This year, many Minnesota school districts are being caught by surprise because of a special education funding formula passed in 2016 that is just now going into effect. The governor has proposed $76 million in new special education funding to help local school districts deal with the new shortfalls.

Schools seek to minimize the amount of time kids spend in the bathroom during class to ensure that they get the most out of their instruction, and generally restrict students' access to prevent misconduct in the restrooms. But treating bathroom use as a discipline issue can have serious health implications.

In thinking about our education system, the most important question must be: “And how are the children?” Students, and particularly low-income students, students of color, and English learners, must have grade-appropriate assignments, strong instruction, deep engagement and teachers with high expectations for student success.

Over the course of K12 schooling, many students will learn 12,000 fewer vocabulary terms than their peers. A new study reveals one cause of this massive word gap—and how educators can prevent it.