Tessera

The race for two seats on the Lakeland school board in Idaho was not about school issues, but about allegiances. It offers an urgent message about strategy and power. Reported with @emmaepperly.bsky.social @idahoednews.bsky.social for @hechingerreport.org hechingerreport.org/a-republican...

A Republican homeschooling mom came to love her public schools. Now she’s fighting other conservatives she thinks will destroy them

In North Idaho, a local mom’s efforts to wrest school board control from MAGA conservatives ended in disappointment on Election Day. How it happened carries a message about political power.

hechingerreport.org

What’s happening in Idaho may foretell a stepped up far right strategy to gain control of every office, from school board on up. @emmaepperly.bsky.social of @idahoednews.bsky.social and I learned first hand about the new ground game. @hechingerreport.org hechingerreport.org/a-republican...

A Republican homeschooling mom came to love her public schools. Now she’s fighting other conservatives she thinks will destroy them

In North Idaho, a local mom’s efforts to wrest school board control from MAGA conservatives ended in disappointment on Election Day. How it happened carries a message about political power.

hechingerreport.org

hechingerreport.org/a-republican...

A Republican homeschooling mom came to love her public schools. Now she’s fighting other conservatives she thinks will destroy them

In North Idaho, a local mom’s efforts to wrest school board control from MAGA conservatives ended in disappointment on Election Day. How it happened carries a message about political power.

hechingerreport.org

Laura Pappano@laurapappano.bsky.social · 9mo ago

The ground game is changing. A school board race in Idaho shows how. Really enjoyed reporting with @emmaepperly.bsky.social @idahoednews.bsky.social for @hechingerreport.org with fab photos by @joanmorse.

Liz Willen@lizhech.bsky.social · 9mo ago

It may not be loud. But vouchers are having an impact. See what’s coming.

With his school just 61 percent full, this Florida principal has become something of a salesman for public education, and is frank about about the hustle required: “Customer service is key.” hechingerreport.org/universal-vo... @laurapappano.bsky.social

Sure, we hear about choice, vouchers, the shrinking federal DOE, but what are the consequences? It’s beyond red and blue. Great convo with @leighmorgan.bsky.social podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

Wow: Understanding the Big Shifts in K-12 Education - with Laura Pappano

Podcast Episode · The Space In Between Podcast · 10/22/2025 · 48m

podcasts.apple.com

OK so two of my faves @bonnietsui and @anniemurphypaul on fire talking about Bonnie’s sweet read On Muscle at @HarvardBooks event at the Harvard science center(obvi)!! I got to see this powerhouse (who could probs powerlift serious lbs if water were involved) earlier in the day.

Heads up: Moms for Liberty urges members to turn their grievances into lawsuits. #lawfare My takeaways in @hechingerreport.org and @slate.com slate.com/life/2025/10...

What Will Moms for Liberty Do, Now That MAGA Runs Everything? Apparently, Bring Lawsuits.

At their meeting, Charlie Kirk’s name was on everyone’s lips.

slate.com

Beacon Press @beaconpress.bsky.social · 11mo ago

My annual trek to the Moms for Liberty summit is always revealing. My takeaways? In @hechingerreport.org and @slate.com hechingerreport.org/at-moms-for-...

At Moms for Liberty summit, parents urged to turn their grievances into lawsuits

This year’s event tried to court younger members and more men, and there was more talk of suing school districts than running for school board.

hechingerreport.org

90% of children in the US attend public schools. As @laurapappano.bsky.social puts it, no matter the arguments we have about public education, our collective role has been to educate the next generation. @blairhodges.bsky.social

Moms for quote-unquote

Podcast Episode · Relationscapes · 02/09/2025 · 1h 7m

podcasts.apple.com

Laura Pappano @laurapappano.bsky.social · 11mo ago

Let’s not make policy decisions about programs until we understand their value. Read this piece in the @hechingerreport.org by @travisregal.bsky.social who I have known since he was 17–and admired every step he’s taken. He is why @headstart.bsky.social matters. hechingerreport.org/opinion-head...

OPINION: We cannot afford to dismantle Head Start, a program that builds futures, strengthens families and delivers proven returns

For many families, Head Start is the first place outside the home where a child’s potential is nurtured and celebrated. Yet, this program that builds futures and strengthens families is now under thre...

hechingerreport.org

Laura Pappano @laurapappano.bsky.social · last yr.

For new grads the challenge is not just landing a job — but navigating the workplace. Campuses are revamping their approach to career counseling. @hechingerreport.org @johnshopkinssph.bsky.social @wakeforest.bsky.social hechingerreport.org/for-new-grad...

College career counseling is changing to better serve emerging graduates who prioritize mental health and well-being in the workplace

Students graduating from college today face an uncertain job market, mass firings in the federal government, a wild stock market and fears of recession. They also expect mental health support and work...

hechingerreport.org

Laura Pappano @laurapappano.bsky.social · last yr.

New college grads are entering the workforce at a time of sharp generational disconnect. But they know what they expect — and insist on it. www.washingtonpost.com/education/20...

Colleges revamp career services to address Gen Z’s work-life expectations

Many colleges are rewriting the way they prepare students for jobs — and life.

washingtonpost.com

Laura Pappano @laurapappano.bsky.social · last yr.

Gender and sport has obviously become a politically charged issue. For most of us sport participation is a way to be part of a community, to belong, to be fit and part of a team. There is a way to figure this out but it requires nuance, understanding and fresh thinking. THAT instead of screaming?

Wellesley Centers for Women@wcwonline.bsky.social · last yr.

▶️ Writer-in-Residence @laurapappano.bsky.social was invited to TED sports podcast Good Sport! In this clip, Laura discusses the underlying social issues fueling the transgender athlete debate with host @jodyavirgan.com. Listen to the full podcast episode here: bit.ly/lauragoodsport #GenderSky #🌈🎓

Jill Barshay@jillbarshay.bsky.social · 2y ago

Huge deal. The details on who and where will tell much.

National Student Clearinghouse just emailed a big correction to ed reporters: freshman enrollment did not fall by 5% in Fall 2024, it INCREASED. We all blamed the FAFSA roll out fiasco with tamping down college going. But that was wrong. Revised figs to come out Jan 23

Facts, not drama. Geez do we need this smart, informed, balanced convo about immigration between @leighmorgan.bsky.social and Maggie Mitchell Salem, new director of IRIS in New Haven, CT podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/b...

Beyond the Hype: Navigating the Complexities of Immigration

Podcast Episode · The Space In Between Podcast · 01/08/2025 · 51m

podcasts.apple.com

Swapping out “equity” for “equality” is a shrug — until you see what it does to pipeline programs for URM students who didn’t grow up knowing how to navigate a scientific conference — or a research career. @hechingerreport.org @thenation.com @minnpost.bsky.social hechingerreport.org/facing-legal...

Facing legal threats, colleges back off race-based programs

College programs designed to give students from underrepresented groups a foothold in careers are being reframed or disappearing.

hechingerreport.org

Meredith Kolodner@merkolodner.bsky.social · 2y ago

This story nails a pernicious problem: only some people get to study what they love.

“We are asking rural folks to accept a set of options that folks in cities and suburbs would never accept...“It’s almost like, well, ‘This is what you get to learn, and this is how you get to learn it. And if you don’t like it, you can move.’ ” hechingerreport.org/easy-to-just...

Anne S Kim@anne-s-kim.bsky.social · 2y ago

SUCH a fair observation. Language matters. We need new words to separate the unorthodox from the specifically worrisome.

“Controversial.” The press needs a new vocabulary to characterize these people. It’s either overly euphemistic (like this) or too hyperbolic to be credible.