Motivational speaker Eric Thomas addresses St. Louis-area HS students in video that’s gone viral: “Ain’t nothing funny. Look how we’re living. Ain’t nothing funny.”

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Daily Signal: Lone Democrat Senator Kirsten Gillibrand Opposed New Education Secretary

HuffPost: Merrick Garland Tutored And Mentored DC Students For 18 Years

NPR: Turmoil Behind The Scenes At A Nationally Lauded High School

Washington Post: Legal loophole might be exposing children to lead in the nation’s schools 

US News: Why Big-City School Systems Are Going Broke

Minnesota Public Radio News: Without support, Minnesota students left behind at graduation |

NPR: How The Language Of Special Education Is Evolving

EdWeek: Immigrant Influxes Put U.S. Schools to the Test http://ow.ly/ZHiW9

FROM “THE GRADE”

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Why NY Mag’s Chait Should Disclose Wife’s Role In [All] His Ed Columns

Approaching Year Three, NPR Education Contemplates Changes

How Vox Is Filling Its Education Page During The Campaign Frenzy  

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Alexander Russo is a freelance education writer who has created several long-running blogs such as the national news site This Week In Education, District 299 (about Chicago schools), and LA School Report. He can be reached on Twitter at @alexanderrusso,...