Education / Public News Service

The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system has an enrollment of around 270,000 students, spread across 33 campuses. (Adobe Stock)

Friday, April 18, 2025

Significant tuition hikes expected at MN colleges

For Minnesota households planning future college enrollment, there is a good chance tuition will cost more, as public campuses facing tighter budgets …

For the first time, more American college students will be learning entirely online than will be learning 100% in person, according to the consulting firm Encoura. (Adobe Stock)

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

Online college courses just as expensive as in-person classes

By Jon Marcus for The Hechinger Report.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Kentucky News Connection reporting for The Hechinger Report-Public New…

Murray State University in Murray, Ky., is seeking approval to begin training veterinarians. (Murray State University)

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

New KY law could mean more advanced degrees

Kentucky lawmakers have opened a path for more public universities to offer professional and advanced degree programs. Senate Bill 77, which …

Many organizations in Indiana receive a small amount of Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program funding. Trump administration cuts mean they may have fewer opportunities to get funding through the program (Adobe Stock).

Tuesday, April 15, 2025

IU medical research takes a hit from federal budget cuts

By Kyla Russell for WISH-TV.Broadcast version by Joe Ulery for Indiana News Service reporting for the WISH-TV-Free Press Indiana-Public News Service C…

The Arkansas State Library receives $850,000 from IMLS that allows Arkansas residents access to essential resources tailored to local needs. (Seventyfour/Adobe Stock)

Arkansas public libraries face uncertain future

There are 133 public libraries in Arkansas, and many of them could be in jeopardy of closing because of cuts from the Trump administration. The …

Research for school-based asthma therapy shows the practice reduced emergency department visits by 49%, urgent care visits by 41%, hospitalizations by 50% and pediatric intensive care unit admissions by 71%. (Seventyfour/Adobe Stock)

MSU study: School asthma care boosts health, cuts costs

About 200,000 kids in Michigan have asthma, and nearly five million suffer from the condition nationwide. Research from Michigan State University …

Backers of Assembly Bill 477 say it is intended to make educator pay rates more competitive with the private sector. (Drazen/Adobe Stock)

Advocates promote CA bill to raise school funding targets 50% over 10 years

A new bill in Sacramento would dramatically raise K-12 school funding targets by 50% over ten years. Assembly Bill 477 is intended to help districts …

Nearly 75% of all jobs in Colorado, and 95% of top-earning jobs, require a credential or degree beyond high school. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado colleges tap NYC program to get homegrown talent into good jobs

Colorado educators are hoping that a successful accelerated degree program known as ASAP, grown at City University of New York, will take root in two …

The majority of book censorship attempts are now originating from organized movements, according to the American Library Association. (Adobe Stock)

NV legislator wants to protect access to books

A bill in the Nevada Legislature would prohibit school districts and staff from banning books without legal justification to brand the material "obsce…

In 2019-20, some 21% of undergraduates and 11% of postbaccalaureate students reported having a disability, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Blind students sue West Virginia University for discrimination

Two blind students are suing West Virginia University. They allege the school has violated the Americans with Disabilities Act by not providing …

School vouchers, a program that would allow students to use public money to pay for private school tuition, has become a hot-button issue in Texas, pitting Republicans against one another. (KatMoy/Adobe Stock)

Debate over school vouchers in TX now moves to House floor

After several weeks of public comment, bills addressing school finance in Texas will be presented to the House of Representatives. House Bill 2 is …

Wisconsin was set to receive more than $11 million this year from the Local Food for Schools program and about $5.5 million from the Local Food Purchase Assistance program. (Adobe Stock)

WI schools cancel local farm partnerships due to federal cuts

By Josh Israel for the Wisconsin Independent.Broadcast version by Judith Ruiz-Branch for Wisconsin News Connection reporting for the Wisconsin Indepen…

The Indiana School Boards Association opposes a bill to add party affiliations to school board ballots but pledged to adapt if it becomes law. The organization urged board members to set aside politics and focus on students' needs. (Adobe stock)

Indiana lawmakers push school board races into party politics

Indiana's school board elections moved closer to becoming partisan after the House of Representatives narrowly approved a bill requiring candidates to…

A 2023 CDC study found 72% of transgender students and 69% of questioning students reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio's new law: What it means for educators, LGBTQ+ students

By Vanessa Davidson / Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi reporting for the Kent State NewsLab-Ohio News Connection Collaboration. Ohio’s House …

Integrated health care programs mix traditional medicine with humanities, IT and business skills to create more well-rounded health care professionals. (Adobe Stock)

New Iowa State program combines health care, business skills

Educators at Iowa State University are creating a new major to meet what they see as a new and growing demand in the health care field: pairing medica…

While students work toward their pilots licenses at the Doswell School of Aeronautical Sciences in Denton, they also gain knowledge in subjects like aviation law, weather and aerodynamics. It is the only such program in the nation geared toward women. (Craig/Adobe Stock)

Texas Woman's University trains next generation of airline pilots

Registration is open for the next information session for the Doswell School of Aeronautical Sciences at Texas Woman's University in Denton, where …

Experts say student loan debt has created a ticking time bomb in the United States, in part because of legal challenges to the Biden administration's efforts to cancel student debt for some borrowers. Now, many are in limbo as services are cut by the Trump administration. (Adobe Stock)

Giving Minnesotans tools to sound off, navigate student loan fallout

Minnesota officials have launched a new portal, asking parents, students and others to share how they are affected by the Trump administration's …

Data show of all U.S. college undergraduates in 2021, 107,000 were American Indian or Alaska Native, a 40% drop since 2010. But some advocates said the numbers are off because of poor data collection.(Adobe Stock)

Former grant recipients now ambassadors for Native education opportunities

The Jackson-based group Native American Jump Start has been providing grants to Native students, interns and young workers for decades and this year…

Ohio's median home price increased by 14% from 2020 to 2024, making affordability a growing factor in migration decisions. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio struggles to retain young adults

By Vanessa Davidson / Broadcast version by Farah Siddiqi reporting for the Kent State-Ohio News Connection Collaboration. Around 1,000 more people …

Even though policymakers and utilities are increasingly focused on reducing the impacts of climate change, education experts say a standard curriculum on this topic hasn't really resonated at the school level. (Adobe Stock)

MN youth: Courting the facts could set the stage for climate action

The U.S. Supreme Court this month declined to hear a case brought by youth activists, who argued the federal government has failed to protect them …

Students harvest food grown in the school greenhouse and use it for meals in their culinary program's in-house restaurant and cafeteria, creating a sustainable cycle. (Courtesy of Exact Solar)

PA groups urge Congress to preserve clean energy tax incentives

Groups in Pennsylvania are asking Congress to preserve federal clean-energy tax incentives. Concerned about the possible repeal of 30% energy tax …

Fourth graders in suburban and city schools saw the largest dips in reading scores between 2020 and 2022, and nearly half of Black and Latino fourth graders in Maryland do not read at grade level. (Adobe Stock)

Library funding at risk, even as literacy scores drop

This has been "National March Into Literacy Month" but it may become tougher over the summer to "march" into a public library and ask for help finding…

The Cupp-Patterson plan was originally offered as a bill in the Ohio Legislature, but instead was written into the state budget with a six-year implementation schedule. Full funding of $2 million, and full implementation, must be part of each state budgeting process. (Adobe Stock)

Debate intensifies over major cuts to Ohio's Fair School Funding Plan

At the Ohio Statehouse, proposed budget cuts to the Fair School Funding Plan have sparked debate among lawmakers and educators. Also known as the …

The Indiana Youth Institute said a strong commitment to evidence-based action can transform early literacy in Indiana with the foundational reading skills essential to the future of our children, workforce and communities. (Adobe stock)

Indiana sets goal to boost 3rd grade reading proficiency

Indiana's third grade reading scores show progress but gaps remain. The latest IREAD3 results show about 82% of students passed in 2024, up slightly …

Food banks in New Mexico and across the country were informed Wednesday that federal food shipments meant for distribution to needy residents had been suspended. (rrfb.org)

Federal funding freeze affects NM's food, farms, housing

A federal funding freeze affecting a broad swath of U.S. programs has left many organizations in limbo, with new fallout coming every day. Court …

Proposed federal cuts to Medicaid over the next decade are equal to program spending for 22 million children nationwide, or 76% of children enrolled, according to KFF. (Adobe Stock)

Montana teachers concerned over looming federal Medicaid cuts

The U.S. House of Representatives last month passed a budget resolution that would reduce the federal deficit by $880 billion over the next decade…

Aaron Chapin, president of the Pennsylvania State Education Association, was among the speakers at Tuesday's Harrisburg rally. He told the crowd it is

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PA school support staffers push for $20 'living wage'

Amid a severe teacher and staff shortage, school support workers and their union allies rallied Tuesday in Harrisburg for a better living wage…

The findings of a study on farmer's reactions to drought conditions will provide valuable insights to help shape more sustainable agricultural practices and water conservation strategies. (Bits and Splits/Adobe Stock)

Grant money used to study drought practices of AR farmers

Students and professors at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock are studying farmer's reactions to drought conditions. The university received a …

According to the Wyoming Department of Education, Farm to School programs grew to include 90% of schools in the state last fall. The program has been cut by the Trump administration. (Adobe Stock)

Cuts to local food programs affect WY schools, food banks, producers

Federal programs supporting local food purchasing by food banks and schools have helped feed communities and support farmers but the Trump administrat…

The National School Lunch Program, created in 1946 as part of the National School Lunch Act, provides federal dollars to schools for food purchases. (Adobe Stock)

Co-ops help more KY school districts participate in local produce bidding

School staffing shortages can affect nutrition in Kentucky school districts, as many districts across the state rely on frozen, processed breakfast …

A fear of miss�ing out, and social pres�sure and expectations, are among the most significant drivers among teens 13 to 17 using social media, according to the Annie E. Casey Foundation. (Adobe Stock)

Nebraska grad students help teens navigate social media

Graduate students at the University of Nebraska are creating lessons plans for middle and high school students to help them navigate the social media …

Lumina Foundation research predicts that by 2031, 72% of U.S. jobs will require some form of higher education or skills training beyond high school. (Marius Venter/Adobe Stock)

TN works to encourage more people to earn degrees, credentials

Tennessee is working to get more people into college and career training programs, which the state says will be needed for good jobs in the future…

A Minnesota coalition pushing for a bill to allow

MN students could get extra nod for 'making the civics grade'

High school seniors will soon be counting down the days until graduation and in Minnesota. But students from future graduating classes could get a …

Global shortages of semiconductors in 2021-22 highlighted the United States' reliance on foreign manufacturers and the need for domestic production. (Gorodenkoff/Adobe Stock)

MO university powers up semiconductor workforce

A Missouri university is stepping up as America works to revive semiconductor manufacturing by helping train people to do the work. It is estimated 3…

WI nonprofit creates song to interest younger kids in soil science

A local nonprofit with a mission to advance regenerative agriculture is hoping its new video can open up an untapped world of science to a younger aud…

As part of the Trump administration's budget-cutting moves, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has eliminated $1 billion in programs connecting local producers with food banks and school lunch programs. (Adobe Stock)

USDA cuts could halt progress of SD local food scene

South Dakota farmers leading the "locally grown" movement have visions of a dynamic regional food production system but some of it is in doubt with lo…

The U.S. Department of Education currently manages student loans for more than 40 million borrowers. (Adobe Stock)

With Department of Education gutted, what happens to student loans?

Student loans are among the areas overseen by the U.S. Department of Education and since President Donald Trump has followed through on his threat to …

President Donald Trump's executive order firing half the employees at the U.S. Department of Education is expected to lead some states to prioritize charter schools and private school vouchers over public schools. (wavebreak3/Adobe Stock)

MI expert analyzes Trump's Department of Education executive order

With the stroke of a pen Thursday, President Donald Trump's executive order officially fired 1,300 U.S. Department of Education employees. The move …

Between 2010 and 2018, Ohio's nonmetropolitan areas experienced a 7.6% job growth-nearly 10 times the national average for rural regions.(Adobe Stock)

Ohio's rural Gen Z faces job dilemma: Will talent stay or go?

New research indicated less than half of rural Gen Zers believe they can find a good job in their communities. Despite Ohio's predominantly rural …

A proposed $12 billion in cuts to federal school meal funding could impact 75 Montana schools serving more than 10,000 students. (Adobe Stock)

School meal programs on GOP's chopping block

Children's advocates are crying foul after House Republicans called for $12 billion in cuts to school meal programs, including the Community …

PoliChic Engagement Fund says it's critical Texans make sure lawmakers are voting in their public interest. (JHVEPhoto/Adobe Stock)

Texans encouraged to use their voices during current legislative session

Many Texans feel strongly, one way or another, about the proposed school voucher bill before state lawmakers. Gov. Greg Abbott has proposed a plan to …

Ohio Senate Bill 1 would require all students to complete a three-credit-hour American history course. (Adobe Stock)

Ohio's SB-1 parallels national administration's anti-DEI sentiment

Debates over academic freedom and diversity initiatives have intensified nationally and in Ohio. Senate Bill 1, known as the Advance Ohio Higher …

The U.S. Department of Education's civil rights office is charged with protecting students from discrimination and sexual assault and making sure all Americans have equal access to education. (Adobe Stock)

Colorado takes Trump to court over efforts to abolish Education Department

As the Trump administration makes good on promises to abolish the U.S. Department of Education, educators and parents are raising concerns about the …

A Lumina Foundation report ranks Wyoming 38th in the U.S. for the ratio of its workforce that has a post-high school credential and is making a

More Wyomingites get degrees, but anti-DEI law could slow progress

The number of working-age Wyoming adults with college degrees or valuable credentials increased by over 18% between 2009 and 2023, according to …

Gregor Willms assists the Cedarburg High School team in the soil pit at Envirothon 2024. (Wisconsin Land and Water Conservation Association)

Competition prepares students for environmental science careers

A local event that brings students face-to-face with outdoor habitats is serving to ignite a lifelong passion in some that go on to pursue "green jobs…

Among older borrowers, 28% regularly provide unpaid help or care for an adult relative or friend, according to New America. (Adobe Stock)

Education department layoffs could leave NV older borrowers in limbo

Policy analysts have been sounding the alarm on the Department of Education's ability to reach and engage with low-income, disadvantaged and older …

More than one in three older Americans who still owe debt from college live with a child or parent, according to New America. (Adobe Stock)

Dept. of Education cuts could spell trouble for UT's older student loan borrowers

Policy analysts have been sounding the alarm about the Department of Education's ability to reach and engage with low-income, disadvantaged and older …

High school students are getting a head start on careers in the

Program trains underserved high school students for 'data economy'

By Ramona Schindelheim for WorkingNation.Broadcast version by Mark Richardson for Virginia News Connection reporting for the WorkingNation-Public News…

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