Recently fired Department of Education employees received emotional send-offs as they packed up their belongings amid mass layoffs that cut the workforce by 50 percent. Supporters and advocates rallied in solidarity, warning that the cuts could weaken essential education programs and signaling broader concerns about the future of public education.
Category: Education
Posted inEducation
Educators weigh in on student cell phone use in the classroom
As state lawmakers consider restricting phone use in classrooms, educators are divided on the impact of technology in schools. While some argue phones are a major distraction that fuel conflicts and disrupt learning, others believe teachers must adapt and find ways to integrate digital literacy into education.
Posted inWord In Black
California’s student crisis is everyone’s problem
Despite progressive policies, Califorina’s Black students lag decades behind in achievement.
Posted inOpinion
The business of literacy — breaking barriers, building futures
By Sen. Cory V. McCray Thriving communities aren’t built by chance—they are the product of vision, investment and a deep commitment to the people who call them home. One of the greatest influences in my life, the late Congressman Elijah Cummings, often reminded us that “our children are the living messages we send to a […]
Posted inCoronavirus
COVID-19 and the classroom: A look at how schools have recovered in the past five years
By Gene A. LambeySpecial to the AFRO On Friday, March 13, 2020 teachers and members of the school community had their last normal day in the workforce. As fear of a deadly virus spread, infection rates traveled faster. In recognition of the fifth anniversary of the start of the coronavirus pandemic, the AFRO reached out […]
Posted inEducation
Reading the room: Why Black kids need more than the norm
Diana Greene, CEO of the Children’s Literacy Initiative, argues that Black students’ reading struggles stem from socioeconomic barriers like poverty, food insecurity and chronic absenteeism rather than instructional methods alone. She advocates for a holistic, equity-driven approach that supports early literacy, family engagement and addressing students’ basic needs to create lasting improvements in reading proficiency.
Posted inTransportation
Major U.S. bridges at high risk of collisions with ships
Preliminary findings of an urgent assessment of the nation’s bridge vulnerability following the 2024 Key Bridge collapse in Baltimore have revealed that major bridges across the United States are highly likely to be hit by ships, with some bridges expecting a major ship collision once every 20 to 50 years.
Posted inMaryland News
Efforts to curb over-policing in Maryland’s public schoolsÂ
Advocates, educators and legislators are seeking to reduce the dependence on school resource officers (SROs) for school safety and discipline and shift funding toward mental health services, arguing that SROs contribute to the school-to-prison pipeline. Despite legislative efforts to limit SRO involvement in discipline, most bills have failed, though some counties have seen success in reducing student arrests through alternative approaches.
Posted inEducation
Inspiring readers, building leaders: Leith Walk Elementary/Middle School celebrates Read Across America
Leith Walk Elementary/ Middle School celebrated Read Across America with a day of inspiring guest speakers, including city leaders, police officers and athletes, who encouraged students to embrace literacy and leadership. Despite ongoing challenges in reading proficiency, Baltimore City Public Schools have seen significant literacy gains, highlighting the importance of quality instruction and community engagement in fostering student success.
Posted inEducation
Reviving Freedom Schools: ASALH’s fight to counter book bans and censored history
In response to growing efforts to restrict Black history education, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) has revived the concept of Freedom Schools, originally developed in the 1960s. These schools, designed to teach African-American history and empower future generations, will expand across the country.
Posted inNational News
Black general fired for daring to fix military school’s racism
Maj. Gen. Cedric T. Wins, the superintendent of Virginia Military Institute, has been dismissed by the VMI board after four years of pushing for culture change and increasing state funding, despite his accomplishments.
Posted inMaryland News
Thousands of Maryland students are chronically absent each year. Here’s what we know
Baltimore City had the highest levels of chronic absenteeism in Maryland during 2024, with nearly half of all public school students chronically absent last school year.