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BBC News - Family & Education

Government to implement university free speech law

    Labour paused implementation of the act after taking power, due to concerns over student welfare.

    MPs say fix Send system or face 'lost generation'

      A report finds the special educational needs and disabilities system in "disarray" and lacking funds.

      University staff to vote on strike action

        Newcastle University says it is facing a "challenging time" amid a £35m funding shortfall.

        Pupils trade smartphone use for no homework

          Pupils at Solihull School are offered a break from homework if they use their smartphones less.

          University to offer shorter, cheaper courses

            The University of Chichester is to offer five and 10-week courses in a range of subjects.

            University spends £2m on wind tunnels for students

              There are about 450 students on aerospace engineering courses at the university.

              Teachers suspend planned industrial action

                The action short of strike over pay was due to start on Monday and run for four weeks.

                Teachers' strikes: Will there be more?

                  The National Education Union has been considering whether to go on strike again in 2024.

                  Why is VAT being added to private school fees?

                    The government says the rule change will raise £460m extra to spend in state schools in 2024/25.

                    OnlyFans, porn, and the fall in teen condom use

                      As condom use falls and sex infections rise, educators try to tackle misinformation among teens.

                      'The school system is broken': Why more parents are home-educating their children

                        The BBC speaks with parents who insist the school system is "broken" as latest government estimates point to a rise in home education.

                        The free childcare now available to working parents

                          Parents in England can now access 15 hours of free weekly childcare for children from nine months.

                          What are T-levels and how do they work?

                            T-levels are equivalent to three A-levels, and focus on practical rather than academic subjects.

                            What are BTecs and how are they graded?

                              Hundreds of thousands of students do the vocational qualifications known as BTecs every year.

                              Will Keir Starmer be able to meet his new pledges?

                                Keir Starmer is going to announce measurable targets to judge his government's progress on its key missions.

                                Why are university tuition fees going up?

                                  Tuition fees in England and Wales will rise next year to help universities.

                                  What is an apprenticeship and how much are apprentices paid?

                                    Going to school, college or university five days a week is not the only way to get a qualification.

                                    We've been to school. We know how education works. Right? In fact, many aspects of learning — in homes, at schools, at work and elsewhere — are evolving rapidly, along with our understanding of learning. Join us as we explore how learning happens.

                                    College campuses react to the news of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal

                                      The Israel-Hamas war ignited protests on many U.S. college campuses. Some students were elated, others concerned after the announcement of a ceasefire.

                                      The Israel-Hamas war ignited protests on many U.S. college campuses. Some students were elated, others concerned after the announcement of a ceasefire.

                                      Biden's education grades: F on FAFSA, an incomplete on student loan forgiveness

                                        We asked more than a dozen educators, researchers, advocates and experts how they would grade Biden's education legacy. He got two F's, no A's and lots of votes in the middle.

                                        We asked more than a dozen educators, researchers, advocates and experts how they would grade Biden's education legacy. He got two F's, no A's and lots of votes in the middle. (Image credit: Demetrius Freeman)

                                        More than half a million students were out of school because of LA fires this week

                                          School districts in and around Los Angeles shut down because of the fires. That includes LAUSD, the second largest school district in the country.

                                          School districts in and around Los Angeles shut down because of the fires. That includes LAUSD, the second largest school district in the country. (Image credit: Jireh Deng for NPR)

                                          Education Secretary Miguel Cardona reflects on FAFSA rollout, debt forgiveness

                                            Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona talks with NPR's Juana Summers about what went wrong and what went right in his department during the Biden administration.

                                            Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona talks with NPR's Juana Summers about what went wrong and what went right in his department during the Biden administration.

                                            How the deadly LA wildfires have harmed schools and families who rely on them

                                              NPR's A Martinez asks Los Angeles School Board member Nick Melvoin how deadly fires have harmed schools and the students and families who rely on them.

                                              NPR's A Martinez asks Los Angeles School Board member Nick Melvoin how deadly fires have harmed schools and the students and families who rely on them.

                                              Special ed students benefit from being integrated at school. It doesn't always happen

                                                Research shows including students with and without disabilities in the same classroom can benefit everyone. Two students with Down syndrome show what can be gained when that happens.

                                                Research shows including students with and without disabilities in the same classroom can benefit everyone. Two students with Down syndrome show what can be gained when that happens. (Image credit: Katrina Ward for NPR)

                                                A looming 'demographic cliff': Fewer college students and ultimately fewer graduates

                                                  The long-predicted downturn in the number of 18-year-olds is almost here. And it isn't just a problem for higher education. It's a looming crisis for the economy.

                                                  The long-predicted downturn in the number of 18-year-olds is almost here. And it isn't just a problem for higher education. It's a looming crisis for the economy. (Image credit: Photo illustration by Camilla Forte)

                                                  Federal student loan borrowers await court decision on repayment plan

                                                    Eight million federal student loan borrowers are waiting for the courts to decide if the repayment plan they're enrolled in -- President Biden's SAVE plan -- is essentially so generous that it's illegal.

                                                    Eight million federal student loan borrowers are waiting for the courts to decide if the repayment plan they're enrolled in -- President Biden's SAVE plan -- is essentially so generous that it's illegal.

                                                    Teacher prep programs are changing to meet expectations of more inclusive classrooms

                                                      General education teachers don't always get a lot of training around how to serve students with disabilities. But that's starting to change.

                                                      General education teachers don't always get a lot of training around how to serve students with disabilities. But that's starting to change.

                                                      Some colleges are offering to admit students before they even apply

                                                        Amid concerns about the complexity and stress of college admissions, some schools are flipping the script by offering to admit students who haven't even applied. It's called direct admissions.

                                                        Amid concerns about the complexity and stress of college admissions, some schools are flipping the script by offering to admit students who haven't even applied. It's called direct admissions.

                                                        Columbia Professor Katherine Franke Says She Was Forced to Retire Because of Activism

                                                        • Franke, Katherine M
                                                        • Colleges and Universities
                                                        • Columbia University
                                                        • Pro-Palestinian Campus Protests (2023- )
                                                        • Israel-Gaza War (2023- )
                                                        • Shafik, Nemat
                                                        • Stefanik, Elise

                                                        Katherine Franke, a law professor and vocal advocate of pro-Palestinian students, had been under investigation over remarks she made about Israeli students.

                                                        Educators Prepare for ICE Agents at the Schoolhouse Door

                                                        • Education (K-12)
                                                        • Illegal Immigration
                                                        • Deportation
                                                        • Teachers and School Employees
                                                        • United States Politics and Government
                                                        • Presidential Election of 2024
                                                        • Immigration and Customs Enforcement (US)
                                                        • Trump, Donald J
                                                        • United States
                                                        • Principals (School)
                                                        • New York City
                                                        • Chicago (Ill)
                                                        • Los Angeles (Calif)

                                                        Across the country, educators described widespread anxiety about President-elect Donald J. Trump’s promises to deport immigrants and what it could mean for their students.

                                                        Black Student Enrollment at Harvard Law Drops by More Than Half

                                                        • Affirmative Action
                                                        • Law Schools
                                                        • Black People
                                                        • Hispanic-Americans
                                                        • Race and Ethnicity
                                                        • Harvard Law School
                                                        • Supreme Court (US)
                                                        • United States

                                                        After a Supreme Court decision ended race-based admissions, some law schools saw a decline in Black and Hispanic students entering this fall. Harvard appeared to have the steepest drop.

                                                        Pro-Palestinian Activists Removed From Michigan’s Student Government

                                                        • Pro-Palestinian Campus Protests (2023- )
                                                        • Colleges and Universities
                                                        • Freedom of Speech and Expression
                                                        • University of Michigan
                                                        • Alifa Chowdhury
                                                        • Elias Atkinson

                                                        The president and vice president of the University of Michigan’s student assembly were impeached after they demanded divestment and stopped funding campus activities.

                                                        Biden Withdraws Proposed Regulations on Student Loans and Trans Athletes

                                                        • Student Loans
                                                        • United States Politics and Government
                                                        • Colleges and Universities
                                                        • Education Department (US)
                                                        • Biden, Joseph R Jr
                                                        • Trump, Donald J

                                                        The decision to withdraw the regulations seemed to be an acknowledgment that they would go nowhere under the Trump administration.

                                                        To Dial Down Campus Tensions, Colleges Teach the Art of Conversation

                                                        • Colleges and Universities
                                                        • Pro-Palestinian Campus Protests (2023- )
                                                        • Conversation
                                                        • Columbia University
                                                        • State University of New York at Binghamton
                                                        • Vanderbilt University
                                                        • Harvard University

                                                        Dialogue is an essential part of college. As anger over the war in the Middle East has brought upheaval to campuses, it has also become a key way schools try to reduce conflict.

                                                        U.S. Students Posted Dire Math Declines on an International Test

                                                        • Mathematics
                                                        • Education (K-12)
                                                        • Tests and Examinations
                                                        • Coronavirus (2019-nCoV)
                                                        • Poverty
                                                        • United States

                                                        On the test, American fourth and eighth graders posted results similar to scores from 1995. It was a sign of notable stagnation, even as other countries saw improvements.

                                                        A Mississippi Teacher Created a School in an Empty Storefront. Students Showed Up.

                                                        • vis-photo
                                                        • Education (K-12)
                                                        • Private and Sectarian Schools
                                                        • Poverty
                                                        • Black People
                                                        • Yazoo City (Miss)
                                                        • Mississippi

                                                        The desks came out of a dumpster, and the computers are hand-me-downs. But students say Abundance Academy is a haven from bullying and crowded classes.

                                                        Linda McMahon Was Questioned About WWE in Previous Connecticut Education Role

                                                        • Wrestling
                                                        • Appointments and Executive Changes
                                                        • Education (K-12)
                                                        • Presidential Election of 2024
                                                        • Presidential Transition (US)
                                                        • Education Department (NYS)
                                                        • Sacred Heart University
                                                        • Small Business Administration
                                                        • World Wrestling Entertainment Inc
                                                        • McMahon, Linda E
                                                        • McMahon, Vince
                                                        • Trump, Donald J
                                                        • Connecticut

                                                        Linda McMahon, whose résumé mainly rests on running World Wrestling Entertainment, has faced questions for years over whether she is suitable for important education posts.

                                                        How Universities Cracked Down on Pro-Palestinian Activism

                                                        • Pro-Palestinian Campus Protests (2023- )
                                                        • Israel-Gaza War (2023- )
                                                        • Colleges and Universities
                                                        • School Discipline (Students)
                                                        • Harvard University
                                                        • Indiana University
                                                        • Montclair State University
                                                        • Pomona College
                                                        • United States

                                                        Stricter rules and punishments over campus protests seem to be working. Universities have seen just under 950 protest events this semester, compared with 3,000 in the spring.

                                                        Florida Tries a Subtler Way to Curb Progressive Ideology: Cut Sociology

                                                        • Colleges and Universities
                                                        • Sociology
                                                        • Conservatism (US Politics)
                                                        • Freedom of Speech and Expression
                                                        • Florida International University
                                                        • PEN American Center
                                                        • Republican Party
                                                        • Texas A&m University

                                                        Conservatives in Florida have moved from explosive politics to subtler tactics to uproot liberal “indoctrination” in higher education by removing subjects like sociology from core requirements.

                                                        Linda McMahon, Trump’s Education Secretary Pick, Has a Short Résumé Related to Schools

                                                        • Appointments and Executive Changes
                                                        • Education (K-12)
                                                        • Presidential Transition (US)
                                                        • Wrestling
                                                        • America First Policy Institute
                                                        • Education Department (US)
                                                        • Republican Party
                                                        • World Wrestling Entertainment Inc
                                                        • United States

                                                        Linda McMahon is known for her many years in the wrestling world. Though her education experience is more limited than previous secretaries, she has embraced both conservative and bipartisan ideas.

                                                        Why Did Ben Sasse Resign as President of the University of Florida?

                                                        • Sasse, Benjamin E
                                                        • University of Florida
                                                        • Colleges and Universities
                                                        • Conservatism (US Politics)
                                                        • Law Schools
                                                        • US News & World Report
                                                        • DeSantis, Ron
                                                        • Rosenbury, Laura A
                                                        • Florida
                                                        • Appointments and Executive Changes

                                                        Florida’s star president, Ben Sasse, was among the best paid university presidents ever. He promised a conservative overhaul, but then he resigned, leaving controversy and an embarrassing drop in the U.S. News rankings.

                                                        Texas Education Board Backs Bible-Infused Lessons in Public Schools

                                                        • Texas
                                                        • Religion-State Relations
                                                        • Education (K-12)
                                                        • Bible
                                                        • Texas Education Agency
                                                        • Christians and Christianity
                                                        • Republican Party
                                                        • Conservatism (US Politics)
                                                        • Politics and Government

                                                        School districts serving more than two million elementary-school children would be able to adopt a curriculum that draws on the Bible.

                                                        Professors Worry Their Power Is Shrinking at Universities

                                                        • Colleges and Universities
                                                        • Academic Freedom
                                                        • Pro-Palestinian Campus Protests (2023- )
                                                        • Demonstrations, Protests and Riots
                                                        • American Assn of University Professors
                                                        • Assn of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges
                                                        • Emory University
                                                        • University of Kentucky
                                                        • Capilouto, Eli
                                                        • Arizona
                                                        • State Legislatures
                                                        • United States

                                                        Faculty members are used to sharing power with presidents and trustees to run universities. But some presidents and lawmakers have made moves to reduce their say.

                                                        Voters to Reject Private School Vouchers in Colorado, Nebraska and Kentucky

                                                        • Private and Sectarian Schools
                                                        • Education (K-12)
                                                        • Rural Areas
                                                        • Organized Labor
                                                        • DeSantis, Ron
                                                        • Healey, Maura (1971- )
                                                        • Weingarten, Randi
                                                        • Colorado
                                                        • Florida
                                                        • Kentucky
                                                        • Massachusetts
                                                        • Nebraska

                                                        The results were part of a wave of ballot measure outcomes that teachers’ unions had sought. Nevertheless, private-school choice is growing nationwide.

                                                        Donald Trump Wants to Shut Down the Department of Education. Can He?

                                                        • Trump, Donald J
                                                        • Presidential Election of 2024
                                                        • Education Department (US)
                                                        • Conservatism (US Politics)
                                                        • Education (K-12)
                                                        • Republican Party
                                                        • American Federation of Teachers
                                                        • National Education Assn
                                                        • United States
                                                        • Federal-State Relations (US)
                                                        • Federal Budget (US)

                                                        Donald Trump has argued he would use the department to further his priorities — or close it. But the agency has relatively limited power, and any plan to shutter it would face major hurdles.

                                                        Chicago’s Mayor Is Following a Teachers’ Union Playbook

                                                        • Chicago (Ill)
                                                        • Politics and Government
                                                        • Education (K-12)
                                                        • Organized Labor
                                                        • Teachers and School Employees
                                                        • Mayors
                                                        • School Boards
                                                        • Charter Schools
                                                        • Budgets and Budgeting
                                                        • Chicago Teachers Union
                                                        • Davis Gates, Stacy
                                                        • Johnson, Brandon (Chicago, Ill, Politician)
                                                        • Martinez, Pedro (1951- )

                                                        In Chicago, the mayor and the teachers’ union are tightly connected. The relationship has ushered in generous spending and led to political turmoil.

                                                        Massachusetts’s High School Exit Exam, the MCAS, Is On the Ballot

                                                        • Tests and Examinations
                                                        • Education (K-12)
                                                        • Children and Childhood
                                                        • English Language
                                                        • Disabilities
                                                        • Graduation Rates
                                                        • Teachers and School Employees
                                                        • Healey, Maura (1971- )
                                                        • Massachusetts

                                                        A ballot measure would do away with the requirement that high schoolers pass a test to graduate. Opponents say it could water down academics for struggling students.

                                                        Democrats Took Over a Bucks County School Board, but Still Ban Some Books

                                                        • Book Bans
                                                        • Bucks County (Pa)
                                                        • Education (K-12)
                                                        • Moms for Liberty
                                                        • United States Politics and Government
                                                        • School Boards
                                                        • Books and Literature
                                                        • Libraries and Librarians
                                                        • Hillsdale College
                                                        • Democratic Party
                                                        • Republican Party

                                                        Democrats swept a school board election in Bucks County after Republicans instituted book bans and other changes. But the right-wing “parental rights” movement has left an indelible mark.

                                                        Professors in Trouble Over Protests Wonder if Academic Freedom Is Dying

                                                        • Pro-Palestinian Campus Protests (2023- )
                                                        • Colleges and Universities
                                                        • Academic Freedom
                                                        • Freedom of Speech and Expression
                                                        • Columbia University
                                                        • Dartmouth College
                                                        • Muhlenberg College
                                                        • Shafik, Nemat

                                                        Universities have cracked down on professors for pro-Palestinian activism, saying they are protecting students and tamping down on hate speech. Faculty members say punishments have put a “chill in the air.”

                                                        Columbia Bars Vocal Pro-Israel Professor From Campus

                                                        • Pro-Palestinian Campus Protests (2023- )
                                                        • Colleges and Universities
                                                        • Columbia University
                                                        • Davidai, Shai
                                                        • Anti-Semitism
                                                        • Ethics and Official Misconduct
                                                        • Israel-Gaza War (2023- )
                                                        • Israel
                                                        • Gaza Strip

                                                        The university said Shai Davidai had repeatedly harassed and intimidated employees. He said the university had not done enough to crack down on pro-Palestinian protests.

                                                        Pro-Palestinian Group at Columbia Now Backs ‘Armed Resistance’ by Hamas

                                                        • Colleges and Universities
                                                        • Columbia University
                                                        • Pro-Palestinian Campus Protests (2023- )
                                                        • Anti-Semitism
                                                        • Israel-Gaza War (2023- )
                                                        • Hamas
                                                        • Terrorism
                                                        • Palestinians
                                                        • Israel

                                                        Columbia University Apartheid Divest has withdrawn an apology it made last spring for a member who said “Zionists don’t deserve to live.”

                                                        Brown University Will Vote on Divesting from Companies Tied to Israel

                                                        • Israel-Gaza War (2023- )
                                                        • Boycotts
                                                        • Colleges and Universities
                                                        • Demonstrations, Protests and Riots
                                                        • Airbus Industrie
                                                        • Boeing Company
                                                        • Brown University
                                                        • General Electric Company
                                                        • Students for Justice in Palestine
                                                        • Paxson, Christina Hull
                                                        • Rhode Island

                                                        The university made a deal with pro-Palestinian students last spring to consider their demands if they ended a protest encampment. But the university board voted against divestment.

                                                        How Within Our Lifetime Has Made Pro-Palestinian Activism More Extreme

                                                        • Pro-Palestinian Campus Protests (2023- )
                                                        • Colleges and Universities
                                                        • Israel-Gaza War (2023- )
                                                        • Students for Justice in Palestine
                                                        • Zionism
                                                        • Anti-Semitism
                                                        • Palestinian-Americans
                                                        • Anti-Defamation League
                                                        • Brooklyn Museum
                                                        • City University of New York
                                                        • Columbia University
                                                        • New York City
                                                        • Content Type: Personal Profile
                                                        • Kiswani, Nerdeen

                                                        Within Our Lifetime, a group formed by New York students, has galvanized pro-Palestinian activists who are calling for the end of Israel — and facing accusations of antisemitism.

                                                        Nevada Used A.I. to Find ‘At-Risk’ Students. Numbers Dropped by 200,000.

                                                        • Nevada
                                                        • Education (K-12)
                                                        • Artificial Intelligence
                                                        • Budgets and Budgeting
                                                        • Income Inequality
                                                        • Poverty
                                                        • Mental Health and Disorders
                                                        • Politics and Government

                                                        The new system cut the number of students deemed “at risk” in the state by 200,000, leading to tough moral and ethical questions over which children deserve extra assistance.

                                                        Hurricane Helene School Closures Could Have Long-Term Impacts

                                                        • Hurricane Helene (2024)
                                                        • Hurricanes and Tropical Storms
                                                        • Disasters and Emergencies
                                                        • Children and Childhood
                                                        • Education (K-12)
                                                        • Floods
                                                        • Wildfires
                                                        • Global Warming
                                                        • Anxiety and Stress
                                                        • Asheville (NC)
                                                        • North Carolina
                                                        • Appalachian Region
                                                        • United States

                                                        School closures and traumatic experiences could affect children long after schools reopen. Experts worry that similar scenarios are happening with much more frequency because of climate change.

                                                        Campuses Are Calmer, but They Are Not Normal, Students and Faculty Say

                                                        • Pro-Palestinian Campus Protests (2023- )
                                                        • Colleges and Universities
                                                        • Israel-Gaza War (2023- )
                                                        • Demonstrations, Protests and Riots
                                                        • Freedom of Speech and Expression
                                                        • Anti-Semitism
                                                        • Columbia University
                                                        • Barnard College
                                                        • Harvard University
                                                        • New York University
                                                        • Northwestern University
                                                        • University of California, Los Angeles
                                                        • University of Pennsylvania

                                                        A year of war in Gaza has left college students and faculty feeling shaken and angry, with the world and with each other.

                                                        Oklahoma Schools Need 55,000 Bibles. Trump-Endorsed Book Fits the Bill.

                                                        • Bible
                                                        • Education (K-12)
                                                        • Christians and Christianity
                                                        • Pledge of Allegiance
                                                        • Trump, Donald J
                                                        • Greenwood, Lee
                                                        • Oklahoma

                                                        The bid details for new Bibles the state is buying seem to point to a version promoted by former President Donald J. Trump.

                                                        Vance and Walz Embrace Cheaper Child Care in a Rare Moment of Agreement in the Campaign

                                                        • Presidential Election of 2024
                                                        • Child Care
                                                        • Tax Credits, Deductions and Exemptions
                                                        • Democratic Party
                                                        • Republican Party
                                                        • Vance, J D
                                                        • Walz, Tim
                                                        • Debates (Political)

                                                        Both vice-presidential candidates say the government should spend more on child care, a rare point of agreement. But there are still major differences in how they talk about families and gender roles.

                                                        They Paid Thousands for a Caltech Boot Camp. Caltech Didn’t Teach It.

                                                        • Colleges and Universities
                                                        • Suits and Litigation (Civil)
                                                        • E-Learning
                                                        • California Institute of Technology
                                                        • Blackstone Group, The
                                                        • Simplilearn Solutions Pvt Ltd
                                                        • United States
                                                        • For-Profit Schools
                                                        • Vocational Training
                                                        • Regulation and Deregulation of Industry
                                                        • Consumer Protection

                                                        Hundreds of universities have lent their names to online programs, plugging budgets but alienating students who feel misled.

                                                        A Plan to Fund High School Newspapers Seeks to Revive Student Journalism

                                                        • Education (K-12)
                                                        • Education Department (NYC)
                                                        • New York City
                                                        • Newspapers

                                                        Just 27 percent of public high schools in New York City have a newspaper. A local nonprofit is offering a solution.

                                                        What to Know About Melissa Aviles-Ramos, New York City’s New Schools Chancellor

                                                        • Adams, Eric L
                                                        • Banks, David C (1962- )
                                                        • Appointments and Executive Changes
                                                        • Education (K-12)
                                                        • Education Department (NYC)
                                                        • New York City
                                                        • Aviles-Ramos, Melissa

                                                        Melissa Aviles-Ramos, a former English teacher and deputy chancellor, will assume the post after David C. Banks steps down in December.

                                                        As School Threats Proliferate, More Than 700 Students Are

                                                        • School Shootings and Armed Attacks
                                                        • Threats and Threatening Messages
                                                        • School Discipline (Students)
                                                        • Police
                                                        • Social Media
                                                        • Hoaxes and Pranks
                                                        • Education (K-12)
                                                        • Anxiety and Stress
                                                        • United States

                                                        The number of threats after a Georgia school shooting this month is much higher than usual, many officials said. In response, some have cracked down with arrests and detention for children as young as 10.

                                                        Brandeis President Steps Amid Trouble with Finances and Protests

                                                        • Colleges and Universities
                                                        • Demonstrations, Protests and Riots
                                                        • Jews and Judaism
                                                        • Brandeis University

                                                        The university has seen major drops in enrollment, even as the president invited students concerned about protests and antisemitism on other campuses to transfer.

                                                        U.S. News & World Report Released Its College Rankings

                                                        • US News & World Report
                                                        • Colleges and Universities
                                                        • Admissions Standards
                                                        • Princeton University
                                                        • Williams College
                                                        • Spelman College
                                                        • University of California, Los Angeles
                                                        • United States

                                                        Every year, U.S. News & World Report publishes rankings that often change very little, though they draw attention and frustration from universities and applicants.

                                                        David Banks, New York City’s Schools Chancellor, to Resign

                                                        • Education (K-12)
                                                        • Education Department (NYC)
                                                        • Banks, David C (1962- )
                                                        • Adams, Eric L
                                                        • New York City
                                                        • Politics and Government
                                                        • Appointments and Executive Changes
                                                        • Corruption (Institutional)
                                                        • Bribery and Kickbacks

                                                        The resignation of Mr. Banks, planned for the end of the year, comes amid a flurry of federal investigations into Mayor Eric Adams and his administration.

                                                        Report on Antisemitism at CUNY Calls for Changes Across the System

                                                        • Pro-Palestinian Campus Protests (2023- )
                                                        • Colleges and Universities
                                                        • Anti-Semitism
                                                        • Israel-Gaza War (2023- )
                                                        • Demonstrations, Protests and Riots
                                                        • City College of New York
                                                        • City University of New York
                                                        • Hochul, Kathleen C
                                                        • Lippman, Jonathan

                                                        The report, commissioned by New York’s governor, found that the city’s university system was ill-equipped to handle rising antisemitism. But it also said the problem was not widespread.

                                                        Penn Suspends Amy Wax, Law Professor Accused of Making Racist Statements

                                                        • Colleges and Universities
                                                        • Discrimination
                                                        • Academic Freedom
                                                        • Tenure
                                                        • University of Pennsylvania
                                                        • Wax, Amy (1953- )
                                                        • Philadelphia (Pa)

                                                        The case tested the limits of academic freedom and tenure.

                                                        University of Maryland to Review Plagiarism Claims Against President Darryll J. Pines

                                                        • Colleges and Universities
                                                        • Plagiarism
                                                        • University of Maryland
                                                        • The Daily Wire
                                                        • Bailey, Jonathan (1988- )
                                                        • Shapiro, Benjamin A (1984- )
                                                        • Gay, Claudine
                                                        • Maryland

                                                        The university’s president, Darryll J. Pines, who studies aerospace engineering, was accused of copying significant portions of a paper in 2002.

                                                        Rutgers President Announces Resignation After a Year Rocked by Protests

                                                        • Pro-Palestinian Campus Protests (2023- )
                                                        • Colleges and Universities
                                                        • Black People
                                                        • Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
                                                        • Holloway, Jonathan S (1967- )
                                                        • New Jersey

                                                        Jonathan Holloway was Rutgers’ first Black president. He helped the university grow but also faced criticism and questioning in Congress over pro-Palestinian encampments on campus.

                                                        Social Studies Teachers Rely on Online and Sometimes Ideological Sources

                                                        • Education (K-12)
                                                        • History (Academic Subject)
                                                        • Teachers and School Employees
                                                        • Critical Race Theory
                                                        • American Historical Assn
                                                        • Bloomberg Philanthropies
                                                        • Textbooks
                                                        • E-Learning
                                                        • United States

                                                        A survey of social studies teachers found that many find primary sources online for lesson plans. But a notable minority also rely on left-leaning materials, and a handful have turned to conservative options.

                                                        N.Y.C. Schools Chancellor Seeks to Project Stability as Inquiries Swirl

                                                        • Education (K-12)
                                                        • Artificial Intelligence
                                                        • Banks, David C (1962- )
                                                        • Adams, Eric L
                                                        • Wright, Sheena
                                                        • New York City

                                                        David C. Banks, whose phone was seized during an investigation related to his brother, largely avoided discussing his current circumstances in his annual State of Our Schools speech.

                                                        Yale, Princeton, Duke Are Questioned Over Decline in Asian Students

                                                        • Colleges and Universities
                                                        • Asian-Americans
                                                        • Race and Ethnicity
                                                        • Admissions Standards
                                                        • Suits and Litigation (Civil)
                                                        • Affirmative Action
                                                        • Princeton University
                                                        • Students for Fair Admissions
                                                        • Yale University
                                                        • Duke University

                                                        The legal group that won a Supreme Court case that ended race-based college admissions suggested it might sue schools where the percentage of Asian students fell.

                                                        Why Some Christians Don’t Want to Bring the Bible Into Public Schools

                                                        • Education (K-12)
                                                        • Bible
                                                        • Christians and Christianity
                                                        • Religion-State Relations
                                                        • Conservatism (US Politics)
                                                        • Rural Areas
                                                        • Oklahoma
                                                        • Texas
                                                        • United States

                                                        As the idea of incorporating the Bible into classrooms gains traction, concerns about the mission of public schools — and differences across the faith — have led even some conservative Christians to push back.

                                                        What to Know About How an Affirmative Action Ban Affected Colleges

                                                        • Colleges and Universities
                                                        • Admissions Standards
                                                        • Race and Ethnicity
                                                        • Black People
                                                        • Decisions and Verdicts
                                                        • Affirmative Action
                                                        • Asian-Americans
                                                        • Amherst College
                                                        • Brown University
                                                        • Columbia University
                                                        • Education Reform Now
                                                        • Harvard University
                                                        • Ivy League
                                                        • Students for Fair Admissions
                                                        • Tufts University
                                                        • Yale University
                                                        • University of Pennsylvania
                                                        • Supreme Court (US)
                                                        • Kahlenberg, Richard D

                                                        Here is what we know about the effects of the Supreme Court’s decision curtailing race-based admissions at selective universities. And why many experts and administrators are baffled.

                                                        Harvard’s Black Student Enrollment Declines After Affirmative Action

                                                        • Colleges and Universities
                                                        • Admissions Standards
                                                        • Affirmative Action
                                                        • Race and Ethnicity
                                                        • Minorities
                                                        • Black People
                                                        • Hispanic-Americans
                                                        • Asian-Americans
                                                        • Harvard University
                                                        • Ivy League
                                                        • Princeton University
                                                        • Yale University
                                                        • Supreme Court (US)
                                                        • Decisions and Verdicts

                                                        Defying expectations, a Supreme Court decision curtailing race-based admissions still had a relatively small impact at some highly selective schools like Harvard, even as other schools saw big changes.

                                                        U.N.C. Reports Declines in Black and Hispanic Enrollment

                                                        • Colleges and Universities
                                                        • Minorities
                                                        • Admissions Standards
                                                        • Race and Ethnicity
                                                        • Hispanic-Americans
                                                        • Asian-Americans
                                                        • Black People
                                                        • Affirmative Action
                                                        • Supreme Court (US)
                                                        • University of North Carolina
                                                        • Harvard University
                                                        • Students for Fair Admissions
                                                        • Roberts, John G Jr
                                                        • Chapel Hill (NC)

                                                        Along with Harvard University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was one of two schools defending affirmative action in Supreme Court cases last year.

                                                        NYC Schools Chief Says Migrants Have Been a ‘Godsend’

                                                        • Children and Childhood
                                                        • Education Department (NYC)
                                                        • Banks, David C (1962- )
                                                        • Adams, Eric L
                                                        • Anti-Semitism
                                                        • Artificial Intelligence
                                                        • Urban Areas
                                                        • Education (K-12)
                                                        • New York City

                                                        In an interview, Chancellor David C. Banks said migrants had helped schools that were bleeding students. He also promised a big new role for artificial intelligence.

                                                        Federal Judge Temporarily Blocks Another Pillar of Biden’s Student Debt Plan

                                                        • United States Politics and Government
                                                        • Student Loans
                                                        • Decisions and Verdicts
                                                        • Courts and the Judiciary
                                                        • Education Department (US)
                                                        • Biden, Joseph R Jr
                                                        • Supreme Court (US)

                                                        The plan would affect millions of borrowers struggling with runaway interest and others who were still paying off loans after decades. It was set to take effect this fall.

                                                        A Campus Protest Movement Seeks to Regain Momentum but Faces Hurdles

                                                        • Pro-Palestinian Campus Protests (2023- )
                                                        • Colleges and Universities
                                                        • Demonstrations, Protests and Riots
                                                        • School Discipline (Students)
                                                        • Columbia University
                                                        • Cornell University
                                                        • Harvard Crimson
                                                        • Harvard University
                                                        • University of Michigan
                                                        • University of Pennsylvania
                                                        • Clinton, Hillary Rodham
                                                        • New York City

                                                        Pro-Palestinian demonstrations appeared at some U.S. campuses, but new restrictions and a new set of students may slow momentum for the type of mass protests seen in the spring.

                                                        Black Enrollment Drops at 2 Elite Colleges Post-Affirmative Action

                                                        • Colleges and Universities
                                                        • Minorities
                                                        • Admissions Standards
                                                        • Affirmative Action
                                                        • Race and Ethnicity
                                                        • Black People
                                                        • Asian-Americans
                                                        • Hispanic-Americans
                                                        • Amherst College
                                                        • Harvard University
                                                        • Journal of Blacks in Higher Education
                                                        • Massachusetts Institute of Technology
                                                        • Students for Fair Admissions
                                                        • Tufts University
                                                        • Supreme Court (US)
                                                        • Amherst (Mass)
                                                        • Massachusetts

                                                        Amherst College and Tufts University saw drops in the number of Black students after a Supreme Court decision ending affirmative action. At other schools, the picture is murkier.

                                                        Trump to Speak at Moms for Liberty Convention

                                                        • Conservatism (US Politics)
                                                        • Presidential Election of 2024
                                                        • Parenting
                                                        • School Boards
                                                        • Education (K-12)
                                                        • Moms for Liberty
                                                        • Republican Party
                                                        • DeSantis, Ron
                                                        • Fried, Nicole (Nikki)
                                                        • Trump, Donald J
                                                        • Hess, Frederick M

                                                        Last year, the former president told the group it was time to “liberate our children from the Marxist lunatics and perverts” in education. Does that message still resonate with voters?

                                                        Where Does Biden’s Student Loan Debt Plan Stand? Here’s What to Know.

                                                        • Student Loans
                                                        • Federal Aid (US)
                                                        • Colleges and Universities
                                                        • Supreme Court (US)
                                                        • Decisions and Verdicts
                                                        • Education Department (US)
                                                        • Biden, Joseph R Jr
                                                        • Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
                                                        • United States Politics and Government

                                                        The Supreme Court refused to allow a key part of President Biden’s student debt plan to move forward. Here’s what’s left of it, and who could still benefit.

                                                        University of Virginia Suspends Tours Criticized for Emphasizing Ties to Slavery

                                                        • Colleges and Universities
                                                        • Slavery (Historical)
                                                        • Forced Labor
                                                        • University of Virginia
                                                        • Jefferson, Thomas
                                                        • Youngkin, Glenn A
                                                        • Virginia
                                                        • Charlottesville (Va)

                                                        A group of conservative alumni said the student-led tours were overly focused on the school’s history of using enslaved laborers.

                                                        At UMichigan, Pro-Palestinian Protesters Shut Down Student Government

                                                        • Pro-Palestinian Campus Protests (2023- )
                                                        • Colleges and Universities
                                                        • University of Michigan
                                                        • Boycotts
                                                        • Endowments
                                                        • Budgets and Budgeting
                                                        • Michigan
                                                        • Israel-Gaza War (2023- )
                                                        • Israel

                                                        Pro-Palestinian protesters won council elections, and have refused to fund campus groups, like the men’s Ultimate Frisbee team, unless their divestment demands are met.

                                                        Cellphone Bans in Schools? NYC Is ‘Not There Yet,’ Mayor Says

                                                        • Education (K-12)
                                                        • Cellular Telephones
                                                        • Smartphones
                                                        • Mental Health and Disorders
                                                        • Education Department (NYC)
                                                        • Adams, Eric L
                                                        • Banks, David C (1962- )
                                                        • Bloomberg, Michael R
                                                        • de Blasio, Bill
                                                        • Haidt, Jonathan
                                                        • New York City

                                                        Districts and states across the United States have supported restrictions on student usage, but New York City’s leaders are backing away from the idea because of logistical concerns.

                                                        How College Campuses Are Trying to Manage Protests During an Election Year

                                                        • Pro-Palestinian Campus Protests (2023- )
                                                        • Freedom of Speech and Expression
                                                        • Anti-Semitism
                                                        • School Discipline (Students)
                                                        • Colleges and Universities
                                                        • Vanderbilt University
                                                        • Diermeier, Daniel
                                                        • Nashville (Tenn)
                                                        • United States

                                                        University officials are spelling out strict codes around protests. They say they are trying to be clear. Others say they are trying to suppress speech.

                                                        At M.I.T., Black and Latino Enrollment Drops Sharply After Affirmative Action Ban

                                                        • Colleges and Universities
                                                        • Massachusetts Institute of Technology
                                                        • Admissions Standards
                                                        • Affirmative Action
                                                        • Minorities
                                                        • Race and Ethnicity
                                                        • Black People
                                                        • Hispanic-Americans
                                                        • Native Americans
                                                        • Asian-Americans
                                                        • Supreme Court (US)
                                                        • Discrimination

                                                        Asian American students made up almost half of the 2028 class — the first admitted since the end of affirmative action.

                                                        Inside the Fall of Columbia University’s President, Nemat Shafik

                                                        • Shafik, Nemat
                                                        • Colleges and Universities
                                                        • Columbia University
                                                        • Pro-Palestinian Campus Protests (2023- )
                                                        • Israel-Gaza War (2023- )
                                                        • Appointments and Executive Changes
                                                        • Content Type: Personal Profile

                                                        Nemat Shafik was vilified on almost all sides for her handling of the protests over the Israel-Hamas war. When given an offramp, she took it.

                                                        Katrina Armstrong Appointed Columbia University’s Interim President

                                                        • Pro-Palestinian Campus Protests (2023- )
                                                        • Colleges and Universities
                                                        • Appointments and Executive Changes
                                                        • Content Type: Personal Profile
                                                        • Columbia University
                                                        • Massachusetts General Hospital
                                                        • Armstrong, Katrina A
                                                        • Shafik, Nemat

                                                        Dr. Katrina A. Armstrong replaces Nemat Shafik as president of one of the most turbulent campuses in America.

                                                        Harvard Names Conservative Legal Scholar as Permanent Provost

                                                        • Harvard University
                                                        • Colleges and Universities
                                                        • Pro-Palestinian Campus Protests (2023- )
                                                        • Garber, Alan M
                                                        • Manning, John F

                                                        John F. Manning has served as interim provost since March, and is considered a top contender for university president.

                                                        Maurie McInnis, Yale’s New President, Emphasized Policing at Previous Post

                                                        • McInnis, Maurie
                                                        • Colleges and Universities
                                                        • Yale University
                                                        • State University of New York at Stony Brook
                                                        • Academic Freedom
                                                        • Appointments and Executive Changes
                                                        • Israel-Gaza War (2023- )
                                                        • Pro-Palestinian Campus Protests (2023- )
                                                        • Police
                                                        • Suffolk County (NY)

                                                        In her four years at the state university, Maurie McInnis drew criticism from faculty members who said some of her decisions violated academic freedom.

                                                        Oklahoma’s State Superintendent Requires Public Schools to Teach the Bible

                                                        • Oklahoma
                                                        • Religion-State Relations
                                                        • Education (K-12)
                                                        • Bible
                                                        • Walters, Ryan (1985- )
                                                        • Politics and Government
                                                        • Republican Party

                                                        The state superintendent, Ryan Walters, said the Bible was a “necessary historical document.” The mandate comes as part of a conservative movement to infuse Christian values in public schools.

                                                        Northwestern Law School Accused of Bias Against White Men in Hiring

                                                        • Colleges and Universities
                                                        • Hiring and Promotion
                                                        • Admissions Standards
                                                        • Suits and Litigation (Civil)
                                                        • Affirmative Action
                                                        • Northwestern University
                                                        • Students for Fair Admissions
                                                        • Mitchell, Jonathan F (1976- )
                                                        • Chicago (Ill)

                                                        The lawsuit was filed a year after the Supreme Court struck down the use of racial and gender preferences in college admissions.

                                                        Bloomberg’s $1 Billion Gift of Free Medical School Tuition Only Applies to Some

                                                        • Medical Schools
                                                        • Tuition
                                                        • Philanthropy
                                                        • Income Inequality
                                                        • Bloomberg Philanthropies
                                                        • Johns Hopkins University
                                                        • Bloomberg, Michael R
                                                        • Daniels, Ronald J (1959- )

                                                        A donation from Bloomberg Philanthropies will provide free tuition for Johns Hopkins medical students, if their families make less than $300,000 a year.

                                                        Harvard’s Antisemitism and Anti-Muslim Task Forces Find Climate of Bias

                                                        • Harvard University
                                                        • Anti-Semitism
                                                        • Discrimination
                                                        • Muslims and Islam
                                                        • Jews and Judaism

                                                        Groups investigating antisemitism and anti-Muslim bias cited instances of discrimination against pro-Israel students and “a pervasive climate of intolerance” against pro-Palestinian students.

                                                        Why U.S. Schools Are Facing Their Biggest Budget Crunch in Years

                                                        • Education (K-12)
                                                        • Layoffs and Job Reductions
                                                        • Teachers and School Employees
                                                        • Tutors and Tutoring
                                                        • States (US)
                                                        • Budgets and Budgeting
                                                        • Federal Aid (US)
                                                        • United States
                                                        • Coronavirus (2019-nCoV)

                                                        Federal pandemic aid helped keep school districts afloat, but that money is coming to an end.

                                                        Schools Got a Record $190 Billion in Pandemic Aid. Did It Work?

                                                        • Education (K-12)
                                                        • Federal Aid (US)
                                                        • Coronavirus (2019-nCoV)
                                                        • Research
                                                        • Budgets and Budgeting
                                                        • Tests and Examinations
                                                        • Harvard University
                                                        • Dartmouth College
                                                        • University of Washington
                                                        • Tulane University
                                                        • United States

                                                        Two new studies suggest that the largest single federal investment in U.S. schools improved student test scores, but only modestly.

                                                        A School With 7 Students: Inside the ‘Microschools’ Movement

                                                        • Private and Sectarian Schools
                                                        • Education (K-12)
                                                        • Disabilities
                                                        • Black People
                                                        • Home Schooling
                                                        • Christians and Christianity
                                                        • Finances
                                                        • Vouchers
                                                        • Georgia
                                                        • United States

                                                        Parents, desperate for help, are turning to private schools with a half-dozen or so students. And they are getting a financial boost from taxpayers.

                                                        Newsom Calls for Ban on Smartphone Use in California Schools

                                                        • Education (K-12)
                                                        • Smartphones
                                                        • Social Media
                                                        • Newsom, Gavin
                                                        • California

                                                        Gov. Gavin Newsom called for a statewide ban as states and large school districts have pursued similar prohibitions to prevent disruption and cyberbullying.

                                                        Penn Bans Encampments After Wave of Campus Protests Over War in Gaza

                                                        • University of Pennsylvania
                                                        • Demonstrations, Protests and Riots
                                                        • Pro-Palestinian Campus Protests (2023- )

                                                        The new rules, which would also significantly rein in demonstrations at the university in other ways, come on the heels of a nationwide wave of student activism against Israel’s actions in Gaza.

                                                        Is This the End for Mandatory D.E.I. Statements?

                                                        • Diversity Initiatives
                                                        • Colleges and Universities
                                                        • Hiring and Promotion
                                                        • Harvard University
                                                        • Massachusetts Institute of Technology
                                                        • Pacific Legal Foundation
                                                        • Conservatism (US Politics)

                                                        Harvard and M.I.T. no longer require applicants for teaching jobs to explain how they would serve underrepresented groups. Other schools may follow.

                                                        U.C. Berkeley’s Leader, a Free Speech Champion, Has Advice for Today’s Students: Tone It Down

                                                        • Israel-Gaza War (2023- )
                                                        • Pro-Palestinian Campus Protests (2023- )
                                                        • Freedom of Speech and Expression
                                                        • University of California, Berkeley
                                                        • Chemerinsky, Erwin
                                                        • Christ, Carol (1944- )
                                                        • Commencement Speeches
                                                        • Colleges and Universities

                                                        “Just because you have the right to say something doesn’t mean it’s right to say,” said Carol Christ, who is retiring as chancellor at the end of this month.

                                                        Designed specifically for professionals in K-12 education, ASCD SmartBrief is a FREE daily email newsletter. It provides the latest education news and information you need to stay on top of issues that are important to you. Click here to subscribe.

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                                                        I'd like it to be seen as an integrated cuisine, without any of these hues and cries about stealing this or stealing that or taking this or taking that, but understanding that everyone taught everybody. You're in the kitchen together.

                                                        • SmartQuote

                                                        Nathalie Dupree, writer, chef, educator, TV host 1939-2025