Education

Demonstrators gather to protest what opponents call the "Don't Say Gay" bill on the steps of the Florida Historic Capitol Museum in Tallahassee on March 7, 2022.

Teachers fear the chilling effect of Florida's so-called 'Don't Say Gay' law

2:29pm March 30, 2022

by Melissa Block

Now that Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed the Parental Rights in Education bill into law, teachers fear it will muzzle speech and further stigmatize LGBTQ youth.

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The pandemic brought in-person learning to a halt in Guatemala. And it's been a challenge to get some schools open again. Above: Hermogenes Gonzales Mejia school in Guatemala City. which finally welcomed back its students in February.

Why lots of kids still aren't back in school in Guatemala

11:54am March 30, 2022

by Miranda Mazariegos

The government is struggling to bring all 3 million-plus students back to schools that were shuttered when the pandemic hit. Teachers are ready to resume classes. But obstacles loom.

A daycare... a test prep... a community center? Kids' book explores what a school is

4:41pm March 29, 2022

NPR's Ailsa Chang talked with John Schu, first picture book writer and long time book advocate, and illustrator Veronica Miller Jamison about their new book This is a School.

How Florida teachers plan to deal with 'Don't Say Gay' rules

4:25pm March 29, 2022

by Melissa Block

Florida's governor has signed what critics call the "Don't Say Gay" bill. Teachers share how they plan to comply and how it will affect classroom discussions on sexual orientation and gender identity.

19-year-old Pradeep Mehra on his 5-mile run home after his shift ends at McDonald's. A chance encounter with a filmmaker led to a video that's gone viral.

Nightly midnight jog by Indian teen inspires millions on Twitter

5:24pm March 28, 2022

by Kamala Thiagarajan

19-year-old Pradeep Mehra works 1 p.m. to 11 p.m., then runs home to keep in shape for his goal: joining India's highly selective army. A video of his nightly jog has become a Twitter sensation.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, seen here on Feb. 24, signed a bill into law Monday that restricts the education of LGBTQ topics in the state's public schools.

Florida's governor signs controversial law opponents dubbed 'Don't Say Gay'

2:34pm March 28, 2022

by Jaclyn Diaz

The law says public school teachers may not instruct on sexual orientation or gender identity in grades kindergarten through third grade.

Students in the construction program at Texas State Technical College in Waco.

Community college enrollment is down, but skilled-trades programs are booming

6:19am March 28, 2022

Enrollment in two-year colleges has dropped nationwide by about 750,000 students. But degree programs in construction trades are booming.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton says a weeklong celebration of Pride events in Austin schools this week violates state law. Here, he speaks outside the U.S. Supreme Court on Nov. 1.

Texas attorney general says Austin school Pride Week celebration breaks state law

5:44pm March 25, 2022

by Deepa Shivaram

Austin's school district holds events to celebrate LGBTQIA+ students every year. Attorney General Ken Paxton says, "when it comes to sex education, parents—not school districts—are in charge."

State Rep. Kera Birkeland, a Republican high school basketball coach who led Utah's efforts to ban transgender girls from youth sports, addresses a crowd of supporters on the steps of the Utah State Capitol on Friday in Salt Lake City.

Utah bans transgender athletes in girls sports despite governor's veto

5:25pm March 25, 2022

by The Associated Press

Lawmakers voted to override GOP Gov. Spencer Cox's veto of legislation banning transgender youth athletes from playing on girls teams. The move comes amid a nationwide culture war over trans issues.

New Orleans rescinds a long-ignored rule prohibiting jazz and dancing in schools

4:57pm March 25, 2022

by Aubri Juhasz

A 100-year-old ban on jazz music and dancing in New Orleans' public schools has finally been lifted — though it was never really enforced.