Education is not typically an issue that comes to the forefront in presidential races.
But months of an ongoing coronavirus pandemic have elevated conversations about how schools and elected officials are tackling the issue. In fact, education took a front seat in high-stakes negotiations this summer over a federal stimulus bill that has stalled.
Hundreds of colleges are going test-optional. Fewer students are
filling out financial-aid forms. Everyone is staring down
unknowns.
The field of admissions has been turned upside down, Eric Hoover,
a senior writer at The Chronicle of Higher Education, said as he
kicked off a panel about college admissions and enrollment at the
Education Writers Association’s 2020 National Seminar.
By Elizabeth Miller of Oregon Public Broadcasting for EWA
Like college professors all over the country, Angela Echeverri had never taught completely online before — until this past spring.
As a science professor at Los Angeles Mission College, Echeverri and her colleagues had two weeks to transition thousands of courses to an online format.
“The amount of work was absolutely brutal. It required a huge amount of work over those two weeks,” Echeverri said during a higher education panel at EWA’s virtual seminar earlier this month.
It’s a new academic year like no other on the K-12 and higher education beats. A pair of veteran education journalists share tips and insights for what’s ahead this fall and beyond.
In an effort to counteract the way COVID-19 is worsening many
educational inequities, government and educational leaders around
the country are trying a variety of interventions such as free
headphones, traffic light Wi-Fi, and more explicit teaching about
the realities of race relations.
Want to return to a college campus this fall? You’ll have to
strictly follow tough rules. Fail to wear a mask or follow other
strict safety requirements at Benedict College in Columbia, S.C.,
and “you will be excised from the community. You will be voted
off the island,” warned President
Roslyn Artis.
Pedro Martinez, the superintendent of the San Antonio Independent
School District, oversees the education of almost 50,000
students. Ninety percent live in poverty, he said, and half of
the families in the district make less than $35,000 a year.
Martinez described educating students, kindergarten through high
school, who live in cramped homes without computers or internet
connections since the pandemic hit in March.
Missed some of the sessions this week — or just want to relive
some of the great moments? We’ve gathered some outstanding quotes
from our speakers in this post.
Conference attendees can also watch video replays of most
sessions on the conference
site, and everyone can follow along on
Twitter at #EWA20.
The U.S. Supreme court today struck down a Trump administration
effort to end protection from deportation for more than 650,000
young undocumented immigrants — including many educators and
students. The action to prevent these individuals from legally
living and working in the United States was “arbitrary and
capricious,” the high court declared in
its 5-4 ruling.
School districts and universities nationwide are reconsidering
the use of law enforcement officers on campus after yet another
unarmed black man died at the hands of police.
Are left-leaning extremists inciting riots in Idaho? Is a
Minnesota McDonald’s burning after protests? Did a protestor
steal a Chicago police horse?
No, no and no. All of these claims — which were all shared widely
on social media — are false. But in highly emotional situations
like demonstrators protesting the death of George Floyd,
misinformation and disinformation can take on a life of its own
on social media.
Here are several resources for combating misinformation in your
reporting — and some examples of debunked stories.
With more celebrity defendants pleading guilty to using a high-priced fixer to help their kids cheat their way into top colleges, what’s been the impact on college admissions? The Wall Street Journal’s Melissa Korn, whose book on the “Varsity Blues” scandal has been optioned for a television project, discusses the latest developments, as well as the fallout more broadly for higher education.
Education Surges to Top Tier of Presidential Race Amid Pandemic
Journalists offer insights, story ideas on covering the schools angle
Education is not typically an issue that comes to the forefront in presidential races.
But months of an ongoing coronavirus pandemic have elevated conversations about how schools and elected officials are tackling the issue. In fact, education took a front seat in high-stakes negotiations this summer over a federal stimulus bill that has stalled.
How the Pandemic Is Changing the World of College Admissions
Journalists should examine access, enrollment uncertainty
Hundreds of colleges are going test-optional. Fewer students are filling out financial-aid forms. Everyone is staring down unknowns.
The field of admissions has been turned upside down, Eric Hoover, a senior writer at The Chronicle of Higher Education, said as he kicked off a panel about college admissions and enrollment at the Education Writers Association’s 2020 National Seminar.
How Higher Ed Rushed Online — and What Colleges Have Learned Since
Hoping fully remote learning isn't the future, professors and students get creative for now
Like college professors all over the country, Angela Echeverri had never taught completely online before — until this past spring.
As a science professor at Los Angeles Mission College, Echeverri and her colleagues had two weeks to transition thousands of courses to an online format.
“The amount of work was absolutely brutal. It required a huge amount of work over those two weeks,” Echeverri said during a higher education panel at EWA’s virtual seminar earlier this month.
Back-to-School: The Coronavirus Edition
Top reporters share tips for covering remote learning, inequities on the K-12 and higher ed beats in the midst of COVID-19 pandemic
(EWA Radio: Episode 244)
It’s a new academic year like no other on the K-12 and higher education beats. A pair of veteran education journalists share tips and insights for what’s ahead this fall and beyond.
Schools Experiment to Allay the Inequitable Impact of COVID-19
Pandemic sparks calls for changes to technology, curriculum and funding.
In an effort to counteract the way COVID-19 is worsening many educational inequities, government and educational leaders around the country are trying a variety of interventions such as free headphones, traffic light Wi-Fi, and more explicit teaching about the realities of race relations.
What Will ‘Back to Campus’ Mean? Analyzing Universities’ Plans for Reopening This Fall
While many schools are online-only, those returning in person get tough
Want to return to a college campus this fall? You’ll have to strictly follow tough rules. Fail to wear a mask or follow other strict safety requirements at Benedict College in Columbia, S.C., and “you will be excised from the community. You will be voted off the island,” warned President Roslyn Artis.
Educating During COVID: Superintendents and College Leaders Scramble to Fill Students’ New Needs
Solutions include more financial aid, free headphones and traffic light wifi hotspots
Pedro Martinez, the superintendent of the San Antonio Independent School District, oversees the education of almost 50,000 students. Ninety percent live in poverty, he said, and half of the families in the district make less than $35,000 a year. Martinez described educating students, kindergarten through high school, who live in cramped homes without computers or internet connections since the pandemic hit in March.
Here’s What You Missed at the 73rd National Seminar
Missed some of the sessions this week — or just want to relive some of the great moments? We’ve gathered some outstanding quotes from our speakers in this post.
Conference attendees can also watch video replays of most sessions on the conference site, and everyone can follow along on Twitter at #EWA20.
DACA Ruling Has Important Implications for Educators, Students
Find tips and resources to inform local coverage of decision's impact
The U.S. Supreme court today struck down a Trump administration effort to end protection from deportation for more than 650,000 young undocumented immigrants — including many educators and students. The action to prevent these individuals from legally living and working in the United States was “arbitrary and capricious,” the high court declared in its 5-4 ruling.
Schools, Universities Reconsider Police on Campus
George Floyd's killing prompts schools to shift resources to counselors, other forms of security
School districts and universities nationwide are reconsidering the use of law enforcement officers on campus after yet another unarmed black man died at the hands of police.
How Journalists Can Fact-Check Highly Emotional Stories
Misinformation on social media runs rampant during protests over George Floyd's death
Are left-leaning extremists inciting riots in Idaho? Is a Minnesota McDonald’s burning after protests? Did a protestor steal a Chicago police horse?
No, no and no. All of these claims — which were all shared widely on social media — are false. But in highly emotional situations like demonstrators protesting the death of George Floyd, misinformation and disinformation can take on a life of its own on social media.
Here are several resources for combating misinformation in your reporting — and some examples of debunked stories.
What’s New With ‘Varsity Blues’
The latest on the college-admissions scandal, and how COVID-19 is reshaping what campuses will look like this fall
(EWA Radio: Episode 239)
With more celebrity defendants pleading guilty to using a high-priced fixer to help their kids cheat their way into top colleges, what’s been the impact on college admissions? The Wall Street Journal’s Melissa Korn, whose book on the “Varsity Blues” scandal has been optioned for a television project, discusses the latest developments, as well as the fallout more broadly for higher education.