There were roughly 1.4 million pre-K-12 homeless students in the 2022-’23 school year in the U.S., according to the latest federal data. Education law defines homelessness as lacking a “fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence” — which includes families living doubled up with others. The federal law known as the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act allows students to stay in their school even when their housing takes them far from where they originally enrolled. McKinney-Vento provides…
The summer slide is a decline in a child’s academic skills that occurs over the summer vacation when school is not in session. Summer slide goes by a number of names, including the summer learning loss and the summer brain drain, but in essence, they all mean the same thing: over the summer vacation, children are likely to forget a lot of the information and knowledge they have picked up over the past academic year. Summer…
The outlook for federal spending on education research continues to be grim. That became clear last month with more cutbacks to education grants and mass firings at the National Science Foundation, the independent federal agency that supports both research and education in science, engineering and math. A fourth round of cutbacks took place on May 9. National Science Foundation observers were still trying to piece together the size and scope of this wave of destruction.…
There are many July activities for families to enjoy in the Boston area this summer. Check out our list of July activities and events happening in the Boston area. Summer 2025 at Boston Children’s Museum Tue 7/1/25 – Sun 8/31/25 Boston Children’s Museum is packed with interactive, educational, and creative experiences for kids and families all summer long. Here’s a snapshot of what you can expect during your visit this summer. Summer Public Planetarium Program:…
If you’ve been the parent of a young child, you know that children are curious and eager to learn. Their wide-eyed wonder as they discover spiders, rainbows, and other amazing things that most adults take for granted is one of the great joys of raising a family. To help you make the most of those moments and to inspire even more of them, we offer several easy strategies for sparking better conversation. There is a…
Commemorated each year in the month of June, LGBTQ+ Pride Month honors the 1969 Stonewall uprising in New York City. In June of 1969, patrons and supporters of the Stonewall Inn staged an uprising to resist the police harassment and persecution to which LGBTQ+ Americans were commonly subjected. This uprising marked the beginning of a movement to outlaw discriminatory laws and practices against LGBTQ+ Americans. Today, LGBTQ+ Pride Month celebrations include pride parades, picnics, parties,…
It is never too early to start practicing good money habits. In fact, the earlier teenagers are exposed to good financial habits, the better chance they will become financially savvy. This is an important life lesson in general, but especially if college is on the horizon for your teenager. Becoming a college student is one of the most exciting and immediate milestones for high school students. Teenagers feel a sense of freedom and it’s often…
Sueli Gwiazdowski, 24, says she switched high schools three times when she was growing up. She wanted to stay at her first school because she loved being on the speech and debate team – but the campus wasn’t wheelchair accessible. Her second school forced her to learn in a separate room, away from her non-disabled friends. “I had to fight my way out of that by going to a lot of…meetings and asserting that I…
In recent years, many school districts have had to make the difficult choice to eliminate art programs (drama, music, visual arts, photography, etc.) due to budget cuts and based upon state/national academic priorities that are more focused on math and English student achievement. The budget crisis came against the backdrop of the decade-long emphasis on math and reading as mandated by the federal No Child Left Behind law and other state initiatives and acts. For…
You can enjoy the water in many ways at Massachusetts state parks, beaches, and pools! Accessible beaches have boardwalks and beach mats to get you out onto the sand. Beach wheelchairs with balloon tires can move you across the sand, and floating beach wheelchairs get you into the water itself. Check out our list of accessible beaches and pools in Massachusetts below. After you find some accessible beaches you like, please check with that beach…
