 Dear reader,
End-of-summer transitions are not created equal. Think about moving into the iconic college dormitory, for students fortunate enough to attend a four-year school away from home. Residential campuses are reopening again after years of pandemic uncertainty, but inflation and increasing living costs are creating heightened tensions for those with limited funds.
“The kids who can’t afford a mini fridge are going to feel bad when it comes time to split the cost in the dorm room,” Susan Dynarski, an education professor at Harvard University, told us. “And if you’re not arriving with the accoutrements of upper-class life, then it’s difficult to engage with your peers socially, and then ultimately academically as well.”
The vast inequality that permeates education is always on our mind when we tackle stories and opinion pieces at The Hechinger Report, another reason why we love to hear from nontraditional students like Jairo Salgado. Once homeless, he’s now a college graduate and full-time machine operator in California, and he tells us about his ultimately triumphant path.
Our mission also compels us to think about innovation, and what’s needed now to improve and reinvent U.S. education. This week, two experts offer views on this very topic, including ways to build on what we learned from the pandemic.
One of the best parts about being a journalist is the chance to constantly ask questions, but as summer winds down, I’d like to turn that opportunity over to our loyal readers.
What is it you would like to know about education? Send me your questions and I’ll do my best to point you toward Hechinger Report stories, resources and answers. And please, let friends and colleagues know to sign up for our newsletters.
Liz Willen, Editor
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