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How higher education lost its shine

How higher education lost its shine

Americans are rejecting college in record numbers, but the reasons may not be what you think

The Hechinger Report covers education from birth through college with authority, independence and depth. Get our stories in your inbox.

“Summer melt” was bad during the pandemic, and experts fear it could get even worse

“Summer melt” was bad during the pandemic, and experts fear it could get even worse

Twilight of income-share agreements to pay for college?

Twilight of income-share agreements to pay for college?

OPINION: Still skeptical about mastery-based learning? Here’s a better way of looking at what it is and does

OPINION: Still skeptical about mastery-based learning? Here’s a better way of looking at what it is and does

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Dallas parents flocking to schools that pull students from both rich and poor parts of town

School districts see success with ‘Transformation Schools’ that offer a socioeconomically mixed student body

Wesley Williams works on a project at Solar Prep for Boys, one of the popular “Transformation Schools” offered by the Dallas school district. Credit: Nitashia Johnson for The Hechinger Report

Dallas currently has 13 schools that draw their students from an even mix of affluent and socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods around the city, like Hybrid Prep, shown here. The “Transformation Schools” program has proven so popular that the district plans to open an additional 11 such schools in the next three years. Credit: Nitashia Johnson for The Hechinger Report

Nancy Bernardino, the principal of Solar Prep for Girls, said that the school works to promote inclusion among students who otherwise might not normally socialize together. “We wanted them to know they can bring their whole selves here,” she said. Credit: Nitashia Johnson for The Hechinger Report

In addition to drawing from neighborhoods all over the city, Dallas has also chosen to place programs at its “Transformation Schools” that it believes will entice parents, such as the part virtual, part in-person program offered at Hybrid Prep. Credit: Nitashia Johnson for The Hechinger Report

Aschanti Williams said that Solar Prep for Boys, a single-gender “Transformation School” in North Dallas, stresses values such as curiosity, humility and grit to its students, including his youngest child, Wesley. Credit: Nitashia Johnson for The Hechinger Report.

PROOF POINTS: Researchers say cries of teacher shortages are overblown

Post-Roe landscape could further stress America’s crumbling child care system

Spiraling rents are wreaking havoc on college students seeking housing for the fall

An evolving role for colleges: Training people recovering from substance abuse disorders to be part of treatment teams

Climate change vs schools

The COP26 summit has been called the ‘last, best hope’ to limit global warming. Here’s how the crisis is already affecting America’s schoolchildren

Climate change is sabotaging education for America’s students – and it’s only going to get worse

Are we ready? How we are teaching – and not teaching – kids about climate change

READ OUR CLIMATE CHANGE SERIES

Child care in shambles

The coronavirus pandemic has strained the already fragile child care industry. Without government support, it’s likely to topple.

After mass closures, too little support, post-pandemic child care options will be scarce

The racist and sexist roots of child care in America explain why the system is in shambles

It’s ‘unconscionable’: We depend on child care workers to provide high-quality care to our children. But many of those workers can’t afford food and rent

Inequality is the biggest story in education. We investigate disparities and solutions that might close the gaps. We’re a nonprofit and provide this in-depth independent journalism to you for free…

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EARLY CHILDHOOD

Active child care workers lead to active toddlers

Active child care workers lead to active toddlers

Cracking down on unsafe infant sleep products

Easing the stress of poverty can bring down rates of child abuse and neglect

More Early Childhood

Elementary to High School

PROOF POINTS: Early data on ‘high-dosage’ tutoring shows schools are sometimes finding it tough to deliver even low doses

PROOF POINTS: Early data on ‘high-dosage’ tutoring shows schools are sometimes finding it tough to deliver even low doses

TEACHER VOICE: With hands-on activities, my chemistry students are building cities of the future

PROOF POINTS: Paper books linked to stronger readers in an international study

More Elementary to High School

Higher education

Impatient for workers, businesses help students take college shortcuts

Impatient for workers, businesses help students take college shortcuts

OPINION: Why competition isn’t always the answer to high college costs

Congress is starting to tackle student mental health

More Higher Education

A PANDEMIC YEAR IN REVIEW

Over the course of ten months, teachers, parents, students and administrators from across the country told us what it was like to be in school this year and how they coped with the ongoing crisis.

‘It’s so hard and so challenging’: An oral history of year three of pandemic schooling

‘It’s so hard and so challenging’: An oral history of year three of pandemic schooling

November 29, 2021June 23, 2022

‘Next year will be a better year’: An oral history of year three of pandemic schooling, Part III

‘Next year will be a better year’: An oral history of year three of pandemic schooling, Part III

June 15, 2022July 20, 2022

VOICES: Students, teachers, principals and experts weigh in

OPINION: Why the narrative that critical race theory ‘makes white kids feel guilty’ is a lie

OPINION: Why the narrative that critical race theory ‘makes white kids feel guilty’ is a lie

OPINION: After two decades of studying voucher programs, I’m now firmly opposed to them

OPINION: After two decades of studying voucher programs, I’m now firmly opposed to them

OPINION: Let’s start thinking about climate change as a modern educational problem — and solve it

OPINION: We need reading instruction that starts later and continues far, far longer

OPINION: Why it’s time to discard old stereotypes about Asian American parents and education

OPINION: Why it’s time to discard old stereotypes about Asian American parents and education

OPINION: Why ‘test-optional’ admissions are not a game-changer for equity after all

OPINION: Schools must do a better job teaching anti-racism

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