A profile on Furness High School highlights the launch of “The Academy of Penn,” a program designed to support first-generation college students and those from under-resourced communities through academic assistance, career exposure, and social-emotional resources.
Jonathan Zimmerman expresses concern that the Trump administration's politicization of federal research funding threatens academic freedom, noting that recent self-censorship on campuses mirrors practices in authoritarian regimes.
Declining birth rates and rising tuition costs are making it difficult for small colleges to overcome enrollment declines, says Julie Wollman of the Graduate School of Education.
Laura Perna notes that students working over 20 hours a week tend to have lower academic performance, as limited time can hinder their success in college.
Jonathan Zimmerman expresses concern that the United States, traditionally a beneficiary of global academic migration, now faces a "real danger" of experiencing a reverse brain drain due to recent policies.
Barbara Kurshan was named one of the 100 most influential people in e-learning for her leadership in advancing innovation at the intersection of education, technology, and entrepreneurship.
Michael Golden describes the district’s new AI training program, PASS, as a scalable model built on Philadelphia’s expertise, aiming to support educators globally by promoting responsible, informed integration of AI into school systems.
Penn GSE is investing $8 million in two Philadelphia high schools to support underserved students, aiming to improve college and career readiness through intensive academic and emotional support, with Dean Katharine O. Strunk highlighting its focus on enhancing life outcomes.
During an appearance on WHYY’s Studio 2 on March 18, Jonathan Zimmerman provided historical context for recent attacks on higher education, pointing out that critiques against the academy for a perceived left-wing bias go back more than 70 years.
Karen Weaver sees UConn’s basketball investment as a strategic shift, with non-Power Four schools prioritizing basketball funding over football to stay competitive amid upcoming athlete revenue-sharing.
A study by Michael Gottfried finds that student-teacher ethnoracial matching in early education positively impacts executive function skills, reinforcing the benefits of having teachers who share the same racial or ethnic background as their students.
Kandi Wiens discusses how emotional intelligence can help individuals build resilience and heal their relationship with work, as outlined in her new book, Burnout Immunity.
Michael Gottfried highlights the importance of school attendance for students with disabilities, stating that missing school can have significant negative impacts on their academic and social development.
Alan Ruby and Matthew Hartley argue for redefining excellence in higher education beyond research and exclusivity, emphasizing institutional purpose, community engagement, and culture to better serve most students.
Kandi Wiens highlights that to recover from emotional exhaustion, individuals should surround themselves with positive, supportive people who boost emotional well-being, particularly during vacations.
Jonathan Zimmerman mentions that Trump's education order opposes indoctrination while imposing a patriotic narrative, contradicting its stated goal of local control.
Jonathan Zimmerman called Trump's attempt to influence school curricula unprecedented, stating it would be the first time the federal government compelled such changes.
In an interview with the Jacobs Foundation's science blog BOLD, Sharon Wolf shares her research aimed at improving children’s educational outcomes by supporting parents and teachers, particularly how nudging parents to engage with their children about their education reduces educational inequality.
Caroline Watts says that children who are frequently exposed to violence can struggle with regulating their emotions and may not know how to resolve issues in any other way, perpetuating the cycle.
Laura Perna explains that college promise programs are structured differently across the many colleges and universities that offer them, but they generally provide students an up-front guarantee that some or all of their tuition will be covered. She adds that a "first-come, first-served" disclosure is a good caveat for students to know, so they don't expect anything they might not receive.
Historically, as students get older and exams get more challenging, there is more variation in academic performance within each grade level, and that trend can result in lower average proficiency levels for secondary students, Jonathan Supovitz explains.
Michael Gottfried stressed that high student absenteeism reduces teachers' job satisfaction by limiting the fulfillment they get from helping students learn, underscoring the need to address absenteeism for better student and teacher outcomes.
Jonathan Zimmerman suggested that colleges facing declining enrollment should adopt entrepreneurial strategies, such as upgrading their academic programs, to attract more students and remain competitive in a shrinking higher education market.
Richard Ingersoll identifies high teacher migration as a key indicator of school dysfunction, signaling ineffective administrative systems that disrupt student learning by causing instability and the loss of experienced educators.
Katharine O. Strunk said the PASS program aims to prepare educators and students for a tech-driven future by fostering creativity, critical thinking, and responsible AI use.
Julie Wollman emphasized that university presidents now face heightened complexity due to societal shifts, including political polarization and a decline in respectful discourse, and must exhibit strong principles, interpersonal skills, transparency, and a proactive approach to foundational leadership functions rather than reactive crisis management.
Penn GSE has partnered with the Philadelphia School District to provide workshops for leaders aimed at increasing understanding of antisemitism and Islamophobia in response to community tensions surrounding the Israel-Gaza conflict.
In a newsletter roundup, Technical.ly highlighted the University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education launching a new education degree in artificial intelligence, marking the third AI-related degree from Penn this year, alongside an undergraduate program and an online master's.
Ryan Baker announced the University of Pennsylvania’s new master’s program in “Learning Analytics and Artificial Intelligence” to train professionals in applying AI within education and meeting industry demand.
Jonathan Zimmerman states that cultural spaces should prioritize free and open dialogue, even when discussions are unsettling, asserting that public thinkers and artists must embrace the "rough-and-tumble" of discourse as essential to their mission.
Michael Gottfried states that rising student absenteeism lowers teacher job satisfaction, stressing that addressing absenteeism is essential for improving student outcomes and retaining teachers.
Andrew Porter suggests that elite universities with lower acceptance rates often minimize racial graduation rate disparities by selecting students who are the best academic "fit" and fostering a "sense of belonging" through significant investments in support systems that address both academic and emotional challenges specific to nonwhite students.
Laura Perna highlights that recent FAFSA application delays have caused “confusion and real challenges” for students and colleges but believes the planned modifications will ultimately make the process simpler and more beneficial for students.
Jonathan Zimmerman observes that America's "brittle and abusive" political climate has shifted culture war debates within education from race to issues of gender and sexuality, disproportionately impacting English teachers who more directly address these subjects in their curricula.
Karen Weaver highlights that differing state laws pose a major obstacle to college athletes' unionization within conferences, creating legal disparities and recruiting challenges.
Peter Eckel argues that colleges should adapt chemistry programs to align with current student interests, such as sustainability, rather than closing them, to stay competitive and relevant.
Jonathan Zimmerman argues that college rankings should prioritize teaching quality, advocating for classroom observations to assess professor effectiveness rather than relying on inadequate metrics like salaries or student evaluations.
Michael Gottfried stresses that students are more likely to attend school when they connect with teachers who share their cultural background, fostering a sense of belonging and engagement.
Howard Stevenson emphasizes that parental incarceration profoundly affects Black children's emotional and academic lives, advocating for trauma-informed school environments that provide emotional support and tools for recovery.
Howard Stevenson promotes racial literacy to address racial conflict, focusing on understanding motivations behind harmful actions and combining accountability with education.
Kandi Wiens notes that workers who are most at risk of burnout are not only those in demanding jobs but also those with genuine passion for their work, as they are more likely to become emotionally invested and overextend themselves in pursuit of their goals.
Michael Gottfried emphasizes that cutting school bus routes significantly harms student learning by increasing absenteeism, stating that the removal of such a critical transportation mechanism during the absenteeism crisis is "hugely problematic" for families relying on it to ensure consistent attendance.
Karen Weaver claims that college conference realignments are driven primarily by television revenue, particularly from football, and warns that budget disparities within conferences could widen existing divides between schools.
Andrea Kane emphasizes "humanizing" opponents by seeing them through a personal lens, fostering respect and empathy. She advocates for setting ground rules and focusing on shared values to promote productive, rather than destructive, disagreements.
