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Education

Analysis and reporting on America’s schools, from kindergarten to college.

Podcasts
Lawsuits and slashed tires: Vermont’s school funding battleLawsuits and slashed tires: Vermont’s school funding battle
Podcast
Podcasts

The state made education funding more fair, but it also made a lot of people mad.

By Byrd Pinkerton, Jillian Weinberger and 2 more
Politics
“This will make schools less safe”: why Betsy DeVos’s sexual assault rules have advocates worried“This will make schools less safe”: why Betsy DeVos’s sexual assault rules have advocates worried
Politics

The new regulations from the Education Department will make it harder for students to report harassment and assault, advocates say.

By Anna North
Education
A white professor called police on a black student for putting her feet up in classA white professor called police on a black student for putting her feet up in class
Education

The University of Texas at San Antonio concluded that the incident was not motivated by racism.

By P.R. Lockhart
Education
How corporate cash bought higher educationHow corporate cash bought higher education
Education

A new book explores how corporations are privatizing public universities.

By Sean Illing
Education
A lawsuit against Harvard could change affirmative action in college admissionsA lawsuit against Harvard could change affirmative action in college admissions
Education

Harvard is on trial for allegedly discriminating against Asian-American applicants.

By P.R. Lockhart
Politics
I support affirmative action. But Harvard really is hurting Asian Americans.I support affirmative action. But Harvard really is hurting Asian Americans.
Politics

Why the Harvard lawsuit is painful for many Asian Americans like me.

By Michael Li
Technology
Eyeing a 2020 run, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti explains how he (or someone else) could beat TrumpEyeing a 2020 run, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti explains how he (or someone else) could beat Trump
Technology

Garcetti isn’t committed to running for president yet — but he’s been thinking a lot about it.

By Eric Johnson
Future Perfect
Early childhood education yields big benefits — just not the ones you thinkEarly childhood education yields big benefits — just not the ones you think
Future Perfect

Any academic boost from preschool fades out after a few years. Surprisingly, it still has lifelong effects.

By Kelsey Piper
Technology
Full Q&A: 2U CEO Chip Paucek on Recode DecodeFull Q&A: 2U CEO Chip Paucek on Recode Decode
Technology

Paucek says online education started out with a bad reputation, but now people are starting to take it seriously.

By Eric Johnson
Politics
The Parkland shooting fueled calls for more school police. Civil rights groups want them removed.The Parkland shooting fueled calls for more school police. Civil rights groups want them removed.
Politics

A new report argues that school policing is a racial justice issue.

By P.R. Lockhart
Culture
Why this economist thinks public education is mostly pointlessWhy this economist thinks public education is mostly pointless
Culture

Spoiler alert: We disagree.

By Sean Illing
The subtle ways colleges discriminate against poor students, explained with a cartoon
Education

We stunt upward mobility and make college a finishing school for the affluent.

By Alvin Chang
Asians are being used to make the case against affirmative action. Again.
Politics

We are cast as victims in a pernicious story about race.

By Alvin Chang
We can draw school zones to make classrooms less segregated. This is how well your district does.
Policy

Is your district drawing borders to reduce or perpetuate racial segregation?

By Alvin Chang
Culture
5 great social issues documentaries that help explain America in 20185 great social issues documentaries that help explain America in 2018
Culture

These streaming movies spotlight stories over polemics while exploring policing, press freedom, political corruption, and more.

By Alissa Wilkinson
Culture
Steve James confronts the conundrum of being a white documentarian telling a story about raceSteve James confronts the conundrum of being a white documentarian telling a story about race
Culture

How the celebrated filmmaker has changed his approach to his work.

By Alissa Wilkinson
Explainers
How a red state might hike taxes on the rich to give teachers a raiseHow a red state might hike taxes on the rich to give teachers a raise
Explainers

A ballot question will let Arizona voters decide if they want to raise taxes on the top 1 percent for the first time in 50 years.

By Alexia Fernández Campbell
Technology
If they think immigrants aren’t welcome, tech’s future leaders might never come to AmericaIf they think immigrants aren’t welcome, tech’s future leaders might never come to America
Technology

Andrew Moore, the dean of Carnegie Mellon University’s computer science school, says this hasn’t happened yet — but he’s worried.

By Eric Johnson
Education
When the accused is a woman: a #MeToo story’s lessons on gender and powerWhen the accused is a woman: a #MeToo story’s lessons on gender and power
Education

NYU professor Avital Ronell has been accused of sexually harassing a male student. She’s one of several women accused since the rise of #MeToo.

By Anna North
Politics
More teachers are turning to crowdfunding sites to pay for books, supplies, and field tripsMore teachers are turning to crowdfunding sites to pay for books, supplies, and field trips
Politics

Educators at high-poverty schools spend more out of pocket on their classrooms.

By Nadra Nittle
Why so many poor kids who get into college don’t end up enrolling
Explainers

When the bread crumbs end, they get lost in the American education system.

By Alvin Chang
Explainers
The Trump administration’s new move to undercut affirmative action, explainedThe Trump administration’s new move to undercut affirmative action, explained
Explainers

The Education Department is reversing Obama-era guidance on race and admissions.

By Libby Nelson
Politics
Donald Trump’s plan to (sort of) eliminate the Department of Education, briefly explainedDonald Trump’s plan to (sort of) eliminate the Department of Education, briefly explained
Politics

Say hello to the Department of Education and the Workforce.

By Libby Nelson
Politics
Financial aid letters often hide the real cost of college. See if you can decipher these actual letters.Financial aid letters often hide the real cost of college. See if you can decipher these actual letters.
Politics

“It needs advanced interpretation.”

By Alvin Chang
Politics
Walmart’s too-good-to-be-true “$1 a day” college tuition plan, explainedWalmart’s too-good-to-be-true “$1 a day” college tuition plan, explained
Politics

Companies need to do more to attract workers but are still reluctant to raise wages.

By Matthew Yglesias
Politics
A Harvard economics researcher has been accused of making “sexually inappropriate” commentsA Harvard economics researcher has been accused of making “sexually inappropriate” comments
Politics

Roland Fryer is accused of creating a hostile work environment at his Harvard lab.

By Jen Kirby
Politics
Schumer, Pelosi unveil plan to give teachers a raise — by rolling back Trump’s tax cuts for the richSchumer, Pelosi unveil plan to give teachers a raise — by rolling back Trump’s tax cuts for the rich
Politics

Congressional Democrats promise $100 billion in new school funding, paid for by reversing tax cuts for the rich.

By Alexia Fernández Campbell
Technology
Full transcript: Dave Patterson and John Hennessy on Recode DecodeFull transcript: Dave Patterson and John Hennessy on Recode Decode
Technology

The pair won the Turing Prize in 2017 for revolutionizing computer processing by developing RISC.

By Recode Staff
Politics
Michigan State’s Larry Nassar fallout has begunMichigan State’s Larry Nassar fallout has begun
Politics

The university has agreed to pay $500 million to more than 300 victims.

By Jen Kirby
Politics
Larry Nassar’s victims will get $500 million from Michigan State. It’s not enough.Larry Nassar’s victims will get $500 million from Michigan State. It’s not enough.
Politics

The university has yet to fully reckon with its own conduct.

By Anna North
Education
This student’s stripping protest went viral. It’s part of a bigger debate.This student’s stripping protest went viral. It’s part of a bigger debate.
Education

She says her professor told her that her shorts were a distraction. So she took them off.

By Anna North
Politics
Betsy DeVos is lifting regulatory scrutiny of predatory for-profit collegesBetsy DeVos is lifting regulatory scrutiny of predatory for-profit colleges
Politics

Probes into for-profit colleges have reportedly been derailed under the controversial education secretary.

By Emily Stewart
Politics
Republicans are giving raises to striking teachers — and making the middle class pay for themRepublicans are giving raises to striking teachers — and making the middle class pay for them
Politics

Tax hikes in Arizona, Oklahoma, and other states will burden middle- and low-income workers.

By Alvin Chang and Alexia Fernández Campbell
Politics
Schools don’t know to handle girls’ menstrual periods, and their education is suffering because of itSchools don’t know to handle girls’ menstrual periods, and their education is suffering because of it
Politics

Policies at a charter school network allegedly force some girls to bleed through their pants. The scandal points to a bigger problem.

By Anna North
Politics
The bizarre right-wing campaign to discredit striking Arizona teachersThe bizarre right-wing campaign to discredit striking Arizona teachers
Politics

Is it really a protest about school funding? Or do teachers have more sinister motives?

By Alexia Fernández Campbell
Politics
Black girls are disciplined more harshly in school. Dress codes play a big role.Black girls are disciplined more harshly in school. Dress codes play a big role.
Politics

“We’re sending the message that what girls wear is more important than what they think.”

By P.R. Lockhart
Explainers
The controversy over a professor’s tweet calling Barbara Bush a racist, explainedThe controversy over a professor’s tweet calling Barbara Bush a racist, explained
Explainers

The conservative reaction to professor Randa Jarrar’s tweets says a lot about the campus free speech debate.

By Anna North
Politics
Conservatives keep sparking “free speech” battles. When a Muslim professor tweeted about racism, guess what happened?Conservatives keep sparking “free speech” battles. When a Muslim professor tweeted about racism, guess what happened?
Politics

Randa Jarrar’s case is a reminder that when a woman of color speaks out on her views about race, she faces unique dangers.

By Anna North
Technology
Meet John Hennessy and Dave Patterson, Silicon Valley’s first disruptorsMeet John Hennessy and Dave Patterson, Silicon Valley’s first disruptors
Technology

“These were dangerous ideas that were going to destroy the computing industry.”

By Eric Johnson
Technology
Lessons from a General Assembly investor: ‘It turned out there were no moats at all in the coding school market’Lessons from a General Assembly investor: ‘It turned out there were no moats at all in the coding school market’
Technology

Adecco Group bought the NYC-based company for $412.5 million this week.

By Shirin Ghaffary