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Betsy Rymes discusses how language shapes our understanding of the world and why it can never be neutral, exploring the powerful role language plays in culture, identity, and education.

Now that student-athletes are eligible for direct payments from some schools, as well as lucrative endorsement deals, is the age of the amateur over? How will colleges and universities navigate this new normal and the inequalities inherent in this revenue-sharing era?

Sigal Ben-Porath discusses the critical role of higher education in defending free speech and fostering democratic engagement, arguing that colleges must model open dialogue and civic responsibility if they are to prepare students to sustain democratic norms in an era of polarization.

In Chalkbeat, Laura Perna says that even though some students in Kensington see open-air drug use every day, strong school support systems and targeted interventions are helping them graduate from high school, highlighting how focused resources can make a difference in students’ educational journeys.

This new program, led by Digital Promise, will fund the development of openly shared datasets, models, and other digital resources so developers, school districts, and educators can build safe, effective, and equitable AI tools for K–12 teaching and learning.

Dr. Jess Jones explores her research on psychological safety in B2B sales and how “small L leadership” can foster trust and cooperation across professional relationships.

Richard Ingersoll says that with a school district unanimously approving a four-day week beginning in August 2026 as part of a broader trend in U.S. schools, the move highlights growing efforts to address rising teacher turnover and burnout by offering schedule flexibility and professional development time on the fifth day, even as research on its impact remains mixed.

The editorial director at Scholastic, Inc. gives us a tour of her Nashville home office and explains how her time as a classroom teacher influenced the two imprints for young readers that she started.

Annie Yang and Sora Cha developed an AI-powered platform for families of autistic children that earned recognition at a recent global hackathon and is now starting pilot testing.

Membership in the NAEd is widely recognized as one of the highest honors in the field of education research, and Dean Strunk joins 10 recent Penn GSE faculty members in being recognized.

He writes in the Philadelphia Inquirer that such lists are an affront to civil liberties and a reminder of dark chapters in history when such inquiries were used to marginalize and persecute Jewish communities.

Ben-Porath co-authored a piece with faculty from Wharton and Penn Carey Law in the Guardian about how such lists have historically been a prelude to persecution and could set a precedent for broader government overreach into personal data and academic freedom.

Charlotte Jacobs, Robert Zemsky, and Jonathan Zimmerman appeared on “The Teacher’s Forum,” “College Knowledge,” and “The Re-Educated Podcast,” respectively, to discuss some of the biggest issues in education.

Alan Ruby says that Chinese universities are climbing global rankings while many U.S. institutions slip, reflecting broader shifts in investment, research capacity, and international engagement that are reshaping the global higher education landscape.

Karen Weaver says that as Pennsylvania schools, including Temple, Villanova, and Penn State, begin directly paying athletes under new revenue-sharing rules following federal class-action settlements, questions are emerging about how institutions will fund payments and whether equity concerns could prompt future legal challenges.

In The Chronicle of Higher Education, Karen Weaver says that colleges are increasingly using bowl-game advertising to highlight institutional impact and public value, leveraging the large sports audience to shift the narrative about higher education beyond athletics to community and research contributions.

The EBPC, considered the most prestigious and well-funded education business plan competition, invites education and edtech innovators from around the globe to apply.

John Fantuzzo and Leland McGee describe how a conflict resolution program at SCI Chester brings incarcerated people across generations together to build trust, strengthen communication, and support rehabilitation, showing how education rooted in respect can foster safer communities and more successful reentry.

Penn GSE is leading this new era of technological innovation by launching new degree programs, hiring expert faculty, collaborating with school districts on professional development, and conducting vanguard AI-focused research.

Janine Remillard highlights efforts to narrow the gender gap in STEM education, noting that teachers are encouraged to engage more female students in STEM through hands-on activities, practical lessons, and extracurricular programs to boost confidence and support long-term participation in science and math fields.

Karen Weaver says that the rise of the transfer portal is reshaping college sports as athletes like Luke Baklenko make strategic decisions about their careers, weighing playing opportunities, development, and long-term goals.

Eight Penn GSE faculty feature prominently in the rankings—including at Number 1—celebrating the most influential education researchers in the nation.

In USA Today, Michael Gottfried says that student homelessness has become a nationwide crisis impacting more than one million students, with far-reaching consequences for learning, academic progress, and long-term student success.

In WHYY-AM, Jen McLaughlin Cahill reflects on the enduring impact of A Wrinkle in Time, showing how the beloved novel—and the Arden Theatre’s stage adaptation—serves as both a mirror and a window for young audiences by inviting them into imaginative worlds and fostering empathy through storytelling.

Karen Weaver says that with up to 25 Michigan football players considering opting out of their bowl game and the transfer portal looming, athletes are acting like rational economic agents, weighing their human capital and future earning potential amid shifting market dynamics in college sports.

Penn GSE’s Early Childhood Education and Family Studies Certificate blends research, practice, and community partnerships to prepare leaders who want to influence systems that support young children and their families.

The Penn GSE stories from this year that got the most attention from readers like you!

Student-athletes are cashing in on their name, image, and likeness like never before—creating ripple effects across campuses nationwide. At Penn GSE’s recent Homecoming panel, alumni experts unpacked this billion-dollar shift.

In Education Next, Richard Ingersoll says that contrary to popular belief, national data show teacher turnover has remained relatively low and stable over time, with the rate of educators leaving the profession comparable to that of other well-educated professionals, suggesting the narrative that teachers are abandoning the field in droves doesn’t match the evidence.

Following years of research in Philadelphia schools, Penn GSE’s Responsive Math Teaching team is sharing the practical tools and guiding principles they identified in a new book to help educators make math more meaningful.

Digital literacies expert Amy Stornaiuolo provides a framework to help teachers design writing assignments that ethically incorporate—or creatively dissuade—use of generative AI.

In NAFSA: Association of International Educators, Eric Hartman says that strong collaborative networks and long-term vision in international education help amplify economic, social, and cultural impact, strengthening inclusion and advancing the dignity of all people amid rising global challenges

Learning Sciences and Technologies master’s student Ashley Zingillioglu won the Daniel Walden Prize for an interactive social story she first developed as an undergraduate and is now continuing to refine at Penn GSE.

Estefanie Aguilar Padilla’s work with Associate Professor Rachel Baker reveals why students walk away—and how colleges can help them stay.

In City & State PA, Michael Golden says that teachers and students must work to demystify common misconceptions about AI, emphasizing the importance of understanding both the risks and the powerful educational opportunities the technology presents.

In The New Jersey Herald, Matt Hartley says that smaller universities routinely undergo structural reorganizations and that Montclair State’s centralization will likely lead to the creation of new administrative roles to guide decision-making.

The Institute is funded by an Institutional Impact grant from the Educating Character Initiative, awarded by Wake Forest University’s Program for Leadership and Character and made possible through the generous support of the Lilly Endowment Inc.

In Memecita, Karen Weaver says that the NIL landscape is rapidly maturing, with collectives becoming more sophisticated, athletes gaining a clearer understanding of their market value, and colleges developing policies to support responsible NIL activity.

In the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Robert Zemsky says that the three-year college model offers a more efficient alternative to traditional four-year programs, reducing academic waste by at least a quarter while maintaining educational quality.

The newly endowed faculty chair, made possible through a generous gift from Andrea Pollack, C’83, L’87, GED’17, and Adam Usdan, will support innovative research, teaching, and leadership in the field of special education.

Laura Perna says the net-price calculators that universities use when establishing the cost of attendance for students are not standardized and often misleading.

Karen Weaver says that other athletic conferences are likely to follow in the footsteps of the Big Ten, assuming they can successfully navigate a maze of thorny legal and political concerns.

The vice provost for faculty and the GSE Centennial Presidential Professor of Education joins 24 scholars from across the country in the first class of fellows of the Association for the Study of Higher Education.

Karen Weaver says that new promotional strategies focused on impact and community from colleges are a great response to recent threats to college enrollment.

Students in Jen McLaughlin Cahill’s course on YA literature, media, and culture welcomed ninth-grade students from Science Leadership Academy at Beeber into their classroom for discussion and activities focused on Ibi Zoboi’s "Pride."

At a ceremony at the Morgan Library & Museum in New York City, Cathy N. Davidson, Frederic Bertley, Joe Wolf, and Rapelang Rabana were honored with this year’s McGraw Prizes in Higher Education, Lifelong Learning, and Pre-K–12 Education, respectively.

Current student Celine Xu and recent alum Jade Peterson brought their startups to the showcase at the Pennovation Center, representing Penn GSE and reflecting how educators are shaping the future of learning through technology, creativity, and community.

Penn GSE’s Yasmin Kafai—in collaboration with Danaé Metaxa from Penn’s Computer and Information Sciences department and high school computer science educators across the country—developed the “AI Auditing for High School” curriculum to introduce students to algorithmic bias and guide them through hands-on audits of real-world AI applications.

In Mark Cuban's article discussing the importance of AI, Angela Duckworth's comments on AI's usefulness as a pedagogical tool from her 2025 Penn GSE Commencement speech are quoted.

Michael Gottfried says a large and growing body of research demonstrates the benefits of assigning students to teachers who share their racial or ethnic backgrounds, ranging from improved test scores and attendance to reduced suspension rates and higher graduation and college enrollment rates.