Students who start behind are among those who concern us most at The Hechinger Report, as our early education reporting shows.
 
This week, our reporting spotlights more inequities. Millions of students have suffered learning loss in the pandemic, but for some special education students the problem is much worse: They are regularly sent home early as punishment for behavior issues.  
 
We also revealed the harmful practice of for-profit colleges making loans directly to students, with none of the protections that federal loans offer. It’s part a series we’re doing focused on hidden debt that, again, leaves too many students behind.
 
We hope you’ll read these stories and tell us what you think; we want to hear from our readers.

Left in the lurch by for-profit college direct loans 

Sent home early: Lost learning in special education 

Opinion: Here’s how to make sure low-income high school graduates don’t put off college indefinitely

PROOF POINTS: Slim research evidence for summer school

OPINION: How to keep our most vulnerable students from losing ground in the pandemic

When the man behind the curtain is female: More women now hold key education policymaker jobs

COLUMN: Standardized tests aren’t the problem, it’s how we use them

OPINION: Now is the time to hire and promote Asian Americans into leadership positions