandemic

Enrollment at Washington state's community and technical colleges has dropped sharply over the pandemic, and the state hopes it can entice students …

Save the Children's elementary school-age literacy programs reached more than 12,500 children across rural America, including in Washington state. (Save the Children)

Ed Program Helps WA Kids Falling Behind from School Disruptions

School disruptions from the pandemic have threatened to leave Washington students behind, but there are efforts to ensure they stay on track…

The Biden administration's overhaul of a loan-forgiveness program opens the door to as many as 500,000 Americans for student debt erasure. (Tierney/Adobe Stock)

WA Bill Would Help Public Workers Navigate Loan-Forgiveness Program

Workers in public service have a federal program at their disposal which could help wipe away student debt, but many struggle to apply. A bill in the …

Workers compensation doesn't fully cover repetitive-motion injuries, according to supporters of a bill in the Washington Legislature to protect workers through training. (settapong/Adobe Stock)

WA Bill Aims to Protect Against Workplace Injuries

Performing the same motion over and over on the job can increase workers' risk of getting hurt, and now a bill in Olympia aims to protect them with …

The three law schools in Washington state are located in Seattle and Spokane. (zimmytws/Adobe Stock)

Course Invites Latino, Native American Students to WA Law Schools

Washington state law schools are aiming to recruit more Latino and Native American students through a program at a central Washington university…

The Early Learning Center at Everett Community College provides free preschool to eligible families through the Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program. (Image capture: Jul 2017 �2021 Google)

Everett Community College Pauses Plans to Close Early Learning Center

EVERETT, Wash. -- After community pushback, Everett Community College has paused plans to close its Early Learning Center, which has provided child-…

Education Support Professionals, such as bus drivers, have been celebrated during American Education Week since 1987. (nadorozhna.uliana/Adobe Stock)

Support Staff Celebrated During American Education Week

SEATTLE -- This is American Education Week, and the celebration Wednesday focuses on education support professionals (ESPs). The work of ESPs in …

Half of the college graduating class of 2019 in Washington state had student debt. (William W. Potter/Adobe Stock)

Free College Plan Out in Congress, But WA Students Still Have Options

SEATTLE - Congress has abandoned plans for two free years of community college in its expansive spending bill. But low and middle income families in …

Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson was among 22 AGs to call for changes in September to the public-service loan program. (darren415/Adobe Stock)

Changes Coming to Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

SEATTLE -- An overhaul of the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness program could bring relief to more than 550,000 student-loan borrowers nationwid…

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WA: Education