Education Lab

Education Lab

At 25, Running Start is a success. Now it must attract students who need it the most.

Nia Hall heads down a hallway at Garfield High School to attend her calculus class. The Garfield High student’s family recently moved to Shoreline, which has lengthened her commute. (Mike Siegel/The Seattle Times)
(Mike Siegel/The Seattle Times)

The dual-credit program that allows students to get college credits while in high school at little cost is proving to be a national model, but benefiting most are middle-class students who planned to go to college anyway.

Abel Berhan, a senior at Evergreen High School in White Center, will be attending Harvard University this fall on a full-ride scholarship.

Man with a plan: How Highline senior earned $400,000 in scholarships and Harvard admission

As a first-generation college student who's been working since middle school, earning a full-ride to an Ivy League school is a great feeling for 18-year-old Abel Berhan. Here's how he did it.

In the third episode of Meaningful Makeover, a web series centered on improving early childhood care environments, Faduma Muse, owner of Ayan Family Childcare in Seattle, reacts to her newly transformed space.” Photo courtesy of University of Washington Cultivate Learning institute.

‘Meaningful Makeover’ show from UW brings a reality-TV spin to early learning

A web series from the University of Washington's Cultivate Learning institute shows easy and affordable ways to create a space for young children that is conducive to learning.

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After incoming freshmen and their families attend a welcome night assembly at West Seattle High School Thursday, August 31, 2017, before classes officially start Sept. 6, they gather at the school for ice cream and were able to talk to teachers and staff. Parents and students met the new principal and teachers and staff spoke at an assembly. The school, with nearly $1.4 million from the city, has focused on reinventing the ninth-grade experience to provide more supports — early and often — to prevent any freshmen from failing even one course.

How high schools break up the ‘9th-grade bottleneck’ to help students graduate on time

Representatives work on the House floor during discussion of a bill to fully fund education in Washington state at the Capitol Friday, June 30, 2017, in Olympia, Wash. Details of a new two-year state operating budget were released Friday, the same day Washington lawmakers must vote on the plan in order to prevent a partial government shutdown. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

In sprawling McCleary fix, lawmakers may resurrect inequities in Washington schools

Fourth grade math teacher Scott Ashmore at Olympic Elementary in Chehalis checks out on his students’ discussion during a class project at the school Wednesday, March 29, 2017. Students are: L – R Kallie Hitch, 9; Ashaun Wheaton, 10; Peyton Gibbs, 9; Deseree Abrams, 10. The Chehalis school district is remaking its public school system to try to get more kids to go to college. With the help of two rich philanthropists who went to school in Chehalis and made good, the district has done a comprehensive study of its strengths and weaknesses. It’s partnering with the local community college, Centralia College, to get more students to attend and finish college. The philanthropists behind it think it could be a model for the state.

Just 20% of kids got 4-year degrees, so Chehalis schools changed everything

Seventh-graders Renat Sidorko (left) and Brett McGlone (right) consider how to measure and calculate speed using distance and time during their 7th grade science class at the Federal Way Public Academy. A low number of low-income and minority students are enrolled in typical advanced learning courses but the Federal Way School District is bucking that trend. TAF Academy – Federal Way High School – Federal Way Public Academy

Gifted programs across Washington leave out black and Latino students — but Federal Way is one model for change  VIEW

About Education Lab

Education Lab is a project of the Seattle Times that spotlights promising approaches to persistent challenges in public education. Our team reports on issues like improving school discipline, parent education, math instruction and more. Our goal? To connect parents, students and educators to drive innovative solutions.

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Equity

Ted Nutting taught math in Seattle schools for 17 years.

Guest essay: How the right approach to math can reduce the achievement gap

Funding

Kent School District levy passing by five votes; most other King County measures passing

All the King County school districts had at least one passing levy or bond measure, except for Tahoma, whose three levies were all failing.

Education Lab IQ

OLYMPIA 090314 Plaintiff Stephanie McCleary, center, and her son Carter McCleary, 15, left, and Kelsey McCleary, 20, right, attend the show-cause hearing Wednesday where the Washington Supreme Court heard arguments over whether it should sanction state lawmakers for failing to make enough progress toward adequately funding public education. 141291

What does it mean to fully fund education?

Guest Essays

Ted Nutting taught math in Seattle schools for 17 years.

Guest essay: How the right approach to math can reduce the achievement gap

Higher Education

Americans owe three times as much for student loans as they did a decade ago

A new study shows who owes the most money on their student loans, and where they live across the nation. Washington residents fare well compared to the national average.

Discipline

School stats: Lesbian, bisexual girls face higher odds of being suspended or expelled

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Education Lab Interesting Questions

What questions do you have about special education in Washington?

The Seattle Times Presents

The Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist has joined The Seattle Times as a guest commentator.