By Melissa L. Finucane Dr. Finucane, a professor of social and behavioral science at Stony Brook University, highlights concerns over a recent regulatory proposal from the Trump administration. The proposal, spanning 412 pages, aims to reform how scientific research receives funding. If implemented, these changes could significantly undermine one of the world’s most valuable scientific...
Chronic absenteeism has emerged as a key challenge for American schools in the post-COVID-19 era. About one in four students is now at risk of academic setbacks due to frequent absences. A recent multi-state analysis, however, offers hope for reversing this trend. SchoolStatus, an education technology company, conducted the study. It analyzed attendance data from...
School District U-46 is in the midst of a significant relocation project known as “Moving the U.” According to Lela Majstorovic, deputy superintendent of instruction, the shift of sixth grade to middle school is a key aspect of the plan. However, it represents just one element of a broader initiative named Unite U-46. The project’s...
Sweden, known for its early embrace of digital technology, plans to ban mobile phones in schools starting this fall. The decision marks a shift toward more traditional learning methods, focusing on books and less screen time for students. Prioritizing Books Over Screens Since 2023, Sweden’s center-right government has emphasized reading over digital learning tools, especially...
School districts across the nation face challenges with declining enrollment, reduced funding, and budget shortfalls. This has led to discussions on school closures and ‘rightsizing’. Leaders are under pressure to reduce costs while ensuring academic recovery for students. A critical issue often overlooked in these discussions is that school closures do not affect all communities...
Jesus Lara stepped into a transformed Chicago Teachers Union headquarters, searching for familiar faces. Dressed in a black suit and silk tie, he examined the room adorned with blue drapery and yellow lights highlighting the word “prom.” A smile spread across his face as he spotted his friends. Lara, 18, found himself in the same...
The Elgin High School class of 1976 prepared a bicentennial time capsule 50 years ago, concealing memorable artifacts that offered a glimpse into the past. Items like IBM stock certificates or popular cultural symbols of the time, such as mood rings and bell-bottom pants, were absent. Nevertheless, the capsule contained a unique treasure: a Pet...
An Oak Lawn school librarian, Heather McCarthy, is expanding her impact locally and globally. She is inspiring others to help build libraries in Zimbabwe. This month, she will attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the first completed library there. Bringing Books to Zimbabwe McCarthy, the librarian at Oak Lawn-Hometown Middle School since 2021, began her journey...
Spelman College, a historically Black liberal arts institution for women, has appointed Ayanna Howard, a prominent roboticist and artificial intelligence expert, as its new president. This marks a shift for the college, which has traditionally chosen leaders from fields like medicine, anthropology, and psychology. Dr. Howard, formerly the dean of the engineering college at Ohio...
Federal student loan borrowers have faced many changes recently, including the end of pandemic-era payment pauses and the introduction of new repayment programs. Upcoming changes set for July 1 may impact millions of borrowers and their repayment options. Adapting to New ChangesBorrowers may not need to act immediately, but the changes could affect available repayment...