Education
U.S. Education Department pings states, schools to set policies on cellphone use
The department said schools' policies should be "clear, consistent, and research-informed," but did not specify exactly what those policies should be.
Judge rebuffs family’s bid to change grade in AI cheating case
Preliminary federal court ruling says school rightly imposed discipline over academic integrity rules.
Remote learning hurt high school grad rates. Ditching exit exams helped, new research finds
Even students who were in elementary school when COVID struck might need extra support to graduate high school, the authors of a new study said.
State's education department offers schools guidance on limiting student cell phone use
So far, at least eight Oregon school districts have either banned cell phone use in some schools, in individual classes or in all schools.
Could Massachusetts AI cheating case push schools to refocus on learning?
The lawsuit tackles key questions of academic integrity, college admissions and the purpose of school in an age of AI.
Massachusetts voters to consider ditching high school graduation requirements
The ballot measure is seen as a referendum on the role of standardized testing in schools. If Massachusetts drops the requirement, will others follow?
State legislators question effectiveness of federal student loans and policies
A bipartisan task force said spending more on loans for higher education doesn’t help much with affordability. The task force called on the feds to rethink how they work with states.
What other states can learn from Indiana’s investment in quantum technology
COMMENTARY | The emerging technology holds the promise of transforming public services at the state and local levels. Indiana’s collaborative model is a blueprint for states seeking to cash in on quantum.
School choice questions dominate November ballot propositions
Measures in Colorado, Kentucky and Nebraska are among 11 ed-related issues on the ballot. Others address facility upgrades, school board partisanship.
Computer programs monitor students’ every word in the name of safety
Companies tout security features; privacy advocates dislike constant surveillance.
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Biden administration forgives $4.5B in student debt for public service workers
The president said that more than 1 million public servants to date have had their federal student debt canceled.
Preschools teach ‘hardly any math,’ even as students struggle in later grades
Math advocates say more early math, taught through play or games, can help students later.
Responding to post-pandemic norms, more states are lowering test standards
The changes have renewed criticism of a testing "honesty gap" and have sparked calls for states to level with parents about poor student performance in the aftermath of COVID.
Why thousands of Philly families are switching to cyber charter school
A growing number of Black, brown, and low-income Philadelphians turning to cyber charters because they see them as a safe and flexible educational option for their families.
In an unprecedented move, Ohio is funding construction of private religious schools
The state is giving millions in taxpayer dollars directly to private schools to help them renovate and expand their campuses. It may be the next frontier in the push to increase the use of school vouchers, proponents say.
14 states pledge to cut chronic absenteeism rates by half over 5 years
In a sign of how far and wide the nation’s chronic absenteeism crisis spans, the states are located across the U.S. and are led by a mix of Republican and Democratic governors.
Community colleges step up to address young adults’ mental health
Young people feel uneasy about the future. But educational institutions are stepping up to give them the tools they need.
Oakland’s new school buses don’t just reduce pollution—they double as giant batteries
A new fleet of buses can send power back to the grid, stabilizing it instead of straining it.
In New Mexico, child care is free for most families. Here's how they did it.
The state, long known for its challenges with child well-being, is now a leader in early childhood education.
Most Americans are leery of book bans—but they don’t oppose all restrictions, survey says
“Books like ‘Huckleberry Finn,’ ‘To Kill a Mockingbird,’ ‘Catcher in the Rye’ all need to be made available to students,” one survey respondent said.
