Education / Public News Service

The New Mexico Public Education Department has more than 9,000 educators and administrators enrolled in its Science of Reading training. (lithiumphoto/Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, April 16, 2024

NM program aims to improve kids' reading skills

In the past four years, the way New Mexico children are taught to read has undergone a major shift. Following passage of a state law in 2019…

When the school year ends, millions of children from households with low incomes lose access to the school meals they rely on. Help is available. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, April 16, 2024

CO families must sign up to get $120 per child for food through Summer EBT

Colorado families must sign up before the end of April to receive $120 per child to buy food through the new Summer EBT program approved by Congress…

Kentucky parents are worried about their kids' educational and social development as well as the safety of their children if they are forced into using lower-cost, lower-quality care, according to a March 2024 survey from the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, April 15, 2024

As KY child care crisis worsens, advocates highlight career pathways

The shrinking supply of child-care workers continues to impact Kentucky, and advocates say helping more people receive a Child Development Associate …

In March, state Rep. Joe Ciresi, D-Montgomery, introduced House Bill 2063, which would reform the Educational Improvement Tax Credit and the Opportunity Scholarship Tax Credit programs. (Jasmina/AdobeStock)

Monday, April 15, 2024

Report: PA track record on private-school vouchers finds still no accountability

A new report analyzes Pennsylvania's existing voucher programs, that divert public funds to private schools. This comes on the heels of Gov…

The Texas Diversity Council works with various groups to foster environments where people from marginalized groups feel seen and heard. (Ana Baraulia/Adobe Stock)

Texas Diversity Council remains steadfast in face of adversity

Since 2004, April has been designated "Celebrate Diversity Month," a time to recognize, understand and honor the differences between people. One …

A New Mexico researcher suspects sports gambling and drinking feed off each other. (motortion/AdobeStock)

NM Research: Sports betting and booze fuel risky behavior

In just six years, the U.S. has pivoted from a complete ban on sports betting to a place where it is legal in most states, and young men could be …

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported one in 36 children around the U.S. has autism spectrum disorder. (Adobe Stock)

Creating a supportive classroom for students with ASD

April is Autism Acceptance Month and as rates grow, support organizations in South Dakota hope more children on the spectrum get the tools they need …

It's estimated that Direct File would save the average user $160 in filing fees, and hours of their time, each year. (Parradee/Adobe Stock)

Free IRS tool can help Texans file taxes

CLARIFICATION: In last paragraph, it is estimated that 4 million Texans are eligible to use the Direct File program, not that 4 million will actually …

More than 700 students from colleges and high schools across the nation will participate in the balloon launches during today's solar eclipse. (Adobe Stock/AI)<br />

Maryland students to study eclipse’s effect on atmosphere

As solar eclipse spectators are gathering in the path of totality, teams of students from Maryland and around the nation are preparing to launch …

High school basketball courts in North Dakota have been the scene of several reported racial taunting incidents over the past couple of years. Tribal advocates said discrimination by non-Native fans has been going on for decades. (Adobe Stock)

ND lawmaker: Racist taunts in HS sports need to stop

North Dakota high schools are in spring sports mode and there is lingering tension from winter sporting events, where Native American players endured …

The New Hampshire Space Grant and the University of New Hampshire have distributed 33,000 pairs of eclipse glasses to students, teachers, firefighters and police in anticipation of today's total solar eclipse. (Adobe Stock)

Northern NH offers prime viewing of 'life-changing' total solar eclipse

All of New England will experience some form of today's total solar eclipse but northern New Hampshire will offer prime viewing. The sky will darken …

Massachusetts Public Interest Research Group Student advocates say the Hunger-Free Campus Initiative has already helped to grow cultural food options at Middlesex Community College, enroll eligible students for SNAP benefits at UMass Boston and provide meals for homeless students during breaks at Salem State University. (MASSPIRG)

MA students urge lawmakers to fund campus anti-hunger efforts

A coalition of college students and administrators is asking state lawmakers to help fight food insecurity on campus. The group is asking for $2 …

ESA vouchers will cost the state $825 million in fiscal year 2024, according to Save Our Schools Arizona. (Adobe Stock)

Proposed voucher accountability rules nixed by AZ Republicans

Arizona Superintendent of Public Education Tom Horne and the State Board of Education have rejected a move to enact a new ESA Voucher Handbook…

Public school leaders say competition from charter schools - and in some states, vouchers for private schools - are contributing to enrollment declines, impacting how much aid districts receive. (Adobe Stock)

Mpls. funding fight underscores larger school budget pain

From expiring pandemic aid to declining enrollment, school districts in Minnesota face financial pressure and public school advocates and community …

Students at High Tech High in San Diego were asked to surrender their cellphones each day at school last session, and were surveyed on the changes they noticed throughout the year. (Edrick Macalaguim/High Tech High)

Banning cellphones at school brings positive changes for students

Separating high school students from their cellphones might be seen as a daunting task but one California school said having students stash them durin…

According to Thrivent, FAFSA delays are expected to affect more than 17 million students trying to make plans for the 2024-2025 academic year. (Adobe Stock)

AL students reflect on FAFSA delays

The revamp of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid - or FAFSA - was supposed to streamline the process for college hopefuls this fall…

A new report says as a result of budget appropriation increases, within a few years, North Carolina taxpayers will be spending more than $520 million per year on private-school tuition. (Adobe Stock)

Report reveals inequities in NC school voucher system

School vouchers in North Carolina were intended to expand educational options for low-income families. However, the report "NC School Vouchers: Using …

The Indiana College Readiness Report showed 61% of women and 46% of men in the state who go on to college attend an Indiana-based school. (Adobe Stock)

Academic app supplements college admissions information

By Olivia Sanchez for The Hechinger Report.Broadcast version by Terri Dee for Indiana News Service reporting for The Hechinger Report-Public News Serv…

The Pennsylvania Department of Education has set a goal to boost the retention rates for educators of color from 80% to 90% by August 2025. (Adobe Stock)

PA high school focuses on attracting new teachers to the field

The shortage of educators and school staffers has reached a crisis level in some Pennsylvania public schools. The state will need to fill thousands …

One in five children in the Magnolia State faces hunger, according to the nonprofit Feeding America. <br />(Adobe Stock)

Mississippi kids will miss out on Summer EBT food program

As summer approaches, thousands of children in Mississippi could go without enough nutritious food when school is out, as the state has opted out of …

The U.S. teaching workforce remains primarily white while the percentage of Black teachers has declined. However, the percentage of Asian and Latino teachers is rising. (Seventyfour/Adobestock)

OK teacher shortage prompts calls for better funding

Education advocates calling on lawmakers to increase funding for programs to combat the teacher shortage. Nationwide, 37% of schools report being …

Univstats.com reports for the 2022-2023 academic year, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign had nearly 57,000 students. The University of Illinois Chicago ranked second with almost 34,000 and Northwestern University was third with almost 24,000 students. (Adobe Stock)

Tech help comes to the college admissions process

This story is based on reporting by Olivia Sanchez for The Hechinger Report.The broadcast version is by Terri Dee for Indiana News Service, reporting …

Educators sound alarm about teacher shortage

Education advocates are calling on lawmakers to increase funding for programs to combat the teacher shortage. Around 37% of schools nationwide …

Nearly 40% of Wisconsin school-aged children are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches at school. (Adobe Stock)

WI first state approved for kids' summer meal program

Wisconsin children from low-income families are now on track to get nutritious foods over the summer. Federal officials have approved the Badger …

The Colorado Local Food Program Guidebook can help farmers, ranchers, school districts and parents connect with resources available through organizations supporting the Healthy School Meals for All initiative, state agencies, and U-S-D-A Food and Nutrition Services. (Adobe Stock)

New guidebook aims to help local farmers and schools serve healthy meals

Colorado is working to boost the state's agricultural communities by getting more fresh, nutritious foods into school cafeterias - and a new online …

NC's college-bound students face FAFSA delays

The revamp of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid - or FAFSA - was supposed to streamline the process for college hopefuls this fall…

Decades of underinvestment in affordable housing, recently cited by outgoing HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge, have dramatically impacted families with children. (Adobe Stock)

Renaissance marks quarter century serving homeless, low-income kids

This month marks the 25th anniversary of the Renaissance Children's Center, which serves low-income families and those experiencing homelessness with …

As of Oct. 2023, the average teacher salary was $68,000 a year, which is 8% less than the average for U.S. workers overall. (Drazen/Adobe Stock)

University of Texas El Paso targets teacher shortage

It's estimated that nearly half of all schools in the country don't have enough teachers. To help change that, the University of Texas in El Paso …

Almost 900,000 individuals have received student loan forgiveness since 2021 as a result of the Biden administration streamlining and expanding the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Nearly 400,000 more are within 24 loan payments of becoming eligible. (fizkes/Adobe Stock)

As Louisiana teachers await permanent pay hikes, federal loan relief helps some

In a 2023 survey, 66% of teachers -- compared with 39% of adults in other fields -- said they were unsatisfied with their starting salary. When …

The federal Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a shortage of 74,000 social workers each year for the next decade, with more rural areas such as Maine hit hardest. (Adobe Stock)

ME social workers, educators seek end to state licensing exam

Social workers in Maine say the state's required licensing exam is biased and contributing to a shortage of workers in the field. Data show …

Last year, Income Driven Repayment programs resulted in student loan cancellation for more than 800,000 borrowers nationwide. (Adobe Stock)

Program could bring student debt cancellation for some MD borrowers

Marylanders with student debt may have an opportunity to have some or all of it forgiven but time is running out. The average student loan debt of …

Out-of-school suspensions contribute to Ohio's high chronic absenteeism rates, according to a new report from the Children's Defense Fund of Ohio. (Adobe Stock)

Suspensions, expulsions on rise in Ohio schools, report finds

Ohio's Black students are more likely to face excessively harsh discipline practices such as expulsion and suspension, according to a recently …

Idaho lawmakers are scheduled to wrap up the 2024 legislative session soon. (Wissam/Adobe Stock)

ID anti-DEI bill in higher ed could have 'ripple effects' for state

Idaho lawmakers are considering a measure that would eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs on college campuses. Critics say it could …

More than 21% of the student population at Portland Community College is hispanic. (Adumbvoget/Wikimedia Commons)

Report: OR colleges serving Hispanic students increasing

The number of higher institutions serving Hispanic students in Oregon is increasing, according to a new report. Excelencia in Education researched …

FAFSA delays pose challenges for Georgia college-bound students

Students across Georgia seeking college opportunities are encountering delays as they navigate the Free Application for Federal Student Aid process…

According to the Brookings Institution, one major barrier to higher education is affordability, as college prices and student debt levels have risen. (Adobe Stock)

Alabama Possible forges pathways to education equity with annual event

Alabama's goal of adding 500,000 more college-educated people to the workforce by 2025 is quickly approaching. One group is dedicated to breaking …

In Arkansas, more than 133,000 people 35-49 years old owe more than $43,000, totaling $5.77 billion. (Vitalii Vodolazskyi)

Student loan debt relief on way in Arkansas

Student-loan borrowers in Arkansas and nationwide could have their debt reduced or eliminated through a new one-time adjustment by the U.S. …

National Nutrition Month is an annual campaign established in 1973 by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. (Adobe stock)

IN students fed tasty lessons for healthy eating habits

Schools play a critical role in nurturing Hoosier children's health and well-being which lay the foundation for lifelong eating habits. Throughout …

The National Center for Education Statistics reports that 43% of public school students attend schools where a majority of them are eligible for free or reduced-price meals. (Adobe Stock)

Texas food bank, schools team up to help needy families

To reach more hungry families, one Texas nonprofit is setting up mini food markets in schools. The Tarrant Area Food Bank in North Texas provides 60…

A Kentucky bill to ban Broad Based Categorical Eligibility for the federal SNAP program would result in at least 21,400 children losing SNAP statewide and would threaten funding for meals at schools and child care centers, according to the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy. (Adobe Stock)<br />

KY School districts say SNAP Cuts legislation could worsen student hunger

Kentucky school districts say a proposed bill to tighten restrictions on SNAP participation will lead to an uptick in student hunger. House Bill 367 …

Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., who sits on the Senate Appropriations Committee, helped secure the funding for the Western Michigan University project. (VectorMine/Adobe Stock)

WMU secures $2.25 million grant for carbon capture research

Western Michigan University has gotten a significant funding boost, with a grant of more than $2 million from the U.S. Department of Energy. The …

Some states are taking action to end legacy admissions. In 2021, Colorado banned legacy admissions at its public universities, and a similar bill was passed earlier this month in Virginia. (Adobe Stock)

CT legacy admissions bill to be voted on by state Senate

Connecticut's State Senate will take up a bill that would address legacy admissions at its public and private colleges and universities. Senate Bill …

Opportunity Next Colorado will provide guidance on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid and college applications, and group coaching over the summer to prevent the drop-off of enrolled postsecondary students known as

New scholarships aim to connect class of 2024 to high-demand jobs

This year's high school graduates will be eligible for 14,000 new scholarships offered through Opportunity Next Colorado, a $21 million investment …

Iowa families can apply for up to $7,600 a year for private school costs. (Adobe Stock)

Iowa lawmakers dismiss private school voucher ethics complaint

An ethics committee in the Republican-led Iowa House has dismissed a complaint filed by a group of community activists against a state lawmaker for hi…

An Indiana State Teacher's Association report from 2023 lists raising teacher pay, hiring additional educators and offering more mental health and behavioral support for students as some of the top issues affecting teacher retention. (Adobe Stock)

IN nonprofit wants to strengthen teachers' impact on students

Teachers spend hours with students every day and can have the greatest impact on their decision-making and life choices. A program in one Indiana …

American teachers in training trek through Tijuana on their way to visit a school as part of a trip to foster cross-border understanding. (Rick Froehbrodt/SDSU)

Aspiring bilingual teachers cross the border to gain insight

Immigration is a hot-button issue these days, but people studying to become bilingual teachers at one California university are making an effort to …

Out-of-state money is pouring into Texas as the contentious issue of

Voucher, 'school choice' advocates work to influence Texas elections

By Jimmy Cloutier for OpenSecrets.Broadcast version by Roz Brown for Texas News Service reporting for the OpenSecrets-Public News Service Collaboratio…

The American Federation of Teachers in Amesbury is calling on the School Committee to support an 8.04% increase to ensure level services for students and retain staff and reject an initial 3.16% proposal, which they say would be

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Proposed Amesbury school budget cuts rally parents, educators

The Amesbury School Committee will hear from educators and parents tonight as they rally to prevent more than $2 million in proposed cuts to their sch…

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