Education
NPR’s Student Podcast Challenge: Here are our fourth grade winners!
We heard fun and engaging podcasts on topics including how math teaching has evolved, what its like to disengage from technology, and, who has it better: kids or grownups?
Take a look! ‘Reading Rainbow’ is back
Mychal Threets, a social media star librarian, is hosting the new iteration of the series. It's back for four episodes starting on Saturday.
Research, curriculum and grading: new data sheds light on how professors are using AI
It's not just students, more professors are using AI in the classroom. But they say more guidance is needed on how to use the technology.
PEN America warns of rise in books ‘systematically removed from school libraries’
A new report says that the number of books being challenged or removed from public schools across the country has risen exponentially in the past two years. A Clockwork Orange tops their list.
‘We survived, we are resilient’: Remembering U.S. Indian boarding schools
Tuesday is Orange Shirt Day, when communities honor the survivors of U.S. Indian boarding schools and their descendants.
What schools stand to lose in the battle over the next federal education budget
Education researchers warn budget proposals from the White House and House Republicans would impose steep cuts on some of the nation's most vulnerable students and disadvantaged school communities.
Strict rules can foster calm classrooms. But some students pay the price
An Indiana charter school network has won praise for its strong academics. But some students with disabilities struggle to follow the school system's discipline policies.
A student’s winning podcast looks back to a way of life she never knew
Avani Yaltho, this year's high school winner in NPR's Student Podcast Challenge, brought three generations of her family together to talk about their shared history.
NPR’s middle school champion: A moving podcast about Japanese incarceration
For the first time, NPR's Student Podcast Challenge has a returning champion: a California fifth grader who explored a dark chapter in U.S. history during World War II.
Judge orders Trump administration to restore $500 million in grant funding to UCLA
A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore $500 million in federal grant funding that it froze at the University of California, Los Angeles.
Colleges pull back as Trump cuts programs that help migrant students
Since 1972, the CAMP program has helped tens of thousands of migrant students succeed in college. The Trump administration has cut off funding for it, forcing some colleges to reduce or eliminate services.
‘Monster Madness’: A sixth grader sent us this delightful podcast about Bigfoot
With help from his brother and some creative sound effects, an 11-year-old made us smile with his podcast. It's a finalist in this year's NPR Student Podcast Challenge.
UC Berkeley professor warns of ‘unprecedented crackdown’ on academic freedom
UC Berkeley told 160 faculty, staff and students that their names were included in files shared with the federal government related to "alleged antisemitic incidents." We hear from one of them.
U.S. Education Dept. unites conservative groups to create ‘patriotic’ civics content
The group of more than 40 conservative organizations met for the first time on Wednesday. The initiative is aimed at celebrations of the nation's founding next summer.
After a wave of horrific shootings, gun violence trends put recent attacks in context
Mass shootings, political violence and school safety are front of mind for many Americans following a recent spate of high-profile attacks. Experts who study gun violence unpack the data and trends.
Earl Richardson, an educator ‘armed with history’ and who changed HBCUs, dies
Richardson, a former president at Baltimore's Morgan State University, led a lawsuit that ended in a historic settlement for four historically Black colleges and universities in Maryland. He was 81.
Does adding football help colleges with recruiting? It’s complicated
Some colleges, seeking to attract more male students, are adding the sport. Research suggests the gains may be short-lived.
This shop fixes student instruments for free. Now, a music legend is chipping in
Herb Alpert got his start playing trumpet in L.A.'s public schools. He wants to help make that "magic" possible for students.
No soil required: New York program brings hydroponics to Birmingham students
The program aims to teach students about sustainable food practices and how to combat food deserts in their communities. It comes through a partnership with the New York-based non-profit New York Sun Works and Birmingham’s Jones Valley Teaching Farm.
The broke college student’s guide to managing money
For college students who don't have a lot of money, it can be tough to wrap your head around student loans, credit cards and a tight budget. A financial educator offers advice for first-year students.
A new Nation’s Report Card shows drops in science, math and reading scores
It's the first Nation's Report Card since the Trump administration began making cuts to the U.S. Education Department. The scores reflect the state of student achievement in early 2024.
Here they are: The best student podcasts in America
For the 2025 NPR Student Podcast Challenge, we've listened to nearly 2,000 entries from around the U.S., and narrowed them down to 11 middle school and 10 high school finalists.
20 years ago, New Orleans fired its teachers. It’s been rebuilding ever since
When New Orleans schools reopened after Katrina, most of the city's educators didn't get their jobs back. Instead, they were often replaced with young people who were new to town — and new to teaching.
How the Education Department is using civil rights laws to bring schools to heel
The Trump administration is using decades-old laws, meant to prevent discrimination, to threaten school districts and states with cuts to vital federal funding.
Trump administration illegally froze billions in Harvard funds, judge rules
The ruling is a legal victory for Harvard but the White House says it will appeal the decision.
More students head back to class without one crucial thing: their phones
This back to school season, more districts than ever have cell phone bans in place. Teachers and legislators alike say the restrictions help kids focus in class.
Colleges see significant drop in international students as fall semester begins
Delays and increased screenings for visas mean that many students didn't make it to campus on time – and that has some big implications for the economy.
A ‘college for all’ push thrived in New Orleans after Katrina. It wasn’t for everyone
After Hurricane Katrina, many New Orleans charter schools united in a mission to send more students to college. Today, some of those students, now adults, wish they'd been given more options.
20 years after Katrina, New Orleans schools are still ‘a work in progress’
The city's school system looks almost nothing like it did 20 years ago. People in New Orleans have strong opinions about whether that's good or bad, but the data is hard to argue with.
These programs help poor students with college. Trump wants to pull the funding
For 60 years, TRIO has helped millions of people along the path to a degree, but the administration says it is no longer needed.
Are ‘COVID kindergarteners’ ready for school?
More than 3.6 million children born in 2020 amid the COVID-19 global pandemic are walking into elementary schools across the country this fall.
An AI divide is growing in schools. This camp wants to level the playing field
For years, research has shown a digital divide when it comes to schools teaching about new technologies. Educators worry that this could leave some students behind in an AI-powered economy.
