Education
K-12 Education; Chicago, IL
Photo by: Victor Hilitski
Top CPS Official Promoted Invention to Reduce Lead in School Drinking Water — Even as His Name Was on The Patent
CPS official Robert Christlieb publicly credits a school building engineer with inventing the device tried out in several CPS schools but does not mention he’s a co-inventor.
Photo by: Victor Hilitski
Could a Ride-Sharing Network Help Get Chicago Students to School?
Chicago Public Schools has had early conversations with HopSkipDrive, a transportation network company designed specifically for students. Here’s how it operates in other cities – and what it would take to work here.
Photo by: Trent Sprague
Records Raise Questions on CPS Transparency Over Near South Side High School Plan
Chicago Public Schools promised to listen to residents concerning the school location but did closed door planning for months. Appraisals for purchased land differ by millions of dollars, records show.
Photo by: Trent Sprague
CPS Faces Dwindling Enrollment, Empty Buildings, Soaring Deficits Decade After Mass Closure of Schools
Top public officials vow improvements as the district marks the 10th anniversary of its decision to close 49 schools.
Principal Resignations Soar Across Chicago and IL, as Educators Cite Burnout
State data reveals that the number of Illinois principals leaving their jobs has nearly doubled over a five-year span. Administrators say an overload of work and lack of support is a leading cause for departures.
How much COVID relief money has your school district spend?
State data showed individual districts received as little as $10,000 and as much as $200 million in funds. The city of Chicago received over $2 billion in ESSER funds — the highest amount granted of all districts.
Photo by: Chalkbeat Chicago
Illinois School Districts Received Billions in COVID Relief Funds but Some are Slow to Spend
A Chalkbeat/Better Government Association analysis found that a slew of high-poverty districts across the state have spent small fractions of their relief funds, despite serving students who were especially hard hit by the pandemic.
Photo by: Sebastián Hidalgo
Parents, Advocates Want Special Education Classroom Assistants in Required Meetings
“I don’t think that CPS’ goal, when it comes to diverse learners, is to be helpful,” said Shani Blackwell, a mother to a disabled child. “I think that they are looking to do the very least that they have to do.”
Higher Education; El Paso, Texas
Photo by: Corrie Boudreaux
UTEP campus police do not carry Narcan, despite UT system approval
The UTEP Police Department does not carry Narcan, a lifesaving medication that reverses opioid overdoses, nor is it available within campus dormitories or throughout campus. Narcan has been approved by the University of Texas System for use by campus police since 2016.
Photo by: Corrie Boudreaux
UTEP has most Hispanic tenured faculty among research universities nationally
The University of Texas at El Paso has the highest percentage of Hispanic tenured faculty among the nation’s largest research universities, according to the most recent national data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System.
Photo by: Corrie Boudreaux
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick commits to ending tenure; El Paso faculty call it a political attack
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick pledged Friday to end tenure for new faculty hires at the state’s public universities and colleges when the Texas Legislature reconvenes next year.
Photo by: Max Grossman
UTEP professors and students feel the effects of halted study abroad programs
“I have become numb. At this point it’s like, ‘OK, another year?’” Grossman said.
Photo by: Corrie Boudreaux
El Pasoan leads effort to review Texas community college funding
A newly formed state commission created to address the funding of community colleges will be the first to undertake the effort in nearly 50 years.
Photo by: Corrie Boudreaux
In search of employment, many UTEP graduates say they have to leave El Paso
Brain drain, the migration of local talent to other cities, is a known reality for many El Pasoans and UTEP graduates. Many UTEP grads would prefer to stay in El Paso say they have to leave home to find jobs and wages that fit their skills.
Photo by: Corrie Boudreaux
A first-generation student graduates from UTEP for herself and her family
Victoria, a first generation student, let me peak into her life for a week as she completed final exams, awaited news about her future and went through the emotions of graduating.
Photo by: Angela Saavedra
UTEP raises income limit for free tuition program to $75,000
The University of Texas at El Paso is expanding its free tuition program to students whose family income is $75,000 or less starting next fall with the support of a new, multimillion University of Texas System endowment.
Photo by: Corrie Boudreaux
EPCC President William Serrata says 2021 was challenging but looks forwards to next year
El Paso Matters spoke with Serrata about his reflections on 2021.
Photo by: Corrie Boudreaux
Texas' 60x30 education plan needs updating, higher ed. leader says
In 2015, the state of Texas launched an ambitious plan aimed at having 60% of its young adult population earn a higher education degree or two-year certificate by the year 2030.
Photo by: Corrie Boudreaux
UTEP enrollment decreases for second year in a row
For a second year in a row, UTEP has seen decreases in enrollment after two decades of growth.
Photo by: Corrie Boudreaux
UTEP hosts first in-person graduation ceremonies since 2019
In a first since 2014, UTEP hosted its graduation ceremonies in the Sun Bowl Stadium to recognize over 8,000 graduates last week. The in-person ceremonies were a first since 2019.
Photo by: Corrie Boudreaux
El Paso universities set to receive millions from Texas Legislature for campus construction projects
For a second year in a row, UTEP has seen decreases in enrollment after two decades of growth. Learn more about what’s behind the trend.
Photo by: Corrie Boudreaux
Indigenous land acknowledgement of UTEP campus awaits President Wilson’s approval
An acknowledgement that the UTEP campus resides on Indigenous lands was passed by faculty senate members this summer and now awaits President Wilson’s approval. It’s part of a growing national movement to acknowledge that universities often sit on Indigenous land,
Photo by: UTEP
LGBTQ+ student groups give UTEP President Wilson a redemption chance, others not
Before Heather Wilson became UTEP’s President in 2019, there was notable outcry from the LGBTQ+ community about her appointment. @JewlJackson1 checked in on the school and local community to see how they feel about her two years later.
Photo by: Corrie Boudreaux
UTEP students and faculty call for school to become more accessible
An ongoing petition to lower parking passes for UTEP students and staff with disabilities has almost gained 2 thousand signatures, but the school hasn’t responded. Now students are sharing their experiences about how inaccessible the school is.
Photo by: Corrie Boudreaux
International students experience unique hardships during COVID-19
Mexican student, Daniela, was questioned by U.S. Custom and Border Protection officers for more than 30 minutes about her meeting with a professor. Officers said she was lying and they could take her visa. UTEP’s President was called to help. Her story is one of international students.
Photo by: UTEP
Career centers help college graduates find jobs. The pandemic has made that more difficult
A UTEP graduate got help from the school’s career center but says he struggled to get interviews until he paid $200 to a resume service. A national expert says university career services need an overhaul.
Photo by: Corrie Boudreaux
CBP to allow Mexican parents of UTEP graduates to cross border for commencement
Customs & Border Protection to allow parents to cross the Mexico border in order to attend UTEP’s in-person graduation. The border has been closed to all but essential travel since March 2020.
Photo by: Corrie Boudreaux
Food insecurity becomes a growing concern for college students
In March of 2020, the El Paso Community College released a survey about the basic needs of over 1,000 students. The survey found that almost two in five students were food insecure 30 days prior.
Photo by: Corrie Boudreaux
Texas Tech El Paso dental school welcomes first class of students
The first dental school in West Texas and in a border city has arrived in El Paso. TTUHSCEP’s Woody L. Hunt School of Dental Medicine will welcome its first class of students next month.