Programs that help teenage mothers stay in school can make a big difference to the education and life outcomes for both the adolescents and their babies. Only 53 percent of women in their 20s who gave birth in their teens hold a traditional high school diploma, compared to 90 percent of women who didn’t.

In one Texas border town, where teen pregnancy rates are high, individualized learning plans and a strong sense of community prepare teen moms for academic success.

Photo: Teachers of Tomorrow

The most common level of experience of teachers in the United States now is one year on the job. At the same time, enrollment in teacher training programs at colleges and universities is plummeting, and schools are looking to other sources to fill classrooms.

In Nevada, a critical need for teachers has led to allowing people with just a high school diploma to fill in as substitutes. Schools in Texas are increasingly turning to for-profit teacher training programs. APM Reports looks at the implications of these changes, both for children and for the teaching force.

Photo: Elora Lee Hennessey

For many students, a year of online learning has created a sense of isolation and little opportunity to get to know peers and professors. 

The University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee hopes to change that with what it describes as a “human centered and trauma informed” return-to-campus plan. The effort—which includes new training, meditation spaces, and guided discussions—aims to help people form meaningful connections again, take care of themselves, and process their emotions.