New youth apprenticeship programs must grapple with the ugly legacy of career tracking.
Abigail Swisher
Abigail Swisher is a program associate with New America’s Education Policy Program. Prior to joining New America, Abigail taught elementary school in North Carolina. Abigail holds a certificate in Middle Grades Education through East Carolina University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Goucher College.
Posted inEducation, K-12
A Well-Intended Bad Idea: Mayor Emanuel’s Plan for Chicago High Schools
Yesterday, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced a plan that would require all graduating Chicago Public Schools seniors to prove that they’ve been accepted to a four or two year college, trade school, internship, apprenticeship, gap-year program, or enlisted in the armed services before they can receive a diploma. When the Mayor initially announced his plan, […]
Posted inEducation, Higher Education
Preparing Rural Students for College and Career
“We so often focus on the challenges of poverty in urban schools that serve almost entirely students of color, that we forget about both white and brown students living in poverty in our more hidden rural communities.”
Posted inEducation, K-12
Alaska Wants the Money Without the Oversight
Alaska Governor Bill Walker has a big decision ahead of him. On his desk sits a piece of legislation that, if he choses to sign, may have serious consequences for Alaskan students, not to mention students in states across the nation that may look to Alaska’s example. Legislators are waiting for the governor to sign […]
Posted inEducation, K-12
Test Prep Doesn’t Have to Be a Waste of Time
In the popular imagination, testing season in American public schools is a time of anxiety, tension, and boredom for students and teachers alike; a time when learning stops and “drill and kill” test prep begins. But if you had walked into my classroom this time last year, you’d have witnessed something a bit different: A […]
