 Dear reader,
It’s no secret that America’s teachers face enormous pressure right now and that many may be considering leaving the profession. It’s not just the pandemic: Teachers are also having to take on an unexpected and often fraught role many feel unprepared for – as cultural cops forced to police what they and their students can and cannot say.
Also this week, we take a deep look at pandemic-related learning challenges, reporting from a high school in West Philadelphia to see why experts worry that ninth and tenth graders will join older high schoolers and find themselves off track — and in danger of dropping out. And we are looking at ways higher education can do a better job of serving adult students; with fewer traditional students enrolling, many say colleges and universities will have no choice.
Higher education must also identify strategies to help such students find their way: In 2020, there were 39 million adults who had dropped out of college and never finished their degrees. We take a look at some efforts to lure this population back to campuses and help them gain a footing in the workforce.
One thing that could make a difference all around: helping the youngest Americans access the direct aid they need. Nearly one in five of our country’s 11.4 million babies are being raised by families in poverty, with vastly unequal access to direct support from their states. Those are among the topics on our minds this past week, along with some very good news: We received seven award nominations from the Education Writers Association, adding to the long list of recognition for our 12 years of high-quality journalism. What’s on your mind? We love to hear from readers.
Liz Willen, Editor
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