Education

Patricia Bayonne-Johnson holds a photo of her great-grandparents and their son. The retired science teacher discovered that some of her ancestors were sold by the Jesuits of the Maryland Province in 1838, to pay off Georgetown University's massive debt.

Georgetown Will Offer An Edge In Admissions To Descendants Of Slaves

11:07am September 01, 2016

by Camila Domonoske

In 1838, 272 enslaved people were sold to fund the university. The school, grappling with that history, will give descendants of those slaves the same consideration as legacy students in admission.

School funding is highly dependent on property taxes in most districts.

New Federal Rules For Distributing School Money: An 'Unfunded Mandate'?

10:27pm August 31, 2016

by Cory Turner

New "supplement not supplant" rules, meant to balance spending between rich and poor schools, have critics gnashing their teeth.

Mental Health In Schools: A Hidden Crisis Affecting Millions Of Students

11:12am August 31, 2016

An estimated 20 percent of children show signs or symptoms of a mental health problem. It's a destructive force in schools, but most educators don't have the training or resources to help.

Why Do Colleges Spend Millions On Football, Our Commentator Asks

6:14am August 31, 2016

by John U. Bacon

The college football season officially kicks off this weekend. Powerhouse division 1 schools will play. That got our commentator wondering: What's in it for the weaklings of that division?

A New School Year Brings Renewed Focus On Attendance

11:21am August 30, 2016

by Elissa Nadworny

As students head back to school, districts are faced with the age-old problem of making sure they show up. A principal in St. Louis resorted to extreme measures: installing washers and dryers.

Queue Listen Now

Education

New Guilford County Superintendent Aims To Strengthen Pathways For Children

5:27pm August 29, 2016

by Keri Brown

Guilford County Schools is beginning the year under new leadership.

Queue Listen Now

4 Years After Tragedy, A New Sandy Hook Elementary Prepares To Open Its Doors

11:30am August 28, 2016

by Merrit Kennedy

Students will be entering a brand-new school for the first time when classes start Monday. It's located at the same site as the scene of the tragedy and the architects were inspired by nature.

Hanging On: The Economic Woes Of Being A Grad Student

9:27am August 28, 2016

For our series Hanging On, Linda Wertheimer speaks with Paul Katz. He's one of the organizers of the graduate student union just approved by the National Labor Relations board.

Invincible Iron Man — featuring the debut of a new hero, Riri Williams — is one five books Marvel is using to promote science, math, and arts disciplines through a series of covers.

A Hero For The Arts And Sciences: Upcoming Marvel Covers Promote STEAM Fields

7:38am August 28, 2016

by Jason Slotkin

The five covers feature the company's heroes — including Spiderman, Iron Man, and the Hulk — all engaging in activities educators have been trying to promote.

Illustration of the achievement gap shown through the analogy of growing gardens.

Surprise! Amid Rising Inequality, One School Gap Is Narrowing

6:00am August 28, 2016

by Eric Westervelt

A new study shows that economic and racial school readiness gaps have narrowed significantly over a 12-year period. Score one for parental engagement and quality pre-K. But huge gaps remain.