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Schools across the U.S. are dealing with record heat — and no air conditioning

Aug 27, 2024
More than 10,000 schools nationwide lack air conditioning, according to the Center for Climate Integrity. And with soaring temps across the midwest and East Coast, some schools are releasing students early or closing altogether this week.
Adding air conditioning can run larger school districts hundreds of millions of dollars.
Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images

Report shows why some kids are struggling at school

Jun 11, 2024
The economic life of a child at home has a direct relationship to how things go at school, per the Kids Count Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
"Kids are not entering the classroom with their basic needs met," said Leslie Boissiere of the Annie E. Casey Foundation. "As a result of that, their academic achievement is suffering."
Sean Gallup/Getty Images

End of pandemic funding forces some schools to consider cutting teachers, programming

May 15, 2024
School districts across the country have relied on a combined $190 billion in federal money for more than three years. But time’s up: the funds have to be accounted for by Sept. 30.
Schools must account for pandemic relief funds by Sept. 30,
Jon Cherry/Getty Images

Federally funded electric buses are coming to a school near you

Feb 19, 2024
A new federal program is beginning to send electric school buses to schools across the country, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Early adopting districts weigh in on how the new buses are working so far.
Eric Joiner, transportation supervisor for the Ralls County School District, shows reporters the computer that displays range, speed and energy output on an electric school bus on Nov. 20, 2023, in Center, Mo.
Tristen Rouse/St. Louis Public Radio

The UK's private schools may be getting even more expensive

Oct 19, 2023
Labour, the main opposition party in the United Kingdom, wants to undo a tax exemption private schools have enjoyed for decades.
Eton College, an elite private school west of London for the wealthy and famous, pictured in 2015.
Jack Taylor/AFP via Getty Images

Superintendents have always been politicians. Now they have to be diplomats too.

Jul 19, 2023
In a Rand survey, 80% of superintendents call their jobs stressful, largely because of the intrusion of political issues into schooling.
Heather Schwartz of the Rand Corp. suggests providing more communication tools to school leaders.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

COVID broke the habit of attending school. Now, districts are spending millions to bring kids back

Jun 27, 2023
About one in three students are chronically absent, double the number before the pandemic.
About one in three students are chronically absent, double the number before the pandemic.
Jon Cherry/Getty Images

For public good, not for profit.

Public spending on preschool hasn’t gone up in two decades

May 18, 2023
A new report finds that funding has stagnated in the last two decades. Some states are trying to buck the trend.
Public funding for preschools has stagnated in the last 20 years. Some states like New Jersey are looking to change that.
Daria Nipot / Getty Images

Why do teachers pay for school supplies with their own money?

Apr 7, 2023
Instructors are investing their cash, along with their skill and passion, in their students' education.
School supplies are often in short supply in the classroom, so many teachers dig into their own pockets to provide them.
Olivier Touron/AFP via Getty Images

The advent of ChatGPT creates demand for software to detect its use

Feb 1, 2023
Since the chatbot launched, schools have sought tools to inform teachers when students try to pass off AI-generated writing as their own.
Some students are using artificial intelligence programs like ChatGPT to do their homework. Now school districts are seeking software to identify AI-generated writing.
Lionel Bonaventure/AFP via Getty Images