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Uganda Attempts to Shut Down Controversial Silicon Valley-Funded Schools

Jacob Kushner

February 14, 2018 |

Columbia Global Reports |

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1500-3000 Words

Response Location: Uganda

Well-known Silicon Valley companies started the Bridge International Academies in 2007, an experimental school model, across some East African countries in an attempt to increase the quality of education, while promising a cost of $6-7 monthly per student. Bridge has now opened over 520 schools, serves over 100,000 students, and consistently showed rising graduation rates and testing performance, but its system of tablet-centered education and standardized curriculum has received criticism from its own teachers and government officials, who are weary of releasing control of their country's education system.

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Here's one idea to make ‘Storrowing' a thing of the past

Matt Rocheleau

February 08, 2018 |

The Boston Globe |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Boston, Massachusetts

A persistent problem in Massachusetts of trucks going through tunnels or underpasses that are too low for safe clearance has prompted officials to look to Sydney, Australia for a possible solution. Officials in that city worked with a private company to develop a system where if a truck is too tall, it triggers a warning so officials can activate a sheet of water at the tunnel entrance upon which is projected the holographic image of a giant red Stop sign. It's proven successful in stopping drivers before they enter the tunnel.

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After Unthinkable Loss

Sarah Conway

February 05, 2018 |

City Bureau |

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Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Chicago, Illinois

A healing circle in Chicago brings together women who have lost their children through violence or incarceration to give one another support through the grieving process. It's part of an overall move toward restorative justice in Chicago, but is the only peace circle in the city devoted exclusively to mothers, who were often overlooked in outreach efforts, according to the nun who helped launch it. Many of the women cannot afford therapy and the group helps them avoid isolation.

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How One College System Pushes Many Graduates into the Middle Class and Beyond

Jill Barshay

February 05, 2018 |

Washington Monthly |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, New York, New York

Over the course of 50 years, a CUNY program called Search for Education, Exploration, and Knowledge (SEEK) has provided academic, financial, and counseling support to over 450,000 New York children. Economists are now following up on initial research that found the program helped propel originally low-income and low-performing students into a higher income level in the years following graduation.

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It turns out vodka and icy roads can be a good mix

Matt Rocheleau

January 30, 2018 |

The Boston Globe |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States

Although alcohol and driving don't typically go hand-in-hand, researchers found one way to successfully and safely combine the two. By taking the by-products of the distilling process and combining them with the typical road salt that is used to help melt snow during winter conditions, these researchers created a super mixture which enhances the capabilities of melting the ice.

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P Is For Phosphorus

Robert Smith

January 26, 2018 |

NPR |

Radio |

Over 15 Minutes

Response Location: United States, Vermont

Phosphate is used for fertilizer on many farms. However, once the phosphorus washes away, it is next to impossible to recover, thus creating a phosphorus depletion. Using a very on the ground, grassroots approach, a small group of local citizens started asking other citizens to donate their urine to be recycled for the phosphate. After just a year, the group had 600 gallons of urine and after filtering it, it's being used on a local Vermont farm to fertilize hay on a dairy.

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How one rural Alabama district is closing the gap, raising scores for all children

Trisha Powell Crain

January 24, 2018 |

AL.com (Alabama Media Group) |

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Over 3000 Words

Response Location: United States, Alabama

Closing the achievement gap requires raising the expectations not only of students, but also of leadership and institutions. In Pike County, Alabama, the school district has improved its learning outcomes by investing more in students and leadership, thanks to a crucial one-penny sales tax in favor of the schools. In addition to taking better care of teachers, the district monitors data at the student—not subgroup—level, and offers curricula with community college credits. The district has also launched an Advanced Academics and Accelerated Learning program.

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Drug crisis in Ohio: What solutions are making a difference?

Katie Wedell Doug Oplinger

January 23, 2018 |

Dayton Daily News |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Dayton, Ohio

As a state, Ohio has shifted time and resources towards fighting the opioid addiction crisis, with many agencies, organizations and people collaborating on solutions. The standout solution thus far has been the Community Overdose Action Team which combines efforts to work on "eight focus areas from increasing treatment accessibility to decreasing the illegal supply of drugs."

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Domestic Violence court offers alternatives, hope for future

Elizabeth M. Miller

January 22, 2018 |

New Mexico In Depth |

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800-1500 Words

Response Location: United States, Albuquerque, New Mexico

In Albuquerque, New Mexico, a domestic violence court offers funnels perpetrators into programs that offer counseling and other services to address the root causes of their behavior. Its two tracks focus on first-time offenders to short-circuit any escalation into chronic abuse, as well as those with multiple domestic violence charges. Judges work closely with participants to encourage them and call them out when they aren't meeting their obligations, and recidivism rates among those who complete the programs are far lower than those who do not.

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The controversial Silicon Valley-funded quest to educate the world's poorest kids

Jenny Anderson

January 22, 2018 |

Quartz |

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Over 3000 Words

Response Location: Kenya

Founded by Silicon Valley veterans and funders in 2007 to serve the world's poorest students and most under-resourced teachers, Bridge International Academies now operates 600 low-cost private schools in Kenya, Nigeria, Liberia, Uganda, and India. In Bridge's model, teachers read scripted lessons developed abroad directly from their tablets. While supporters say Bridge is delivering an otherwise unavailable service, at scale, and is seeing improved scores and teacher attendance, critics fear Bridge takes the human element out of learning, strips teachers of agency and fails to teach critical thinking skills.

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