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Education We've been to school. We know how education works. Right? In fact, many aspects of learning — in homes, at schools, at work and elsewhere — are evolving rapidly, along with our understanding of learning. Join us as we explore how learning happens.

Education

Why The College Admissions Scandal Hurts Students With Disabilities

The college admissions and bribery scandal revealed that some were taking advantage of a system meant to help students with disabilities. Ryan Johnson for NPR hide caption

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Ryan Johnson for NPR

Why The College Admissions Scandal Hurts Students With Disabilities

"Stories like this are why we continue to see backlash to disability rights laws," one expert said.

Why The College Admissions Scandal Hurts Students With Disabilities

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Students In Ukraine Learn How To Spot Fake Stories, Propaganda And Hate Speech

Students attend a Ukrainian language and literature lesson at a school in the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk in 2016. In 2018, students in four cities across Ukraine received training to help them identify disinformation, propaganda and hate speech. Aleksey Filippov/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Aleksey Filippov/AFP/Getty Images

World

Students In Ukraine Learn How To Spot Fake Stories, Propaganda And Hate Speech

A new report says students who received media literacy training were 18 percent better at identifying false reports than students without the lessons. Girls gained more knowledge than boys.

Charlottesville Schools Closed Following 'Racially Charged' Threat

White nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the "alt-right" clash with counter-protesters in Charlottesville, Virginia during the "Unite the Right" rally August 12, 2017. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images hide caption

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Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Race

Charlottesville Schools Closed Following 'Racially Charged' Threat

Police say they have arrested a 17-year-old male for allegedly making threats targeting specific ethnic groups at Virginia's Charlottesville High School.

USC Suspends Accounts Of Students Allegedly Linked To Admissions Bribery Scandal

In the wake of the college admissions scandal that has ensnared a slew of wealthy parents, college coaches and others in the world of academia, USC has placed a hold on the accounts of students allegedly connected to the scheme. Allen J. Schaben/LA Times via Getty Images hide caption

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Allen J. Schaben/LA Times via Getty Images

USC Suspends Accounts Of Students Allegedly Linked To Admissions Bribery Scandal

"This prevents the students from registering for classes or acquiring transcripts while their cases are under review," officials said, as they scramble to restore trust in the application process.

When The News Is Scary, What To Say To Kids
LA Johnson/NPR

Parenting: Difficult Conversations

When The News Is Scary, What To Say To Kids

Whether a school shooting or a deadly tornado, scary events in the news can leave parents struggling to know when — and how — they should talk with their kids about it. Rosemarie Truglio of Sesame Workshop and Tara Conley, a media studies professor at Montclair State University, give us tips.

- Limit their exposure to breaking news.
- For the really big stories, pick a quiet moment and start the conversation by asking what kids have heard and how they're feeling.
- Give facts and context: Let kids know that most scary news events are rare. Show them where it is happening on a map.
- When they ask why something happened, avoid labels like "bad guys."
- Encourage kids to process the story through play, art, even video.
- Take positive action together.

When The News Is Scary, What To Say To Kids

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'What If We Lived In Two Houses?' Talking Kids Through Divorce
LA Johnson/NPR

Parenting: Difficult Conversations

'What If We Lived In Two Houses?' Talking Kids Through Divorce

Even the most amicable split is world-changing for young children. Here are a few key tips for grown-ups trying to help their kids navigate this big transition.
- Give children as much heads-up as you can — as soon as you've made a definite decision to split up.
- It's a grown-up problem. Don't share details that will confuse your child or hurt your partner.
- Don't fear the big feelings or the "pajama truth-bomb."
- It's good for kids to talk about a separation — even when it may be painful for adults to hear.
- Make sure your kids know that not everything will change.
- Keep routines, and toys, consistent, even if they're traveling from one home to another.
- Look back together on the good memories.

'What If We Lived In Two Houses?' Talking Kids Through Divorce

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The Problem With Toy Guns And Princesses
LA Johnson/NPR

Parenting: Difficult Conversations

The Problem With Toy Guns And Princesses

Whether it's mini-makeup kits, gross-smelling slime or semi-automatic foam-dart guns, every parent or caregiver has fielded requests for toys that they're just not that into. We talk about princesses and superheroes and their influence on kids with Rosemarie Truglio of Sesame Workshop and Lisa Dinella, a gender studies professor at Monmouth University.

Here's what to remember:
- Banning toys outright can be counterproductive.
- Pay more attention to how kids play than what they're playing with.
- Fight sexism in the playroom by broadening toy selections.
- Talk directly to your kids about your values.
- Join in your child's play to help expand the possibilities.
- Grossed out? Use toilet toys as a chance to teach science — and manners.

The Problem With Toy Guns And Princesses

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Cannabis 101 At The University Of Connecticut

Marijuana plants grow in a marijuana cultivation facility on July 6, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ethan Miller/Getty Images hide caption

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Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Cannabis 101 At The University Of Connecticut

Connecticut Public Radio

With expanding markets for hemp and marijuana, some students believe that taking the class could help their careers. "I'm definitely interested in the plant and where it can go," Madison Blake said.

Cannabis 101 At The University Of Connecticut

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Colleges Use More Than SAT Scores When Deciding Which Students To Admit

Students at UCLA and elsewhere are not surprised at the admissions cheating scandal rocking the higher education world. They are more frustrated, and cynical. UCLA was one of the schools caught up in the scam. Megan Schellong/NPR hide caption

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Megan Schellong/NPR

Colleges Use More Than SAT Scores When Deciding Which Students To Admit

WBUR

The criminal case about parents who allegedly paid bribes to get their children into top schools spotlights the admissions process. Officials look for aspects of the applications that reveal lies.

Colleges Use More Than SAT Scores When Deciding Which Students To Admit

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College Students See Nothing New In Admissions Scandal

Students at UCLA and elsewhere are not surprised at the admissions cheating scandal rocking the higher education world. They are more frustrated, and cynical. UCLA was one of the institutions caught up in the scam. Megan Schellong/NPR hide caption

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Megan Schellong/NPR

College Students See Nothing New In Admissions Scandal

Wealthy parents using their power to give their kids an unfair advantage in getting into college is not new, say college students. The bigger surprise is that now people are getting busted for it.

College Students See Nothing New In Admissions Scandal

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Does It Matter Where You Go To College? Some Context For The Admissions Scandal
Rob Dobi/For NPR

Does It Matter Where You Go To College? Some Context For The Admissions Scandal

It's no surprise that rich people game the system to get their kids into top colleges. Here are some key takeaways as the bribery scandal evolves.

Does It Matter Where You Go To College? Some Context For The Admissions Scandal

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U.S. Charges Dozens Of Parents, Coaches In Massive College Admissions Scandal

A composite photo shows Lori Loughlin (left) and Felicity Huffman — two actresses charged in what the Justice Department says is a massive cheating scheme that rigged admissions to elite universities. AP hide caption

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AP

U.S. Charges Dozens Of Parents, Coaches In Massive College Admissions Scandal

Actresses Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin are among 33 parents who paid large sums of money to cheat admissions standards at prestigious schools, federal prosecutors say.

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