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Colleges can admit 'diverse' students without racial preferences
Universities can enhance diversity by giving an admissions break to disadvantaged students of all races. It's legal and it's good politics.
Joanne Jacobs
3 days ago2 min read
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In a rustbelt city, disadvantaged students are proficient readers
Steubenville's families are struggling to make a living -- but their children are excellent readers.
Joanne Jacobs
Feb 212 min read
5 comments


Honesty is the first step to higher achievement, and it's a doozy
As achievement falls, the "honesty gap" grows.
Joanne Jacobs
Feb 202 min read
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What did we get for $190 billion in school aid? Very little
Pandemic learning loss averaged half a year for most students, but the neediest students lost more in reading and math.
Joanne Jacobs
Feb 122 min read
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If the scores are bad, should we dump the test?
A majority of black, Hispanic and low-income fourth-graders have "below basic" reading skills. Does it matter?
Joanne Jacobs
Feb 113 min read
5 comments


Mississippi vs. Masssachusetts: Which state has the best schools?
When states are judged by how well students overcome disadvantages, Mississippi is a winner and high-scoring Massachusetts is mediocre.
Joanne Jacobs
Dec 16, 20241 min read
4 comments


Edumania! McMahon is tapped as education secretary
Pro wrestling executive and former Small Business Administration chief Linda McMahon will be the next and possibly last Education...
Joanne Jacobs
Nov 21, 20242 min read
5 comments


Who's truly disadvantaged? Look at single parenting, not race or poverty
Growing up in a single-parent family is a huge disadvantage in life, writes Fordham's Michael Petrilli in Forbes. If racial preferences...
Joanne Jacobs
Oct 25, 20242 min read
2 comments


Disadvantaged? Really???
Vice President Kamala Harris, the daughter of two university professors, was admitted to Hastings law school via a program for applicants...
Joanne Jacobs
Oct 24, 20242 min read
4 comments


'Free college' isn't enough to raise success rates for low-income students
"Free" tuition has boosted two-year graduation rates in Tennessee, but low-income students need more help to complete a degree.
Joanne Jacobs
Oct 19, 20242 min read
2 comments


Students are narrowing achievement gaps in high-choice cities
In cities with at least a third of students in charters or other choice schools, students are narrowing achievement gaps.
Joanne Jacobs
Oct 11, 20242 min read
4 comments


How schools can help poor kids beat the odds: Consistency, collaboration, priorities
Schools that help disadvantaged students achieve focus on consistently good teaching, a strong, shared curriculum and lots of collaboration.
Joanne Jacobs
Oct 1, 20242 min read
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Poor kids can learn to read too
Overall, family poverty and reading problems go together. But some school districts are beating the odds.
Joanne Jacobs
Sep 12, 20242 min read
2 comments


Sprinkling the fairy dust that helps children fly
My visiting eight-month-old granddaughter crawl-flopped past the teething toys to chew on the metal leg of the coffee table. "Try the...
Joanne Jacobs
Aug 21, 20241 min read
2 comments


Racial achievement gaps: Poverty, parents explain some (not all) of differences
Socioeconomic status explains some of the Black/White achievement gap and most of the Hispanic/White achievement gap.
Joanne Jacobs
Aug 21, 20242 min read
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Only the education-rich can afford laissez-faire schools
Monogamy is "outdated," Troubled author Rob Henderson's Yale classmate told him. She's been raised in a stable, two-parent family and...
Joanne Jacobs
Aug 1, 20242 min read
9 comments


'Raised by wolves,' Vance defends parents' rights
“Parents should absolutely be the primary stakeholders in their kids' education, and anyone who disagrees should stay the hell away from...
Joanne Jacobs
Jul 18, 20242 min read
2 comments


The college pitch: How students write personal essays
Minority students are only slightly less likely to write about their racial or ethnic identity in college admissions essays, according to...
Joanne Jacobs
Jul 5, 20242 min read
1 comment


A 'Colorblind America' sees race, but tries to treat people the same
"Anti-racism" is a kind of "neo-racism," argues Coleman Hughes in his new book, The End of Race Politics: Arguments for a Colorblind...
Joanne Jacobs
Mar 29, 20243 min read
3 comments

St. Peter's wins March Madness for mobility
The Peacocks of Saint Peter’s University were blown out of the NCAA basketball tournament in the first round, losing to University of...
Joanne Jacobs
Mar 23, 20241 min read
2 comments
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