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Education

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13:34Middle School MomentJul. 17, 2012
36:15Fast Times at West Philly HighJul. 17, 2012
17:59Educating Sergeant Pantzke Jun. 28, 2011
53:47Football HighApr. 12, 2011
21:24Money and March MadnessMar. 29, 2011
55:34College, Inc.May. 4, 2010
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Senate Committee Comes Down Hard on For-Profit Colleges

July 31, 2012, 11:11 am ET · 

Following a two-year investigation, the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Labor, Education and Pensions [HELP] yesterday released a dense and damning report on the for-profit college industry.

Obama’s Shout-Out to the West Philly EVX Team

July 18, 2012, 11:31 am ET · 

“This is the kind of thing that just isn’t going to get a lot of attention initially,” said the president, referring to the success of the West Philly High EVX team.

Live Chat Wed. 2:00 pm ET: Beating the Odds in West Philly

July 17, 2012, 11:21 pm ET · 

Join a live chat about “Fast Times at West Philly High” on 7/18 at 2 p.m. ET with Debbie Morton, the film’s producer, team director Simon Haguer and West Philly student and team captain, Azeem Hill. You can leave a question now.

Middle School Moment

July 17, 2012, 10:21 pm ET

Johns Hopkins researcher Dr. Robert Balfanz has uncovered a series of indicators that he says can predict how likely a student is to drop out of high school: attendance, behavior and course performance, which he describes as the “ABCs.”

The Automotive X Prize: A Primer

July 17, 2012, 9:38 pm ET · 

More on the history of the competition, the organization that sponsored it and other prizes that push the boundaries of innovation.

What is Project-Based Learning?

July 17, 2012, 9:37 pm ET · 

Background on the alternative approach to education featured in Fast Times at West Philly High.

Catching Up With West Philly’s EVX Team

July 17, 2012, 9:36 pm ET · 

An education reform advocate. A budding rapper. A history buff. What three of the students are doing today.

Interactive: Under the Hood of West Philly’s X Prize Cars

July 17, 2012, 9:35 pm ET ·  and Bill Rockwood

What’s Next for West Philly’s EVX Teacher?

July 17, 2012, 9:31 pm ET · 

The engineer-turned-teacher started a new program last year for high school students centered around project-based learning.

Tonight’s FRONTLINE Will Make You “Tearful and Smitten”

July 17, 2012, 11:10 am ET · 

We can’t think of a lede that’s better than the one written today by the Philadelphia Daily News‘ Ronnie Polaneczky: … Continue reading →

Judge Blocks Key Provision of “Gainful Employment” Rules

July 2, 2012, 2:22 pm ET · 

A federal judge has struck down a Department of Education initiative aimed at improving the quality of degrees issued by for-profit colleges

Some For-Profit Schools At Risk of Losing Federal Aid

June 27, 2012, 5:41 pm ET · 

The Obama administration warned this week that nearly 100 for-profit colleges could lose federal funds for not meeting new performance requirement standards.

The Military’s Plans for Drones at Home

June 19, 2012, 2:14 pm ET · 

With the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq winding down, a recently released report from the Department of Defense offers new insight into the military’s plans for its more than 1,800 drones it says are embedded across all four branches of the military.

Is GIBill.com Misleading College-Bound Veterans?

June 7, 2012, 2:01 pm ET · 

Fifteen state attorneys general are investigating the company behind the website for allegedly providing misleading information.

Who Isn’t Graduating From High School?

June 4, 2012, 2:14 pm ET · 

As the season of mortarboard flinging, inspirational speeches and $5 billion in congratulatory gifts is once again upon us, it’s worth … Continue reading →

As Public Schools Face Cutbacks, Federal Funds Flow to For-Profits

May 25, 2012, 1:58 pm ET · 

While state and local governments cut back funding to public higher education institutions, the volume of federal government subsidies to for-profit colleges and universities continues to increase

New Rules Aim to Crack Down on For-Profit Recruitment of Vets

April 27, 2012, 3:12 pm ET · 

They’re are aimed at the “aggressive and deceptive targeting of service members, veterans, and their families.” Here’s a rundown of what the president’s new executive order will accomplish.

ARCHIVED PROGRAMS

Jul. 3, 2003

Public Schools, Inc.

(60 minutes) Ten years after "edupreneur" Chris Whittle first announced his bold plan to revolutionize the way we educate children, Whittle's Edison Schools continue to be a lightening rod for the issue of for-profit, public education. FRONTLINE and the PBS education series The Merrow Report join forces with The New York Times to investigate the intertwined fortunes of Edison Schools and its charismatic yet controversial leader, and examine whether it's possible to create world-class schools that turn a profit. (Web site »)
Mar. 28, 2002

Testing Our Schools

(60 minutes) President Bush's proposal for mandatory public school testing in grades three through eight signals the beginning of a new era in public education, one marked by increased federal involvement in schools and an unprecedented expansion in the role of tests. A business school graduate and self-styled "CEO President," Bush envisions a business model where educators set objectives, measure performance, and hold students and teachers accountable for results. But will the business model work in education? FRONTLINE correspondent John Merrow examines how the quest for higher scores is changing teaching and learning in America. (Web site »)
May. 23, 2000

The Battle Over School Choice

(60 minutes) With more students than ever enrolled in kindergarten through high school, education is now a top voter concern. What's needed to improve our public schools-better teachers, smaller classes, greater parent involvement, higher standards, more tests? Or, is privatization the answer? Democrats and Republicans differ sharply on the hot button issue of school vouchers and whether public funds should be used to pay for private or parochial schools. FRONTLINE explores the heated political debate over the reform of public education and investigates the spectrum of "school choice" options-from vouchers to charter schools to for-profit academies-and their growing popularity in troubled inner cities. FRONTLINE also interviews presidential candidates Al Gore and George W. Bush about their views on reform initiatives and looks at their track records on improving public schools. (Web site »)
Oct. 5, 1999

Secrets of the SAT

(60 minutes) How fair are standardized tests? What do they measure? And what's their impact on racial diversity on America's college campuses? FRONTLINE examines the debate over fairness in college admissions, looking at the national obsession with test scores, the multimillion dollar test prep industry, and the legal challenges to race-sensitive admissions policies. A diverse set of students are followed through the stressful college admissions cycle as they dream of attending some of the country's most prestigious universities. (Web site »)
Apr. 28, 1992

Who Cares About Children?

(60 minutes) With 410,000 children in foster-care and over half a million expected by 1995, child advocates across the country say nearly every state is in, or approaching, a crisis. Frontline examines the child-welfare crisis in Arkansas and the struggle to reform the system-a political battle that focused squarely on Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton as he launched his presidential campaign.
Jun. 12, 1990

Teacher, Teacher

(60 minutes) Frontline explores the hopes and frustrations of public school teachers in one midwestern town as they face the threat of funding cutbacks, the criticism of parents, and a growing number of troubled children from troubled homes.
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