Almost everywhere right now, it's hot. I am opening up the Hechinger vault in the hopes of feeling a blast of cold air — one that also carries some of our recent work that you might have missed.

We wrote this chilling piece in March about how, despite decades of research showing their potential for racial and class bias, among other issues, and that IQ scores can change significantly over time, they are still regularly misused to gauge young children’s potential and assess whether they are “worthy” of extra help or investment.

How's this for a cold, hard reality: Colleges in America are closing at a rate of one per week. What does that mean? Some students who moved from one to another have now found that their new school will also close, often with little or no warning. And most students at colleges that close give up on their education altogether.

You might find this piece more uplifting. The Native American Community Academy, now part of a network of charter schools in five states, offers a public education designed to affirm each student’s traditional culture and language. The academy works with tribal communities that have found little support in traditional K-12 systems and want academic alternatives that reflect their hopes and expectations for the next generation.

Whether you are at the beach or at your desk, I hope you are keeping cool and can find a few minutes to give this work a read. We always want to hear your thoughts and welcome your ideas. And please: Remind others to sign up for our newsletters and become a member!

Nirvi Shah, executive editor
 

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