Meredith Kolodner
@merkolodner.bsky.social
I'm an investigative reporter covering education at The Hechinger Report. Love to hear your thoughts on what needs investigating! Also Liverpool F.C. devotee and mom of two.
I remember when states were making it easier to do well on their math and English tests and scores skyrocketing. Then NAEP scores came out and showed that kids weren't actually learning more. So what happens if we lose that accountability?
hechingerreport.org/proof-points...
hechingerreport.org/proof-points...
NAEP, the Nation's Report Card, was supposed to be safe. It's not
Funding pauses, layoffs and looming budget cuts threaten a critical test
hechingerreport.org
April 7, 2025 at 6:02 PM
I remember when states were making it easier to do well on their math and English tests and scores skyrocketing. Then NAEP scores came out and showed that kids weren't actually learning more. So what happens if we lose that accountability?
hechingerreport.org/proof-points...
hechingerreport.org/proof-points...
"the Court is left with little confidence that the defense can be trusted to tell the truth about anything."
Strong language from the judge overseeing the lawsuit trying to prevent the Trump administration, which is "the defense," from dismantling of the CFPB (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau).
Strong language from the judge overseeing the lawsuit trying to prevent the Trump administration, which is "the defense," from dismantling of the CFPB (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau).
storage.courtlistener.com
March 31, 2025 at 2:38 PM
"the Court is left with little confidence that the defense can be trusted to tell the truth about anything."
Strong language from the judge overseeing the lawsuit trying to prevent the Trump administration, which is "the defense," from dismantling of the CFPB (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau).
Strong language from the judge overseeing the lawsuit trying to prevent the Trump administration, which is "the defense," from dismantling of the CFPB (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau).
Reposted by Meredith Kolodner
Prospective college students may think that a college degree from a state’s flagship public institution yields a significantly higher payoff than other public universities in that state. Our newly updated ROI data tool reveals that is not always the case. Read more: bit.ly/4hRaEUT
#AcademicSky
#AcademicSky
ROI Tool Highlights Substantial Value of Regional Public Universities - CEW Georgetown
Several regional public universities have return on investment (ROI) values that are comparable to flagship institutions.
bit.ly
March 26, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Prospective college students may think that a college degree from a state’s flagship public institution yields a significantly higher payoff than other public universities in that state. Our newly updated ROI data tool reveals that is not always the case. Read more: bit.ly/4hRaEUT
#AcademicSky
#AcademicSky
This may seem in the weeds, but in light of attempted deportations of legal residents, asking for the nationalities of protesters is a big shift.
www.washingtonpost.com/education/20...
www.washingtonpost.com/education/20...
New Trump demand to colleges: Name protesters — and their nationalities
The demand for student information came after the administration promised to deport non-citizens who participated in what it called “pro-jihadist protests.”
www.washingtonpost.com
March 26, 2025 at 12:06 PM
This may seem in the weeds, but in light of attempted deportations of legal residents, asking for the nationalities of protesters is a big shift.
www.washingtonpost.com/education/20...
www.washingtonpost.com/education/20...
"President Donald Trump promises he’ll make American schools great again. He has fired nearly everyone who might objectively measure whether he succeeds." @jillbarshay.bsky.social 's latest
hechingerreport.org/proof-points...
hechingerreport.org/proof-points...
Chaos and confusion as the statistics arm of the Education Department is reduced to a skeletal staff of 3
Acting stats chief booted after only 15 days in the job; fate of the Nation’s Report Card unclear
hechingerreport.org
March 14, 2025 at 10:37 PM
"President Donald Trump promises he’ll make American schools great again. He has fired nearly everyone who might objectively measure whether he succeeds." @jillbarshay.bsky.social 's latest
hechingerreport.org/proof-points...
hechingerreport.org/proof-points...
The Education Dept's latest effort to end race-conscious policies includes an investigation into scholarships at the University of Alabama -- but they cancelled theirs last year. I'm curious how universities will respond to this -- and I'm on Signal at merkolodner.04 if anyone wants to chat there.
Office for Civil Rights Initiates Title VI Investigations into Institutions of Higher Education
Office for Civil Rights Initiates Title VI Investigations into Institutions of Higher Education
www.ed.gov
March 14, 2025 at 2:37 PM
The Education Dept's latest effort to end race-conscious policies includes an investigation into scholarships at the University of Alabama -- but they cancelled theirs last year. I'm curious how universities will respond to this -- and I'm on Signal at merkolodner.04 if anyone wants to chat there.
Students who owe money because they were misled by for-profit colleges were on the brink of getting relief -- when Trump fired the people put in charge of helping them.
hechingerreport.org/student-loan...
hechingerreport.org/student-loan...
Federal layoffs upended work to help misled student borrowers
Federal layoffs that included workers at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau short-circuited work to help student loan borrowers with private loans who were victims of fraud
hechingerreport.org
March 4, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Students who owe money because they were misled by for-profit colleges were on the brink of getting relief -- when Trump fired the people put in charge of helping them.
hechingerreport.org/student-loan...
hechingerreport.org/student-loan...
Useful round-up here of all of the cuts to DEI programs and race-conscious academic centers at colleges and universities www.highereddive.com/news/roundup...
The latest roundup of DEI cuts across the country
From liberal arts colleges to massive public flagships, institutions of all kinds are moving to comply with changing federal expectations.
www.highereddive.com
February 12, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Useful round-up here of all of the cuts to DEI programs and race-conscious academic centers at colleges and universities www.highereddive.com/news/roundup...
Remarkable statement of intent:
“We want their funding to be shut down so that the EPA can’t do all of the rules against our energy industry because they have no bandwidth financially to do so. We want to put them in trauma.”
www.propublica.org/article/vide...
“We want their funding to be shut down so that the EPA can’t do all of the rules against our energy industry because they have no bandwidth financially to do so. We want to put them in trauma.”
www.propublica.org/article/vide...
“Put Them in Trauma”: Inside a Key MAGA Leader’s Plans for a New Trump Agenda
Private videos reveal Trump adviser Russ Vought’s “shadow” plans for using the military on protesters, defunding the EPA and villainizing civil servants.
www.propublica.org
February 11, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Remarkable statement of intent:
“We want their funding to be shut down so that the EPA can’t do all of the rules against our energy industry because they have no bandwidth financially to do so. We want to put them in trauma.”
www.propublica.org/article/vide...
“We want their funding to be shut down so that the EPA can’t do all of the rules against our energy industry because they have no bandwidth financially to do so. We want to put them in trauma.”
www.propublica.org/article/vide...
This program is supposed to help students with disabilities get into the workforce, which you would think would be a bi-partisan goal. But we found that's it's serving a tiny fraction of eligible young people -- and parents told me it's like a "secret society."
hechingerreport.org/hundreds-of-...
hechingerreport.org/hundreds-of-...
Hundreds of thousands of students with disabilities should be getting trained for work through pre-employment transition services — but aren't
At a time when Americans have made clear that access to training and good jobs is a top priority, the Pre-Employment Transition Services program, intended to provide that training for students with di...
hechingerreport.org
February 5, 2025 at 2:12 PM
This program is supposed to help students with disabilities get into the workforce, which you would think would be a bi-partisan goal. But we found that's it's serving a tiny fraction of eligible young people -- and parents told me it's like a "secret society."
hechingerreport.org/hundreds-of-...
hechingerreport.org/hundreds-of-...
Big ideological changes coming to Florida's universities, likely other states as well:
Florida State University has removed hundreds of classes from their general education curriculum, like Black Women in America, while three classes on Bible Studies remain.
www.insidehighered.com/news/governa...
Florida State University has removed hundreds of classes from their general education curriculum, like Black Women in America, while three classes on Bible Studies remain.
www.insidehighered.com/news/governa...
Florida board approves extensive gen ed overhaul
The Florida Board of Governors voted to remove hundreds of classes, many touching on race and gender, from general education offerings at all 12 state universities.
www.insidehighered.com
January 31, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Big ideological changes coming to Florida's universities, likely other states as well:
Florida State University has removed hundreds of classes from their general education curriculum, like Black Women in America, while three classes on Bible Studies remain.
www.insidehighered.com/news/governa...
Florida State University has removed hundreds of classes from their general education curriculum, like Black Women in America, while three classes on Bible Studies remain.
www.insidehighered.com/news/governa...
The Trump administration has vowed to get rid of all race-conscious education programs, but California is hoping to get more resources to its colleges that excel at serving Black students
edsource.org/updates/cali...
edsource.org/updates/cali...
UPDATE: California bill proposes Black-serving institutions grant program
The latest education news updates from EdSource.
edsource.org
January 30, 2025 at 8:35 PM
The Trump administration has vowed to get rid of all race-conscious education programs, but California is hoping to get more resources to its colleges that excel at serving Black students
edsource.org/updates/cali...
edsource.org/updates/cali...
Reposted by Meredith Kolodner
Not your imagination: fewer food vendor carts are on the streets because vendors are staying home to avoid receiving NYPD tickets that could get them deported. @haidee.bsky.social reports from a very full Manhattan garage.
Migrant Vendors Park Carts as Their American Dreams Slip Away
Enforcement was already on the rise before Trump’s inauguration. Now street sellers are avoiding any risk of getting a criminal ticket that could make them ICE targets.
www.thecity.nyc
January 30, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Not your imagination: fewer food vendor carts are on the streets because vendors are staying home to avoid receiving NYPD tickets that could get them deported. @haidee.bsky.social reports from a very full Manhattan garage.
Super clear breakdown of the NAEP results here, with a focus on the inequity:
“The rich get richer and the poor are getting shafted,” said a NAEP board member. “It’s almost criminal.”
hechingerreport.org/naep-test-20...
“The rich get richer and the poor are getting shafted,” said a NAEP board member. “It’s almost criminal.”
hechingerreport.org/naep-test-20...
A dismal report card in math and reading
2024 NAEP test results document large increases in students who lack basic skills
hechingerreport.org
January 29, 2025 at 2:13 PM
Super clear breakdown of the NAEP results here, with a focus on the inequity:
“The rich get richer and the poor are getting shafted,” said a NAEP board member. “It’s almost criminal.”
hechingerreport.org/naep-test-20...
“The rich get richer and the poor are getting shafted,” said a NAEP board member. “It’s almost criminal.”
hechingerreport.org/naep-test-20...
Reposted by Meredith Kolodner
I’m not sure if I were to be thrown in jail based on a “you ain’t from around here” vibe warrant, that I could speedily find and furnish my birth certificate
A three-year old, his mother, and his grandmother were speaking Spanish while shopping in Milwaukee. They’re U.S. citizens from Puerto Rico but were taken by ICE. Once in detention, the mother was able to produce ID and birth certificates proving citizenship:
www.telemundopr.com/programas/di...
www.telemundopr.com/programas/di...
Familia puertorriqueña habría sido llevada a centro de detención en Milwaukee
Hermana de una de las detenidas alega que los arrestaron por hablar español.
www.telemundopr.com
January 29, 2025 at 1:59 PM
I’m not sure if I were to be thrown in jail based on a “you ain’t from around here” vibe warrant, that I could speedily find and furnish my birth certificate
Federal investigation into a Denver public school for having a boys-only bathroom but no girls-only bathroom on its second floor. The first of many, I imagine...
ocrcas.ed.gov/sites/defaul...
ocrcas.ed.gov/sites/defaul...
ocrcas.ed.gov
January 28, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Federal investigation into a Denver public school for having a boys-only bathroom but no girls-only bathroom on its second floor. The first of many, I imagine...
ocrcas.ed.gov/sites/defaul...
ocrcas.ed.gov/sites/defaul...
New data shows college enrollment is up and increased the most at for-profit colleges, driven by a spike in Black and Hispanic students (13 percent). For-profit enrollment was flat for white students. nscresearchcenter.org/current-term...
Current Term Enrollment Estimates | National Student Clearinghouse Research Center
nscresearchcenter.org
January 23, 2025 at 1:19 PM
New data shows college enrollment is up and increased the most at for-profit colleges, driven by a spike in Black and Hispanic students (13 percent). For-profit enrollment was flat for white students. nscresearchcenter.org/current-term...
Well this is kind of big news -- freshmen enrollment didn't actually drop this fall. Final numbers will be out next week...
www.highereddive.com/news/nationa...
www.highereddive.com/news/nationa...
National Student Clearinghouse Research Center reveals error in fall first-year student count
A methodology error resulted in an undercount of first-year students and an overcount of dual enrollees, the research center’s executive director said.
www.highereddive.com
January 14, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Well this is kind of big news -- freshmen enrollment didn't actually drop this fall. Final numbers will be out next week...
www.highereddive.com/news/nationa...
www.highereddive.com/news/nationa...
New data shows terrible graduation rates for some online programs.
Fierce competition for students "can mean more spending on marketing and recruitment than on instruction and support." www.insidehighered.com/news/tech-in...
Fierce competition for students "can mean more spending on marketing and recruitment than on instruction and support." www.insidehighered.com/news/tech-in...
At large online colleges, students struggle to earn degrees
Fewer than half of students at the largest nonprofit online institutions earn a degree after eight years. Is it an unfortunate reality or a cry for accountability?
www.insidehighered.com
January 8, 2025 at 1:04 PM
New data shows terrible graduation rates for some online programs.
Fierce competition for students "can mean more spending on marketing and recruitment than on instruction and support." www.insidehighered.com/news/tech-in...
Fierce competition for students "can mean more spending on marketing and recruitment than on instruction and support." www.insidehighered.com/news/tech-in...
I'm concerned about confusing fact-checking and free speech. Both can exist simultaneously, and I am grateful to all the fact-checkers I have worked with who have caught my errors. In fact, one could argue that fact-checking is an essential component of free speech.
www.nytimes.com/2025/01/07/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/01/07/b...
Meta Moves to End Fact-Checking Program
The social networking giant will stop using third-party fact checkers and instead rely on users to add notes or corrections to posts. It is likely to please the Trump administration.
www.nytimes.com
January 7, 2025 at 1:29 PM
I'm concerned about confusing fact-checking and free speech. Both can exist simultaneously, and I am grateful to all the fact-checkers I have worked with who have caught my errors. In fact, one could argue that fact-checking is an essential component of free speech.
www.nytimes.com/2025/01/07/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/01/07/b...
Such an important issue covered here:
“When we think about students with disabilities, I want you to think about them as all of our students."
www.kosu.org/show/stateim...
#edusky
“When we think about students with disabilities, I want you to think about them as all of our students."
www.kosu.org/show/stateim...
#edusky
Students with disabilities are spending more time in general education. Are teachers being prepared?
University teacher prep programs are changing to meet the expectations of more inclusive classrooms.
www.kosu.org
January 2, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Such an important issue covered here:
“When we think about students with disabilities, I want you to think about them as all of our students."
www.kosu.org/show/stateim...
#edusky
“When we think about students with disabilities, I want you to think about them as all of our students."
www.kosu.org/show/stateim...
#edusky
Harvard Law School enrolled 19 first-year Black students, or 3.4 percent of the class, the lowest number since the 1960s.
www.nytimes.com/2024/12/16/u...
www.nytimes.com/2024/12/16/u...
Black Student Enrollment at Harvard Law Drops by More Than Half
After a Supreme Court decision ended race-based admissions, some law schools saw a decline in Black and Hispanic students entering this fall. Harvard appeared to have the steepest drop.
www.nytimes.com
December 20, 2024 at 1:38 PM
Harvard Law School enrolled 19 first-year Black students, or 3.4 percent of the class, the lowest number since the 1960s.
www.nytimes.com/2024/12/16/u...
www.nytimes.com/2024/12/16/u...
It will be interesting to see if anyone in the incoming Trump administration comments on this, given Teamsters president Sean O'Brien's approach to the election
www.nytimes.com/2024/12/19/b...
www.nytimes.com/2024/12/19/b...
Amazon Delivery Drivers at Seven Hubs Walk Out
The retail giant said it expected its operations to be largely unaffected by the strike of some drivers at contracting firms Amazon uses to deliver packages.
www.nytimes.com
December 19, 2024 at 5:23 PM
It will be interesting to see if anyone in the incoming Trump administration comments on this, given Teamsters president Sean O'Brien's approach to the election
www.nytimes.com/2024/12/19/b...
www.nytimes.com/2024/12/19/b...
California's financial aid application doesn't go to the federal government, easing fears of students with undocumented parents that applying for aid could result in their parents' deportation, via @mzinshteyn.bsky.social
calmatters.org/education/hi...
calmatters.org/education/hi...
Will filling out student aid form target undocumented parents for Trump's mass deportations?
Typically, FAFSA information from students with undocumented parents isn’t shared with immigration officials. That may change under Trump.
calmatters.org
December 17, 2024 at 1:52 PM
California's financial aid application doesn't go to the federal government, easing fears of students with undocumented parents that applying for aid could result in their parents' deportation, via @mzinshteyn.bsky.social
calmatters.org/education/hi...
calmatters.org/education/hi...
Incredibly well-told story of the maddening experience of trying to get child care in the U.S. by @jackiemader.bsky.social
hechingerreport.org/parents-are-...
hechingerreport.org/parents-are-...
Parents are quitting jobs, passing on raises — to qualify for child care
About 10 percent of families who are eligible actually get child care assistance
hechingerreport.org
December 16, 2024 at 2:22 PM
Incredibly well-told story of the maddening experience of trying to get child care in the U.S. by @jackiemader.bsky.social
hechingerreport.org/parents-are-...
hechingerreport.org/parents-are-...