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Lucille Bridges, who in 1960 braved a gauntlet of threats and racist slurs to escort her daughter to a formerly all-white school in New Orleans in what became a symbol of opposition to segregation, has died at age 86. Civil rights activist Ruby Bridges, who walked up the stairs of William Frantz Elementary School six decades ago to become its first Black student, announced her mother’s death on Instagram late Tuesday. She included a photo showing mother and daughter holding hands as they exited the school, flanked by U.S. marshals. “Today our country lost a hero. Brave, progressive, a champion for change. She helped alter the course of so many lives by setting me out on my path as a six year old little girl. Our nation lost a Mother of the Civil Rights Movement today. And I lost my mom. I love you and am grateful for you. May you Rest In Peace,” wrote Ruby Bridges, who was memorialized in an iconic painting by Norman Rockwell depicting her, notebook and ruler in hand and accompanied...

With the eyes of the country upon him, Joe Biden shouted out education during his speech Saturday in Wilmington, Del: “For American educators, this is a great day for you all. You’re going to have one of your own in the White House.” Of course, the president-elect was talking about his wife, Jill Biden, an English professor at Northern Virginia Community College. She continued her teaching career during Biden’s two terms as vice president, and in a break with precedent, intends to continue doing so as first lady. Which raises the question as the transition planning moves forward: How has this perspective shaped the president-elect’s education agenda? And how much of that agenda can Joe Biden hope to achieve, with the massive challenges of the coronavirus and the economic recession, and with Democratic control of the Senate in doubt? Here’s our overview of his policy priorities for K-12 and higher education: Reopening schools safely Like so much in the country, experts say, the pre...

Election Day is nearly upon us. Then again, you probably didn’t need us to tell you that. Your sweaty palms suggest you’re like many Americans who, no matter which candidate they support, have been amped and anxious for months. If you’ve been riding an emotional, politics-fueled rollercoaster, believe us: Your kids have noticed. Here’s a quick primer from Life Kit on how to talk with your kids about this election. Process your own emotions and make home a safe space. Kids can see that we’re on edge. They are naturally self-centered, and they’ll assume your stress is about them. Be honest and tell them, “Dad/Mom is a little nervous about the election.” It’s helpful for kids’ social and emotional development to hear you naming your emotions. At the same time, it’s not great for you or them to be mainlining the news 24/7 , so try your hardest to turn off the TV or the radio, put away your phone and connect — especially over meals and other key moments during the day. “We can control ...

This story about youth activism  was produced by  The Hechinger Report , a nonprofit, independent  news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education. Sign up for  Hechinger’s newsletter . OAKLAND, Calif. — Vida Mendoza is only 14, but she hopes to vote in two years. Mendoza is a member of the student-led Oakland Youth Vote campaign, which advocates for giving 16- and 17-year-olds the right to vote for school board representatives. In May, the Oakland City Council voted unanimously to put the initiative on the November ballot. Mendoza, a freshman at Life Academy in Oakland, said her school board must be held accountable to the district’s 36,000 students, 85 percent of whom are people of color , and ensure that all of its schools are “getting the resources they need.” “Who is the school board really representing?” said Mendoza. “Are students of color getting represented appropriately and are decisions being made to support them and their learnin...

At the top of a hill sits a large white building with columns and draped with American flags. It resembles the Capitol building in Washington, D.C., except for a key difference. It’s built out of Minecraft blocks. The popular sandbox video game has been used to host graduation ceremonies , concerts , recreated school campuses and even a library of censored journalism. And now it’s being used to teach young Americans how to vote. Nonpartisan, nonprofit organization Rock the Vote and creative company Sid Lee teamed up to create a Minecraft “voting house” server ahead of the 2020 election. Dubbed “Build The Vote,” the simulation is designed to educate kids on the voting process and give them the chance to share their opinions on several issues. The organization hopes to demystify the voting process, said Teja Foster, social media director for Rock The Vote. That way, kids will be ready to vote when they’re old enough. “There’s no way for kids, before they get to the voting booth,...

“I’m not a reader.” It’s a common refrain Julia Torres , a teacher-librarian in Denver Public Schools, has heard throughout her 16-year career. She’s seen students tear up books, throw them away or check them out only to immediately return them all because they didn’t have confidence in their ability to read. As a librarian, Torres feels strongly that libraries should be spaces of liberation, places where students can develop a love of reading at any stage. Reading is a skill that everyone can grow to love, but too many negative experiences during a child’s literacy education can result in trauma that appears as boredom, apathy or even anger. When a student has a poor experience like being shamed for their reading choices , they can begin to associate reading with painful feelings of insecurity, humiliation and/or toxic stress. These negative experiences can start as early as kindergarten and go on to impact a student’s self-image throughout their entire educational career.  In...

This story about online kindergarten was produced by The Hechinger Report , a nonprofit, independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education. Sign up for the Hechinger newsletter . In Greenbrier County, West Virginia, Jennifer Holley began the year teaching nine 5-year-olds in person and 14 online. Her first online kindergarten class was a bit of a mess, she said. Only three children were correctly logged in, while her email and the school’s phone were flooded with requests for technical help from the frantic parents and grandparents of the other kids. “One child was talking away and answering my questions,” Holley said. “The only problem was I couldn’t hear him. It’s very frustrating. I don’t think all of these children are going to get what they need and that frightens me.” Parents are equally overwhelmed, according to email interviews with more than two dozen kindergarten families. “She can’t do anything independently,” said Suzanne Parker, 40, of h...