Education

Alvin Irby speaks at TED Residency Salon, November 28, 2017, New York, NY. Photo: Ryan Lash / TED

Alvin Irby: How Can We Inspire Children To Be Lifelong Readers?

9:47am October 02, 2020

by NPR/TED Staff

Even though kids learn to read in school, many hate it. Educator Alvin Irby shares insights on inspiring children—especially Black boys—to discover books they enjoy and begin identifying as readers.

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School Districts Rethink Attendance Policies To Accommodate Pandemic Realities

4:42pm October 01, 2020

by Anya Kamenetz

Attendance is one of the most important factors that determine a student's success, and daily head count is crucial to school funding. But in the pandemic, schools have to rethink attendance policies.

A mother accompanies her children as they arrive for the first day of in-person classes at Erasmus High School in Brooklyn's Flatbush neighborhood.

Kids In New York City Go Back To School For In-Person Classes

4:15pm October 01, 2020

by Anya Kamenetz

After two delays and many contentious debates with teachers, parents and principals, students in the largest school district in the country are returning to in-person school.

California State University, Fresno, President Joseph I. Castro waves to the crowd before an NCAA college football game against BYU in Fresno, Calif. on Nov. 4, 2017. Castro has been chosen as the chancellor of the California State University, becoming th

Education

CSU Chancellor-Select Reflects On How COVID-19 Will Effect His New Role

4:08pm October 01, 2020

by Christianna Silva

Joseph Castro says CSU struggles with pandemic-related problems such as how to approach physical space and technological issues. He hopes to provide more on-campus study spaces by spring or summer.

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Nearly 40% of student loan payers are helping someone else pay off their student loans, a new study found.

'A Family Affair': Others Often Chip In To Help Pay Off Student Loans

10:49am October 01, 2020

by Adedayo Akala

Student debt doesn't only affect the person who goes to college. Nearly 40% of student loan payers are helping someone else pay off their student loans, a new study found.

The majority of families with children are facing serious financial problems, according to a new poll by NPR and Harvard. And 35% say it's hard to help their kids adjust to change in their lives.

Juggling Financial Stress And Caregiving, Parents Are 'Very Not OK' In The Pandemic

2:02pm September 30, 2020

by Rhitu Chatterjee

The pandemic economy is squeezing families with kids: 74% of those earning less than $100,000 report serious financial woes, in an NPR poll. Experts worry about lasting impacts on kids' mental health.

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A new book tells the story behind Operation Varsity Blues, the largest college admissions scandal ever prosecuted by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Lies, Money And Cheating: The Deeper Story Of The College Admissions Scandal

1:57pm September 30, 2020

A new book tells the story behind Operation Varsity Blues. The juicy details demonstrate how the admissions process was already broken and extremely unfair.

The obstacles and hardships facing working mothers are not new, but the pandemic has given them more visibility.

'This Is Too Much': Working Moms Are Reaching The Breaking Point During The Pandemic

7:51pm September 29, 2020

by Andrea Hsu

The coronavirus did not create the struggles that working mothers face daily. But it has exacerbated them and made them more visible, forcing women of all income levels to make hard choices.

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Oregon District Offers Online Learning After Wildfires Postpone School

3:58pm September 29, 2020

by Elizabeth Gabriel

An Oregon school district hit by wildfires scrambles to create some normalcy and hold classes online. It's unclear how many families can participate since many of them have been displaced.

Education

Young Overachiever Might Make You Feel Like An Underachiever

6:41am September 29, 2020

Ian Taylor Schlitz, 14, started taking college classes at the age of 12. He just got his associate degree from Tarrant County College in Texas. Ian's older sister was accepted into college at age 9.