COLORLINES - Schools & Youth

States Debate, and Pass, More School Voucher Bills Than Ever in 2011

by Julianne Hing on August 4 2011, 1:16PM

The volume of bills that would let public funds be used for private education has more than tripled in 2011. Education watchers point to the increased Republican control of state legislatures as a driving force.

Topics: Schools & Youth

Study: Undocumented Students’ Jarring Transition to Workforce

by Bryan Gerhart on August 2 2011, 10:21AM

As students lobby for the second half of the California DREAM Act, which would give undocumented residents access to financial aid, a new study shows how complicated achievement can be in the land of opportunity.

Topics: Immigration, Schools & Youth

Debt Deal Casualties May Include College Aid for Poor Students

by Shani O. Hilton on August 1 2011, 1:30PM

Tea party Republicans were willing to let the debt ceiling deadline pass in order to block Pell Grant funding, which one member has called “welfare of the 21st century.” The student aid program may be among the most vulnerable in the coming round of cuts.

Topics: Debt Deal, Politics, Schools & Youth

Top Arkansas Student Denied Sole Valedictorian Honors Because of Race

by Bryan Gerhart on July 27 2011, 1:51PM

The student contends that the administration has long made it harder for black students to be recognized for their academic achievements.

Topics: Schools & Youth

Why Are So Few Young Men of Color Graduating High School?

by Jorge Rivas on July 27 2011, 12:00PM

New graphics tell the story.

Topics: Schools & Youth

Eric Holder Calls Texas Suspensions of Black Students A ‘Wake-up Call’

by Julianne Hing on July 26 2011, 9:52AM

The comments were in response to a report that found black and Latino students were punished at higher rates than their classmates.

Topics: Schools & Youth

UConn Says Bronx Prodigy Autum Ashante Was Never Accepted

by Jorge Rivas on July 25 2011, 11:05AM

Controversy’s brewing over who’s telling the truth. Did a reporter leave out critical information from the story? Or did the girl’s father make the whole thing up?

Topics: Schools & Youth

New York City Scraps Teacher Pay for Performance Bonus Plan

by Julianne Hing on July 22 2011, 10:00AM

The move comes after several years unstable dips and peaks in test scores.

Topics: Schools & Youth

Deadline Passes for Atlanta Teachers to Resign Amid Cheating Scandal

by Julianne Hing on July 21 2011, 9:30AM

So far, only four high-ranking officials have resigned, while the city’s teacher force pushes for more institutional accountability than individual blame.

Topics: Schools & Youth

Dems, Students Fight to Save Pell Grants Amid Debt Ceiling Talks

by Julianne Hing on July 20 2011, 9:50AM

While Republicans push for more cutbacks, others fight for low-income students and students of color.

Topics: Schools & Youth

Black Prodigy’s Admission to UConn Revoked Amid Claims of Radical Poetry

by Jorge Rivas on July 18 2011, 11:28AM

Autum Ashante is a 13-year-old with an IQ of 149. But she’s already being called the “racist poet” by some conservatives.

Topics: Schools & Youth

Chicago Schools Plow $51M Into Security for “Zero Tolerance” Rules

by Bryan Gerhart on July 18 2011, 10:40AM

High schoolers are being suspended for minor infractions like taking out cell phones in class. And it’s costing the already budget-strapped district millions.

Topics: Schools & Youth

California’s Parent Trigger Law Approved with New Regulations

by Julianne Hing on July 15 2011, 9:54AM

Advocates of the law say that it gives parents the power to turn their kids’ schools around. But teacher’s unions disagree.

Topics: Schools & Youth

Fallout from Atlanta Schools Cheating Frightens Other Districts

by Julianne Hing on July 14 2011, 10:00AM

The spotlight may be on Georgia, but are other school districts actually paying attention?

Topics: Schools & Youth

How to Succeed at a Summer Job: Look White and Christian

by Jamilah King on July 8 2011, 11:32AM

Recent news shows bias is still getting in the way of work for young people of color.

Topics: Economy, Schools & Youth

How Fear and Intimidation Led to Massive Atlanta School Cheating

by Julianne Hing on July 8 2011, 10:54AM

Once considered an education reform darling, Atlanta has become the latest major city to have its school system rocked by test cheating. But don’t blame the teachers.

Topics: Schools & Youth

The Creation—and Consequences—of the Model Minority Myth

by Julianne Hing on July 6 2011, 9:31AM

A new study debunks the idea that all Asian American students are high-achieving. And Oiyan Poon, a researcher at the University of Massachusetts, explains why the myth’s bad for all students of color.

Topics: Schools & Youth