Education
How the pandemic response has failed young people: Student debt
I graduated into a pandemic saddled with debt. | From: Generocity (Read more.)
Education
Education
32 teens died from gunfire this year in Philadelphia. The city and school district are seeking a safe path for students.
With the first day of school less than two weeks away, Philadelphia officials laid out a series of steps to ensure students get to and from school safely after a summer of gun violence. Philadelphia police said 137 victims under the age of 18 have been injured from gun violence this year. Thirty-two have been homicides. | From: Chalkbeat Philadelphia (Read more.)
Education
The Pandemic Exposed Our Broken Higher-Education System. It’s Also Given Us a Chance to Make Things Better
The chaos of COVID could mean the start of a new era in saner, fairer college admissions. Sometimes it takes a revolution to build a better world. | From: Philadelphia Magazine (Read more.)
coronavirus
Requiring vaccines remains uncertain as Philadelphia school reopening nears
As a full reopening nears for Philadelphia schools, anxieties persist among students, families and teachers, particularly in light of a Delta-fueled rise in COVID-19 infections and with children under the age of 12 not yet eligible for a vaccine.
Conversations have just begun over whether teachers and other staff in the city’s public schools will be required to get inoculated, according to the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers. | From: Metro Philadelphia (Read more.)
coronavirus
Philadelphia teachers union favors vaccine mandate
With the opening of school just three weeks away and concerns growing about the COVID delta variant, the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers will support “a negotiated vaccine mandate” for its members, a union spokesperson said.
The statement from Hillary Linardopoulos came a few hours after Mayor Jim Kenney and Superintendent William Hite strongly urged all city and district employees to be vaccinated and said they are still exploring if they can impose a mandate. The union sent an email to all members on Monday. | From: The Philadelphia Inquirer (Read more.)
Education
Biden administration extends pause on student loan payments through January
As the U.S. continues to recover from COVID-19, the Biden administration announced on July 6 that federal student loan payments will remain suspended through January 2022.
The extension means borrowers will not have to make payments on federal student loans, and the interest rates will be set at 0%. Debt collection efforts will remain on pause until the suspension expires on Jan. 31, 2022.
This is an extension of a pause that began at the start of the pandemic, which was scheduled to expire next month. The Department of Education also said this will be the final extension. | From: AL DÍA (Read more.)
Community and Family
Just 32% of Philadelphia third graders read on grade level. Freedom Schools Literacy Academy is one solution.
A report this year revealed only 32% of Philadelphia third graders read on grade level, a number that angered members of Philadelphia’s Board of Education. The report showed showed that regardless of overall achievement at all schools, there were racial achievement gaps, with Black and Latino students scoring below whites and Asians. | From: Chalkbeat Philadelphia (Read more.)
coronavirus
Local nonprofit gives low-income students free room makeovers to boost learning
When the pandemic forced a transition to the virtual classroom last year, Philadelphia students lost the mindfulness of a well-designed learning space. Young learners of all ages swapped science displays, art projects, and inspirational sayings from a diverse array of biographical posters for makeshift study areas in bedrooms, kitchens, and basement couches. | From: Metro Philadelphia (Read more.)
Education
Philly students fear school commutes amid gun violence crisis
Monyria will be among the thousands of children and teenagers returning to the classroom in person amid surging gun violence driven partially by youth. Parents, students, and community members worry that the threat of violence may create an obstacle course for students trying to get to school and back. | From: WHYY (Read more.)
Education
Prospective teachers of color struggle on Pennsylvania licensing exams
While 62% of Pennsylvania’s elementary teacher candidates pass the state licensing test on the first try, teacher candidates of color at all but a few of the state’s teacher preparation programs have lower pass rates.
At some schools, two of three prospective teachers of color fail the licensing test the first time around — setting them up for pricey and time-consuming retakes. | From: Chalkbeat Philadelphia (Read more.)