By: Rachel Hector
In the United States, institutions of higher-education have historically been shaped by policies and processes that reinforce and perpetuate white supremacy and racism at every level. Students face barriers to equitable education through policies and processes such as standardized testing, financial aid and access to resources, performance funding and predatory…
Kaytlin Eldred (she/they) is a Lecturer at Boston University, teaching global health and social justice courses in the Health Science undergraduate department. Her academic focus highlights how our identity affects our health. …
by Rachel Hector
For vulnerable youth, access to a higher education can be a powerful conduit for eliminating harm and ensuring long-term success and stability. Unhoused and unstably housed youth are at greater likelihood of experiencing significant hardships, with 29% of youth experiencing homelessness reporting having substance misuse problems, 69%…
by Rachel Hector
Forcible displacement is on the rise on a global scale, with the number of forcibly displaced people growing from 41.1 million to 82.4 million since 2010. Individuals and families escaping war, torture, violence and other harms associated with forcible displacement seek safety and security in the United States. …
To mask or not to mask has become a major dilemma in many states and school districts of late. Some parents demand that schools should require masks while others are vehemently against it, with the conflict even escalating to the level of violence in some cases. But why are parents…
By Karen Peterson Solinski August 23, 2021
Ms. Solinski represented accreditation on the Borrowers’ Defense to Repayment Negotiated Rulemaking sessions for the U.S. Department of Education that resulted in final regulations effective in 2017 and in 2020.
Borrowers’ Defense is a term noted frequently these days on social media and…
In the United States, 1 in 54 people are diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Students with autism in grades k-12 are protected under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA, and provided with an IEP, or Individualized Education Program. However, at the collegiate level, students are no longer afforded…
by Rachel Hector for Chicago Education Advocacy Cooperative
As college and university students return to campus for fall, uncertainty and fear concerning the threat of COVID-19 looms over the beginning of the semester. Recently the Center for Disease Control (CDC)published data revealing that the Delta variant strain of the COVID-19…
…and yes, this is a problem.
The move to remote learning due to COVID-19 made the disparity between those with good internet connections and those without glaringly obvious. Students without strong internet connections could be left unable to fully participate in classes or complete certain assignments. Public spaces with free Wi-Fi connections or computer stations were…
…and rebranding because the deficit approach to education is bogus.
College remediation rates are staggering. Approximately 60% of community college students and 33% of students at 4-year public college take at least one remediation course. Unfortunately, these courses are not necessarily benefiting these students. …
