The Grad PLUS loan program, established 20 years ago, will phase out beginning next year. The program historically has provided up to tens of thousands of dollars for graduate students to cover the full cost of attendance. The program’s end could result in a decline in graduate enrollment, which will further exacerbate financial struggles for colleges.

Small, private colleges that have specialized focuses or religious affiliations may be disproportionately impacted by a decrease in international students. A new analysis found that the majority of schools will see “very little effect,” however, private schools may lose 30% or more of their budget.

35% of Americans say they are “completely” or “somewhat” satisfied with the K-12 school system, representing an 8-point drop since last year. This is a record-low for the poll, which Gallup has conducted since 1999. About three-quarters of parents are either “completely” or “somewhat” pleased with the quality of education their oldest child is receiving, which suggests satisfaction with local schools.

Students who graduated high school in 2017 and 2018 saw notable socioeconomic gaps in their college completion rates, according to new data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. Only one quarter of students who graduated from a high-poverty high school in those years earned at least an associate’s degree within six years. Students who graduated from more affluent high schools had a 59% six-year degree completion rate.

An eighth-grade student in East Texas was body-slammed in the school cafeteria, causing a severe head injury. The school district is reviewing its safety measures and practices in response, and the district will now provide an avenue for parents to report incidents anonymously. This article details the incident timeline and the school district’s response to date. 

Oregon officials are urging parents and guardians to review their insurance policies to protect students as they attend college. This article explains the importance of homeowners, renters, car, and health insurance, including how each coverage type can help avoid financial disaster.

A high school football player in North Texas died two days after suffering a “medical emergency” at practice. The student expressed that he was not feeling well, immediately began receiving treatment, and was later taken to a medical center for monitoring. The practice was indoors, however, the facility does not have an HVAC system.

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritkzer signed several new laws in August, some of which impact education and health insurance. School officials are now required to notify a principal if they become aware of a person in possession of a firearm on school grounds, or if they become aware of any threat of gun violence on school grounds. Governor Pritkzer also signed legislation clarifying that student health insurance plans do not provide dependent coverage to a student’s parent or stepparent. 

Overall K-8 academic achievement trends are largely unchanged from the 2021-2022 school year, with modest gains in reading and slower progress in math. The new report from i-Ready Diagnostics explores how chronic absenteeism and student mental health challenges may impact overall performance, finding that previous relief aid was insufficient for helping students get fully back on track.