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First Look Virtual reality brings deep-sea diving and the farm to the classroom

Simulated field trips with the use of a virtual reality headset means students can be exploring the boreal forest one day and observing animals the next – without long bus rides. Although still relatively rare in schools, VR technology is increasingly more accessible and affordable.
First Look As a year on the mainland ends, Puerto Rican college students consider return

Following the damages of hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, several mainland universities offered free or reduced tuition for a year to the island's college students. Now in their spring semester, these visiting students are evaluating what awaits them back in Puerto Rico.
First Look Florida bill would offer private school vouchers to bullied students

A proposed Florida bill would offer students who've been bullied a voucher for private school. Supporters of the bill say this program would offer students hope and a safe path to education, while opponents see the move as an attack on the public school system.
First Look Fishing lures hook Ohio high school on personalized learning

In a small Ohio town, a high school built a program around fishing lures to give students a taste of entrepreneurship by focusing on their individual needs and leveraging community traditions.
First Look Chicago's planned school closures met with skepticism

Some parents, students, and activists, still dealing with the fallout from 2013 closures, fear that the plan will displace hundreds of mostly black and poor students. Closures have long been a method for cities to deal with underperforming schools, but research shows mixed results.
First Look Some states aim to get more foster youth graduating from college

Foster children don't always have the support system they need to navigate adult decisions for a successful college experience. Some states are hoping to change that by providing counseling and funds for individuals transitioning from foster care to college life.
Support for teachers: One-on-one online mentoring fills a niche

In the face of teacher shortages, the search for ways to keep those already in the profession on track and supporting students has become more urgent. One solution gaining more traction: teachers helping each other online.
After Maria: Boston uses schools as one-stop shop to assist Puerto Rican families

Boston's approach is one model for how big cities can accommodate families after disasters, with centralized support via welcome centers that offer everything from registering for school to filing paperwork with FEMA.
First Look Amid DACA dilemma, schools strengthen protections toward immigrant students

Colleges and universities around the nation are stepping up their games to help "dreamers."
First Look Illinois governor to sign sweeping school funding overhaul

Proponents of the deal say it will distribute state aid more equitably, give districts more flexibility on state mandates, and reduce property taxes in well-funded districts.
First Look Public school officials consider dropping Confederate namesakes

Debates arose in many of the 109 US public schools named after Confederate figures, after a Charlottesville white nationalist rally left one counter-protester dead.
First Look A classroom divided? In the US, Civil War lessons vary state to state

Some schools emphasize state's rights as the primary cause of the Civil War while others point to slavery and deepening cultural rifts across state and district borders.
First Look Campus police brace for potential violent protests as students return for fall classes

Fearing right-wing groups could feel emboldened by the recent events in Charlottesville, Va., to ignite unrest on campuses, colleges and universities are preparing strategies to deal with possible confrontations between opposing groups.
First Look Enthusiasm for charter school formation takes hit, new poll finds

Despite campaign promises from President Trump to expand school choice, national support for charter schools has dwindled – something researchers say can't be linked solely to the current administration.
First Look New report finds US college students taking more loans, parents paying less

While parent spending on student tuition dropped 6 percent – the lowest number since 2009 – student borrowing jumped by the same percentage, according to Sallie Mae's 10th annual 'How America Pays for College' report released Monday.
First Look Sixth grader Ananya Vinay wins national spelling bee with 'marocain'

Breaking a three-year streak of ties, this year the annual national spelling bee had a sole champion.
First Look Can Microsoft retake the education market from Google?

Google Chromebook has been the de facto device of choice in a majority of US schools, accounting for 58 percent of the US market for primary and secondary schools.
First Look Under new framework for student progress, states try new ways to grade schools

The Obama-era Every Student Succeeds Act, which comes into effect this year, gives states greater flexibility in how they judge schools.
First Look In unanimous decision, Supreme Court raises bar for special education

The ruling could bring major benefits to students with disabilities – especially those with 'individualized education programs,' or IEPs.
First Look Global Teacher Prize awarded to Canadian educator who works with Inuit

Maggie MacDonnell's teaching philosophy underscores hope and acts of kindness, which she puts to practice in an isolated corner of Quebec.

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