Lumina Foundation is working to increase the share of adults in the U.S. labor force with college degrees or other credentials of value leading to economic prosperity.
Students, families, and educators rely—often unknowingly—on the U.S. Department of Education’s programs and safeguards. But after last week's purge of the department’s workforce, they are left with far more questions than answers, writes Michelle Asha Cooper, Lumina Foundation's vice president for public policy and former deputy undersecretary for the Education Department.
Indeed, those of us who care about America’s talent pipeline, economic strength, and national security should be deeply concerned about what comes next.
Community health workers have a wide range of roles, from translators helping neighbors navigate health services or locate food banks, to doulas assisting mothers during childbirth, and former inmates working with people exiting prison to achieve healthier outcomes.
The importance of community health workers was thrust into the spotlight when COVID-19 hit, sparking growing efforts to bring more structure to their workforce and ensure their jobs are sustainable.
Dozens of people raised signs and rang cowbells along Independence Avenue in Washington, D.C., on Friday morning as commuters drove by and honked in support. Behind them stood the headquarters of the U.S. Department of Education, which recently fired half its employees.
Among the protesters was Lori Stratton, a high-school English teacher in Kansas who came to D.C. for a National Education Association meeting. “I want to stand up for higher ed, and I want to stand up for the cuts they’re making, specifically in the research programs.”
At the beginning of February, Daniel Leckie, 36, was living his best life. He was a new dad, a new homeowner, and had his dream job as a historic preservation specialist for the General Services Administration. He was even a few payments away from having $80,000 in student loans forgiven after a decade of working as a public servant.
Then the email arrived, announcing that Leckie was one of the thousands of trial and probationary staff members facing termination across the federal government. He was just days away from being off probation and months away from loan forgiveness.
Five years later, students continue to feel the impact of COVID-19.
A new documentary tells the story of six students pursuing their college dreams amid the turmoil of the pandemic and the college advisor, "Mr. Cam," who is determined to help them overcome the challenges they face. Filmed during the 2020-21 school year by award-winning filmmakers Jaye and Adam Fenderson, The Class is available for streaming on PBS starting March 18.
When Emma Bittner began to think about master's degrees that she could pursue remotely, on her laptop, she was sure they would be much cheaper than in-person programs. To her surprise, that was not the case.
It turns out, 83 percent of online programs in higher education cost students as much as or more than the in-person versions, an annual survey of campus chief online learning officers finds. Rather than lowering the price, some universities use online courses to subsidize everything else they do, online managers say. Huge sums are also going into marketing and advertising for it.
