BOSTON, Mass – After months of being pushed, prodded and prepped for higher education, Match Charter High seniors were ready to announce their college choices during the beloved pep-rally tradition known as “signing day,’’ modeled after athletic ceremonies where student athletes sign commitment letters. It’s become an increasingly common ritual at charter schools where college acceptance is both the goal and part of the culture.

But what happens when students work tirelessly to get into college and then find their financial aid packages don’t go far enough? As part of The Hechinger Report’s partnership with APM Reports, the national documentary and investigative unit of American Public Media, Hechinger Report Editor-in-Chief Liz Willen discusses the harsh reality many students face when it comes to paying for college, on this week’s episode of the Educate podcast.
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