EDUCATION
Why a Virginia judge got it wrong on student COVID-19 data
Last week a Rockingham County Circuit Judge ruled in favor of James Madison University in a case brought by the editor of JMU’s student newspaper, The Breeze, over access to the per-day number of COVID-positive cases per on-campus residence. Armchair-quarterback that I am, I’ve read the ruling, and probably unsurprisingly, I disagree. The ruling says […]
Part of reconciliation bill centers on fighting climate change, funding scholarships at HBCUs
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House Agriculture Committee on Monday finished marking up its section of the $3.5 trillion reconciliation package. The agriculture portion would provide funding for historically Black land grant colleges, including Virginia State University, and investments in urban agriculture, along with boosting U.S. Department of Agriculture programs to address climate change threats in […]
Universal pre-K, free community college included in sweeping reconciliation bill
WASHINGTON—The U.S. House Education & Labor Committee on Friday finished a marathon markup of legislation that would provide universal pre-K education, expand federal Pell Grants for college students and institute two years of free community college. The $761 billion measure, approved on a party-line 28-22 vote, will be combined with other pieces of Democrats’ giant […]
Most Virginia students are returning to school without COVID-19 testing programs in place
As students return to school amid an ongoing surge of COVID-19 cases, testing has been touted as a key tool to reduce potential spread. Both the Virginia Department of Health and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “strongly recommend” testing in schools, describing it as an “important mitigation strategy.” On Thursday, President Joe Biden […]
What young kids say worked – and didn’t work – for them during virtual learning
By Mari Altshuler, Northwestern University On Aug. 30, 2021, my kid joined millions of children in walking through school doors as he began first grade. Despite the ongoing pandemic, school buildings are almost universally open. While there are many voices expressing health and safety concerns, policymakers have decided that the best choice for children’s well-being […]
Federal inspectors issue warning after finding animal welfare violations at Virginia Tech
The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued an official warning to Virginia Tech last week after an inspection found multiple animal welfare violations at the school’s veterinary facilities. In the most severe incident, a study “involving traumatic brain injuries” led to the death of four out of six Gottingen pigs included in the experiment. The first […]
Parents are changing their minds on in-person school. In most cases, there are no other options.
It seemed like the pandemic had finally reached a turning point when Melissa Yeager made a decision about the upcoming fall semester. Families with Richmond Public Schools had until June 1 to choose between enrolling virtually or attending classes in person. At that point in the summer, COVID-19 vaccines were widely available to adults, new […]
An elite Virginia high school overhauled admissions – how to tell if the changes are working
By Joni Lakin, University of Alabama For decades, gifted education and talent development services in public schools have been accused of creating inequities for students of color, students from low-income communities and nonnative English speakers. This year, there seems to be remarkable momentum to change some systems. Some changes defy common sense. In Virginia, the […]
Masks will be mandatory in Virginia schools under new health order
Gov. Ralph Northam’s administration announced a new new health order Thursday making masks mandatory in all public and private K-12 school buildings, effectively overruling local school districts that were planning to make face coverings optional. The new order from state Health Commissioner Norm Oliver, a Northam appointee, adds more clarity to what had been a […]
Virginia schools heading back with mishmash of local mask policies
When Gov. Ralph Northam reiterated last week that he expects Virginia school systems to follow public health guidelines and require masks indoors, he suggested state law gives them no choice. “I don’t know that it can be any simpler than that,” Northam said at a news conference. “It’s the law of the Commonwealth of Virginia. […]
Equipping the working poor with new resources for a better path forward
By Glenn DuBois, Ph.D. It’s time we’ve had a frank talk about ALICE. After all, we have come to understand more and more the critical role that ALICE plays in Virginia’s economic health and prosperity, and after years of applying that learning toward strategies designed to help ALICE overcome generational inertia, we have reached an […]
Pediatricians join call for masking in schools as conservatives chafe at governor’s ‘mandate’
With many students about to head back to classes later this month, the Virginia Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics says all children, regardless of vaccine status, should wear masks indoors in school. “This is based on the observation that COVID-19 infection rates are rapidly increasing across the commonwealth, the Delta variant is more […]