August 7: Education News We're Reading This Week

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August 7, 2015Here are the best articles from education news this week.

Overhauling No Child Left Behind with a rewrite of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act has been a topic of hot discussion, with two potential versions making their way through Republican leadership. But the Senate- and House-backed rewrites may not get far, says Lauren Camera.

Education Secretary Arne Duncan discusses his concerns about the congressional effort to overhaul No Child Left Behind and the free college agenda with Libby Nelson at Vox.

Education Week discusses the subject of education in the news, noting that its rapid growth over the past two years means more coverage, more specialized focus, and more overall attention to the field.

The New York Times posted six great articles for soon-to-be college freshmen on everything from making friends to utilizing LinkedIn as a career tool. They are:

Higher education can sometimes perfectly blend the pragmatic and the creative to provide a “top-rate education.” Here are nine real college courses that are unconventional, inspiring, and teach impressive skills, according to The Huffington Post, and just may have students reconsidering their area of study.

Money shares findings from a new report that states better outreach about financial aid options and simpler financial aid information could positively change where low- and moderate-income students apply to college or whether they apply at all. The report from the New America Foundation proves that a troubling 48% of students from families making $50,000 or less a year had not even heard of the Pell Grant program.

Sarah Butrymowicz attempted to build a comprehensive U.S. map showing high school graduation rates in each district. She explains in The Hechinger Report why there are quite a few white spaces that can’t be filled in, and how legislation is preventing certain other areas from releasing data.

In an effort to streamline the application process and attract new students, many institutions are waiving the traditional fee. Forbes tells us the top 25 schools that have obliged to do so.

A few exciting highlights of programs and events related to the Cooke Foundation:

  • An innovative class in Northern Virginia schools teaches students how to build rockets, apps, and more with help from the Cooke Foundation. The initiative strives to get more students from low-income backgrounds interested in STEM fields.
  • Former Secretary of State Colin Powell spoke to 400 Cooke Scholars at The National Conference Center last Friday, reports Leesburg Today.
  • Cooke Foundation grantee Camp Launch, a program under William & Mary’s Center for Gifted Education, received praise from The Virginia Gazette.