Higher education was at a crossroads even before the COVID-19 crisis. In recent years, the cost of college attendance has risen and student debt levels have exploded. Discussions about debt forgiveness and reconfiguring higher education finance have moved out of wonky policy circles and into public discourse. Meanwhile, the costs of college have risen dramatically in recent years, perhaps exacerbated by decreases in state funding, and leading many institutions of higher education (“IHEs”) to provide online and lower-cost solutions to supplement or replace the “traditional” four-year, residential college—a trend that will be accelerated by the COVID-19 crisis. Simultaneously, college demographics have shifted, with an increasing population of “nontraditional” students, including those who are older, lack financial support from parents or other family members, and are more likely to have dependents. Disparities in higher education have had disproportionate, negative, and long-lasting effects on Black and Latino communities. And COVID-19 continues has
Tag: Protect
Amendment G: Supporters say it would ‘protect’ education funding
SALT LAKE CITY — If you need proof of the Utah Legislature’s commitment to public education, Senate Majority Assistant Whip Ann Millner points to what lawmakers did when they were forced to slash the state budget this summer due to a steep decline in tax revenues resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Income tax revenues, which are earmarked for education, dropped some $700 million. Meanwhile, other funding sources such as sales tax dropped too, but by a lower percentage. Because the Utah Legislature is constitutionally mandated to balance the state budget, lawmakers cut the state budget to align the reduced revenues, said Millner, R-Ogden.
Instead of imposing an across-the-board reduction, lawmakers followed the intent of HB357, which passed earlier in the year and would create a public education stabilization fund to hedge against future economic downturns, although the fund has not yet been funded.
“We funded an increase in funds for
How can you protect your students online during hybrid and remote learning?
Students are on their devices and in front of screens more than ever now, as COVID-19 has mandated fully- or partially-online classes across the globe. With more screen time comes the risk of increased exposure to inappropriate content and online predators–not to mention heightened feelings of isolation, stress, and depression brought on by physical separation from friends, peers, and teachers.
More than ever, schools have the responsibility to manage these disturbances as best as possible. During this free eSchool News Virtual Leadership Event, eSchool News will highlight best practices from district leaders grappling with remote security issues and provide answers to these ever-changing questions.
Register for this free event, scheduled for Oct. 7 at 2 p.m. EST
Expert educators and stakeholders will answer questions regarding how districts keep students safe online and how hybrid and remote models require advanced monitoring. Attendees will also be able to share their
Higher Education Can Help Protect Democracy from Authoritarianism, Says New Georgetown University Report
WASHINGTON, Sept. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — The pressures of global competition, mass migration, and economic instability have produced a backlash in many parts of the world, namely a rise in authoritarian leaders. A new report from the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW) in collaboration with Lenka Dražanová of the European University Institute finds that postsecondary education can play a critical role in protecting democratic republics against the threat of authoritarianism. “The Role of Education in Taming Authoritarian Attitudes” finds that American higher education’s emphasis on a combination of specific and general education, including coursework in the liberal arts, contributes to its strong effect on mitigating authoritarian preferences.
Authoritarianism is a form of governance whereby strict obedience to authority is enforced at the expense of personal freedoms. To be authoritarian is to carry the belief that there should be one culture, one religion, one way of
State teachers group calls on DeSantis to protect education funding
Contending the reopening of Florida’s schools has not worked well, leaders of the state’s largest teacher union on Friday pressed Gov. Ron DeSantis to improve the situation.
In a letter to the governor, Florida Education Association president Andrew Spar spelled out two steps he said would help stabilize the schools as they struggle with teacher departures, online instruction woes and health-safety concerns.
![](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 200 250"/%3E)
Spar asked for a guarantee that the state’s $12.9 billion education budget not be cut, despite multibillion-dollar revenue shortfalls stemming from the coronavirus pandemic. And he proposed continuing the funding protections implemented in the state’s school reopening order, in which per-student money is provided based on pre-pandemic projections rather than current enrollment, which is down statewide.
The association is in the middle of a lawsuit challenging the reopening order.
In an online news conference,
Protect vulnerable veterans in higher education
CLOSE
This man has survived roadside bombings and being struck by lightning. Now he’s wrestling men almost half his age.
USA TODAY
Colleges and students face a coming crisis, and states must do everything within their power to prepare for the struggles ahead and protect the most vulnerable.
Story Highlights
- Ramond Curtis is a U.S. Army veteran and state policy manager at Veterans Education Success.
America is navigating an era of uncertainty as we address COVID-19 and prepare for what will likely be the worst recession in generations.
The COVID-19 pandemic will impact every sector of our economy, including higher education. Colleges and students face a coming crisis, and states must do everything within their power to prepare for the struggles ahead and protect the most vulnerable.
Some colleges will be