Feed: NPR Topics: Education - AggScore: 83.0

As Ivies Boost Financial Aid, Teams Up Their Game

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The men's basketball team at Jeremy Lin's alma mater, Harvard University, is making its mark on the national scene — and benefiting from powerful Ivy League recruiting tools: a stellar academic reputation and a big increase in financial aid.

Big Bucks Attract High School Grads To Mining

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A spike in metal prices and a shortage of miners is opening up new prospects for high school graduates. While many students finalize their college plans, some in Western towns are being recruited to head underground. Although mining pays better than typical entry-level positions, it is still dangerous work.

Hold On To Your Tuba: Brass Bandits Hit L.A. Schools

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This school year, 23 tubas have been stolen from eight different high schools in and around Los Angeles — not something many of these campuses can afford. Police aren't sure where they're going, but one theory links the thefts to the local popularity of tuba-heavy banda music.

Obama's Manufacturing Push Meets Skepticism From Experts

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Obama has proposed using the tax code to create incentives for manufacturers to create jobs in the U.S. rather than abroad. Rick Santorum, who is running for the Republican presidential nomination, has also proposed tax-based incentives for manufacturers. But it's worth noting that some economists see risks in politicians and other policymakers making such a big fuss over manufacturing.

Big Changes Ahead For American Schools?

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President Obama's 2013 budget calls for a dollarsignr5 billion competitive grant to get states to overhaul teacher evaluations and training programs. Also, the president recently gave 10 states waivers from some of the rules of the No Child Left Behind Act. Host Michel Martin speaks with NPR's Claudio Sanchez and Kentucky principal Tim Roy.

Wealthy Colleges See Spike In Fundraising

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Charitable giving to the nation's colleges and universities reached dollarsignr30.30 billion in 2011, an 8.2 percent increase over the previous year, a new survey says. The 20 institutions that raised the most received dollarsignr8.24 billion. Stanford, Harvard and Yale topped the list.

R.I. Student Draws Ire Over School Prayer Challenge

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A student in Cranston, R.I., sued the city over a banner in the high school auditorium. She started receiving death threats after a federal judge ruled in her favor, ordering the banner removed. The school board is expected to decide Thursday whether to appeal the judge's ruling.

Obama Promotes Job Training At Community College

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President Obama unveiled his fiscal 2013 budget at Northern Virginia Community College Monday. His proposal includes dollarsignr8 billion for community colleges to partner with businesses to provide training in job skills that are in demand. Students there were pleased to hear the president call for more support for their type of school.

How Much Should Kids Sleep? Nobody Knows For Sure

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Everybody says children don't get enough sleep, and they've been saying that since at least 1905. Scientists still aren't sure how much time children need, according to a new study. But the experts always say they need more.

'Shopping Mall Schools' Help Struggling Students

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Some students just don't do well in high school — many struggle with bad grades or have discipline problems, and others choose to drop out. But there's also an alternative that some students are taking advantage of: A few school districts are opening up specialized schools inside shopping malls.

Income, More Than Race, Is Driving Achievement Gap

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The achievement gap between black and white students has narrowed significantly over the past 50 years. The gulf between rich and poor students, however, has widened dramatically. Several studies suggest that family income serves as a better predictor of school success.

Audit Depicts N. Dakota University As Degree Mill

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Dickinson State University awarded hundreds of degrees to foreign students who didn't earn them, signed up students who couldn't speak English and enrolled a handful without qualifying grades, according to an audit.

Miramonte Reopens, Previous Staff On Paid Leave

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Miramote Elementary School in Los Angeles is open again but with an entirely new faculty and staff. Two former teachers there are charged with sex abuse and lewd acts with students. Some parents were happy with the clean sweep, but others thought removing everyone from the school was too drastic.

Over Bowls Of Soup, Donors Find Recipe For Change

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You don't have to have big bucks to join the latest trend in philanthropy. Soup groups around the country let diners pool their money to support deserving local initiatives. In Philadelphia, one dinner raised dollarsignr225 for a teacher's class project.

States Hope For Relief With 'No Child' Waivers

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Six months ago, President Obama directed his secretary of education to give waivers to states seeking much-needed relief from the federal education mandates prescribed under No Child Left Behind. On Thursday, they granted them to ten. But how much flexibility is the president really willing to give and what is he asking in return?