Education

3 Challenges As Hands-On, DIY Culture Moves Into Schools

1:45pm July 21, 2016

by Eric Westervelt

Creative and fun "maker spaces" are popping up in more schools. But administrators and teachers face big hurdles if they want them to be a sustainable part of the curriculum.

Administrators at Phillips Exeter Academy prep school admit they mishandled a recent case of sexual assault, and say they will hire a new staff member to deal with future allegations.

Prep School Faces Accusations Of Chronic Mishandling Of Sexual Assault Cases

4:59pm July 20, 2016

by Rebecca Hersher

Administrators at Phillips Exeter Academy agree that they should not have handled a case of alleged assault by requiring the accused student to bake and deliver bread to his alleged victim.

Republican vice presidential nominee Gov. Mike Pence of Indiana takes photos with supporters during a Welcome Home Rally on Saturday in Zionsville, Ind. Pence is a passionate advocate for school choice and state control over federal oversight.

What Did Mike Pence Do For Indiana Schools As Governor? Here's A Look

10:03am July 20, 2016

Donald Trump has said: "Got to get rid of Common Core — fast." And a couple of years ago, it seemed Pence would be a trailblazer in doing that at the state level. It didn't totally turn out that way.

Preschool students from Nikki Jones' class at Porter Early Childhood Development Center in Tulsa, Okla., line up in the hallway on their way back from outside play.

A Harsh Critique Of Federally Funded Pre-K

4:07pm July 19, 2016

by Anya Kamenetz

A researcher warns against expanding prekindergarten programs where kids spend a quarter of the day waiting in line.

When the school year ends, lower-income families can't afford the costs of summer — and kids fall behind in learning.

Summer Isn't Always A Vacation For Families Who Can't Afford It

11:06am July 17, 2016

by NPR Staff

If you've got kids, the summertime costs families who have to look for creative ways to afford it — and not just financially. Research shows lower-income kids typically fall behind over the summer.

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No person is an island. But some school districts are.

"Islands" That Separate Education Haves From Have-Nots

6:02am July 16, 2016

by Anya Kamenetz

A new report maps school district lines that divide rich from poor.

Illustration of a hand dropping coins into a piggy bank

That First Paycheck Is An Exciting Moment ... And A Teachable One

5:26pm July 15, 2016

by Gabrielle Emanuel

Your first job can be a critical moment that sets you on a good financial path or a bad one. One group is trying to make sure low-income young adults get off to the right start.

Elie Wiesel speaks at Vermont's Middlebury College in 2002. The Holocaust survivor, Nobel laureate and author died July 2 at the age of 87.

Forgetting Isn't Healing: Lessons From Elie Wiesel

9:06am July 14, 2016

by Sonari Glinton

Calls for racial healing often focus on putting the painful past behind us. NPR's Sonari Glinton remembers the man who taught him never to forget: Holocaust survivor and Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel.

Gay-straight alliance school bus at Seattle Pride, 2008.

For LGBTQ Students, Author Says, Safety Is 'Not Enough'

6:00am July 14, 2016

by Kendra Yoshinaga

Safety for LGBTQ students is critical, but inclusive policies shouldn't stop there, author Michael Sadowski argues in his new book.

Sonia Livingstone, who has been researching families and technology for nearly three decades, says that parents are getting conflicting messages by this "polarized" advice about children and the effects of digital screens on development.

On Kids And Screens, A Middle Way Between Fear And Hype

9:50am July 13, 2016

by Anya Kamenetz

A researcher argues for better sources of advice for parents and educators. And for greater balance between warnings about the dangers and emphasis on the positive role parents can play.