Education / Public News Service

According to the Pew Research Center, the Black immigrant population will account for roughly one-third of the U.S. Black population's growth through 2060. (pressmaster/Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, May 21, 2025

Black immigrant population grows throughout Arkansas, nation

Studies show one in 10 Black people in the U.S. is an immigrant and immigrants' advocates said they face significant challenges blending into the …

A report from the Education Law Center and Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children found Black children in Pennsylvania face disproportionate foster care placement and increased scrutiny, reflecting broader racial disparities seen in schools and discipline. (Lumeez/Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, May 21, 2025

Policy solutions to improve foster youth education in PA

Education is a major challenge for kids in foster care in Pennsylvania, according to a new report. Nearly 20,000 children and teens are served by …

Florida A&M University, a public historically Black land-grant institution in Tallahassee, was founded in 1887. It is one of the largest Historically Black Colleges and Universities by enrollment and the only public HBCU in Florida. (Adobe Stock)

Tuesday, May 20, 2025

Controversy erupts over FAMU’s presidential selection process

The selection of Marva Johnson, a longtime corporate executive and ally of Gov. Ron DeSantis, as the next president of Florida A&M University has …

As of July 2022, about 36.8 million U.S. adults younger than 65 had some college but no degree. In the following academic year, more than 943,000 re-enrolled. (Beaunitta V W/peopleimages.com/Adobe Stock)

Monday, May 19, 2025

Michigan expands partnership to help adults return to college

Michiganders who left college early might now have a shot at finishing. The Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential's …

Nearly one in five rural public schools in Ohio serve high-poverty student populations, yet receive less state funding per student than suburban schools. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio voices call for rural support over school shutdowns

Ohioans were among dozens of rural leaders who gathered in Iowa this month, urging lawmakers to protect public education, small businesses, and …

Since its inception in 1965, Head Start has served nearly 40 million children and their families. (Save the Children)

Head Start supports WA parents, celebrates 60 years

This Sunday is the 60th anniversary of Head Start, the federally funded preschool program supporting more than 12,000 children, up to age four…

High school and college students will take over the airwaves on the first and third Saturday in Arkansas in the revival of the PHAT LIP! You(th)Talk Radio show (avdyachenko/Adobe Stock)

Radio show gives AR students a voice

A groundbreaking radio show from the early 1990s is returning this weekend in Arkansas. The PHAT LIP! You(th)Talk Radio show will be back on the …

According to Excelencia in Education, for the United States to regain the top ranking in the world for college degree attainment, Latinos will need to earn 6.2 million degrees by 2030. (Adobe Stock)

Illinois Latino students prefer grants over loans to pay for college

Latino students in Illinois and nationwide apply for financial aid at higher rates than some other ethnic groups but receive the lowest average awards…

Less than 5% of Arizona's population considers themselves Asian, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, according to the United States Census. (Adobe Stock)

Legislation could bring new histories to AZ classrooms

It is Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and Arizona lawmakers are considering a bill which would require schools to …

In 2024, Mississippi lawmakers approved a new school funding formula to replace the long-standing Mississippi Adequate Education program. (Pixabay)

MS teacher shortage threatens education gains, expert says

Mississippi's education improvements could unravel unless the state addresses its teacher compensation crisis. Toren Ballard, a former teacher and …

Ashlie Crosson, the 2025 National Teacher of the Year, will spend a year representing educators and serving as an ambassador for the teaching profession. (Brett Sims/Council of Chief State School Officers)

PA educator wins National Teacher of the Year award

A high school educator from Pennsylvania has been named National Teacher of the Year, one of the highest honors in the field. The prestigious award …

Nearly 100% of student leaders identified academic pressure as a chief stressor, according to a new report.

Report: WI youth mental health struggles at all-time high

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and the latest state data show the number of Wisconsin youth who are struggling with their mental health has spik…

Texas is part of a pilot program by the North Carolina-based Alliance for Research on Regional Colleges. The organization is directing a project designed to increase employment skills for rural students. Each state taking part will use its own approach, guided by local priorities. (Jacob Lund/Adobe Stock)

Program aims to connect rural TX college students with universities

By Lane Wendell Fischer for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Freda Ross for Texas News Service Service for the Public News Service/Daily Yonder C…

The proposed state budget boosts opportunities for students by adding $5.5 million to expand Career and Technical Education in schools. (Adobe Stock)

PA ‘Education Advocacy Day’ to focus on public school funding

Pennsylvanians will rally in Harrisburg on Tuesday urging lawmakers to boost public school funding. More than 1.7 million students are enrolled in …

Students attend Crossroads Elementary in Quantico, Va. (Adobe Stock)

Lawyers for two VA students ask judge to pause book bans in Pentagon schools

The American Civil Liberties Union on Wednesday asked a federal judge to pause the removal of books from Pentagon-run schools that pertain to diversit…

Research by economist Raj Chetty and colleagues at Harvard shows Black men's outcomes disproportionately determine economic mobility, with the racial wealth gap linked more to male than female trajectories. (Adobe Stock)

Howard University program addresses Black male enrollment crisis

As historically Black colleges and universities grapple with declining Black male enrollment, Howard University's "Kings of Campus" initiative is …

Ohio ranks eighth nationally in the number of children in rural communities who rely on Medicaid for health coverage, with 30% of rural kids enrolled. (Adobe Stock)

Health coverage holds up Ohio’s child care

Ohio's child care system is under strain and a new national report highlighted how Medicaid helps support the workforce behind early childhood care…

Latino students make informed and pragmatic choices to pay for college and the institutions intentionally serving them are making strides to ensure the price of a college degree is affordable. (Kateryna/Adobe Stock)

AR Latino students use various forms of aid to pay for college

Latino students in Arkansas and nationwide apply for financial aid at higher rates than some other ethnic groups but receive the lowest average awards…

In a statewide survey about Library Media Specialists for Minnesota's K-12 schools, some respondents reported using their personal funds to support the library where they work. (Adobe Stock)

Nearly half of MN school libraries lack licensed media specialist

Minnesota law requires K-12 school libraries to be staffed by a licensed media specialist but survey results indicated almost half of districts have d…

The Ohio Education Association estimates Ohio public schools would be underfunded by $2.75 billion under the House version of the state budget. (Adobe Stock)

Public school advocates look to OH Senate to restore Fair School Funding

As Ohio lawmakers debate the state budget, advocates for public schools are voicing concerns proposed cuts and policy changes could harm children's …

Eduardo Mata Montessori in Dallas received a technology award package valued at $1,000, which included their choice of tech

National program makes sure TX students are technology ready

Across Texas, 63 schools are participating in a Parent Teacher Association digital literacy program known as "PTA Connected: Ready, Tech, Go!." The …

More than 40% of families with an early childhood educator rely on one or more public assistance programs. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Medicaid cuts could hurt VA early childhood education workforce

As Republicans in Washington, D.C. consider steep cuts to Medicaid, a new report showed the early childhood education workforce in Virginia heavily …

Some 1.2 million Coloradans rely on Medicaid, including pregnant mothers, people with disabilities, working families and nearly 60% of people in nursing care facilities. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Medicaid cuts could impact 1 in 4 CO child care workers

CORRECTION: The name of the spokesperson from the Center for Law and Social Policy is Suzanne Wikle. She had been incorrectly identified as Suzanne …

In 2023 in Tennessee, 26% of Hispanic adults had an associate degree or higher, compared to 40% of white, non-Hispanic adults. (Cambo27/Adobe Stock)

Report: TN Latino college students rely less on financial aid

Latino students in Tennessee and nationwide apply for financial aid at higher rates than some other ethnic groups, according to new research but they …

Prison book censorship is increasing nationwide, according to a 2023 report from PEN America. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Project focuses on literacy in Appalachian prisons

There are more than a dozen state and federal prisons in Central Appalachia, with some located in remote areas of West Virginia. Connie Banta…

As of May 1, 2025, a total of 935 confirmed measles cases were reported by 30 jurisdictions nationwide, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (Adobe Stock)<br />

KY confirms second measles case, doctors urge vaccination

The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services is reporting a second confirmed measles case in March, in a child who was traveling through the …

The net loss of college educated people through migration from Nebraska to other states has more than quadrupled in the last decade, according to the Aksarben Foundation. (Adobe Stock)

Omaha counters NE 'brain drain' with 'brain gain'

A new report shows housing and transportation are key factors that can keep young professionals from leaving Nebraska for opportunities elsewhere…

The National Institute for Early Education Research conducts studies to strengthen the early childhood care workforce through evidence-based recommendations. (bernardbodo/Adobe Stock)

Federal funding uncertainty puts preschool pressure on Michigan

Michigan's Great Start School Readiness Program enrolled more than 41,000 preschoolers in the 2023-24 school year, almost 3,000 more than the year …

Researchers said a new SkillsUSA and Northern Illinois University study is the most comprehensive to date on how many students are involved in apprenticeships, internships, courses and other work-based learning activities. (Adobe Stock)

IL apprenticeships on the rise but disparities remain

A new report shows Illinois youth now have more apprenticeship and internship opportunities, with an increase in women and minority participation but …

Maryland ranks ninth in state spending per child on preschool education. (Adobe Stock)

MD preschool enrollment fails to keep pace with high spending

A new report finds Maryland spends more on each child in preschool than nearly every other state but still falls short of certain preschool quality st…

In Spring 2023, Arkansas created the Office of Early Childhood within the Arkansas Department of Education, which unifies the Arkansas early-childhood system. (Monkey Business/Adobe Stock)

Report: AR pre-K suffers from funding gap

A report by the National Institute for Early Education Research shows Arkansas needs to improve its reach with pre-K students. The state fell from …

Families in Colorado and across the nation spend up to 60% of their income on child care, the equivalent of a second mortgage or rent payment. (Adobe Stock)

Lack of affordable child care costs Colorado $2.7 billion annually

The lack of quality child care for infants and toddlers costs Colorado nearly $3 billion each year in lost earnings, productivity and revenue but an …

Eleven states and Washington D.C., serve at least half of 4-year-olds in state-funded preschool, according to the National Institute for Early Education Research. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Kentucky’s federal preschool funding faces uncertain future

The number of Kentucky children enrolled in preschool increased in 2024, along with state spending per child, according to new data from the National …

In 2023, nearly 18% of U.S. households with children faced food insecurity, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio lawmakers consider free meals for all K-12 students

By Lauren Cohen / Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi reporting for the Kent State NewsLab-Ohio News Connection Collaboration. S.B. 109, a bill that …

Healthy School Meals for All serves up more than 600,000 meals every school day in Colorado, regardless of a student's ability to pay. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado voters could decide fate of Healthy School Meals for All

As Colorado lawmakers grapple with $1.2 billion in budget cuts, child nutrition advocates are turning to voters to protect funding for the state's …

Wyoming teachers, firefighters and postal workers are some of the groups expected at the May Day rally Thursday in Casper. (Adobe Stock)

Wyoming teachers, workers gather in Casper for May Day

Wyoming labor unions will gather Thursday in Casper in honor of May Day, a holiday celebrated in 80 countries commemorating the labor movement and …

Between the 2023-2024 school year and this year, average annual teacher pay in South Dakota increased by more than $3,000. (Adobe Stock)

SD makes noticeable jump in teacher pay rankings. Can it last?

New national rankings out this week show South Dakota jumped a few spots higher in teacher pay for each state. However, there are questions about …

The Buffalo Soldiers were the first Black professional soldiers in a peacetime army. The recruits came from varied backgrounds, including former slaves and veterans from service in the Civil War. The museum was founded in 2001. (serhiibobyk/Adobe Stock)

Federal funding cuts hit Houston's Buffalo Soldiers National Museum

The Buffalo Soldiers National Museum in Houston is one of many historic and cultural institutions across the nation to lose access to federal funding…

The bill would also establish a prison education task force to implement consistent programs across state correctional facilities. (Adobe Stock)

Prison education bill to expand opportunities for incarcerated people in VA

A bill passed by Virginia lawmakers would expand higher education opportunities to incarcerated people across the state. House Bill 2158 aims to …

The Here to Observe and Here to Storytelling program helps students show their workforce skills on their resumes, making it easier for them to succeed when applying for internships, graduate school and jobs. (Gorodenkoff/Adobe Stock)

Funds cut off from Kutztown U.’s NASA program amid DEI crackdown

President Donald Trump's executive order dismantling diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility programs has led to the defunding of Kutztown …

Medi-Cal pays for a range of health services in schools, including aides and equipment for disabled students. (Ermolaev Alexandr/Adobe Stock)

Advocates warn proposed cuts to Medi-Cal will cripple school budgets

Medicaid is in the crosshairs, as Republicans in Congress are expected to lay out proposals in May to cut $1.5 trillion from the federal budget…

Florida's school vouchers program, which lawmakers expanded in 2023, is projected to divert nearly $4 billion this year from public education, according to the Florida Policy Institute. (Pixabay)

Florida PTA fights charter school expansion, cuts to mental health funding

Jude Bruno, president-elect of the Florida Parent Teacher Association, is leading a charge against two controversial education bills which would …

The 2+2 international business degree program is the first collaboration of its kind between the University of Northern Iowa's Wilson College of Businessand an international university. (Adobe Stock)

Northern Iowa launches international student exchange

Despite pushback from the Trump administration on colleges and universities recruiting foreign students, the University of Northern Iowa is part of a …

A report from the mental health advocacy organization Inseparable found Delaware has met 61.3% of its goal of hiring school psychologists but has fallen far short on hiring school-based social workers. (Adobe Stock)

Report: DE makes strides bolstering school mental health

A new report showed Delaware is making strides in building its school mental health services. The report found the state has expanded its ratio of …

Data show 25% to 35% of first-year college students do not return for their second year. (NMSU)

NMSU's 'ringtone strategy' helps keep students enrolled, engaged

Today's college students may prefer communicating by text but New Mexico State University still finds person-to-person phone calls from faculty and st…

About 9% of Virginians receive benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. (Adobe Stock)

VA students, local economies would suffer from possible SNAP cuts

As lawmakers on Capitol Hill discuss trillions in spending cuts, opponents warned students on SNAP and free school meal programs would suffer…

Universities across the country have protested against the Trump administration's actions targeting higher-ed funding, speech and international students. (Adobe Stock)

Higher ed supporters rally on two IL campuses for students' rights

It has been a busy week for supporters of higher education in Illinois, with two separate protests at Northern Illinois University and Northeastern …

The Individualized Education Account Program helps Tennessee families by offering funding for approved educational expenses customized to support each student's individual learning needs. (Rawpixel.com/Adobe Stock)

Tennessee educators warn against dismantling U.S. Department of Education

Tennessee educators are expressing concern over President Donald Trump's push to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education and return control to the …

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