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The COVID-19 pandemic laid bare the public’s contradictory views about public education. At the beginning of the pandemic, Maria Ferguson explains, they were lauded as heroes for keeping kids connected after school buildings closed. But when schools were slower to reopen than many parents wanted, they were excoriated for selfishly protecting their own interests. Much of the public’s criticism was leveled at unions, which resisted reopening school buildings if their members could not be protected from the coronavirus. Blaming unions is not new, says Ferguson, but everyone involved in public education is responsible for its outcomes.

Maria Ferguson talks with Ken Oertling, superintendent of the Saint Charles Parish Public Schools in Louisiana, to learn more about how the school opened its doors to in-person learning in fall 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The plan for reopening required district leaders to juggle a variety of logistical challenges and communicate clearly at every step. And the physical and mental health of staff and students became an even higher priority than before.

The COVID-19 pandemic made 2020 an especially chaotic year for education leaders who were already facing pressure on multiple fronts. Maria Ferguson speaks with Michael Hanson, former superintendent of Fresno Unified in California and now an executive coach for districts across the U.S., about how education leaders are weathering the crisis.

The COVID-19 pandemic and related economic downturn has made the persistent inequities in the U.S. education system even more evident than before. In her monthly Kappan column, Maria Ferguson discusses how approaches to school spending have failed to respond adequately and fairly to economic conditions. On top of the differences in funding is the phenomenon of wealthy parents spending their money to find ways out of the system by, for example, creating pandemic pods that enable their children to have in-person learning opportunities that aren’t likely to be available for poorer children. Examples like this may look like “education freedom,” but it’s freedom only available for a few.

As the Trump administration was pressuring schools to reopen in the fall, Democratic candidate Joe Biden released his plan for education. Maria Ferguson sees his focus on the most pressing needs of students, families, and educators as a refreshing change. She reviews some of the highlights of the Biden plan, including support for teachers, ideas for addressing inequities, an embrace of universal preK, and programs to support young families.

Technological advances and increased global competition have led pundits and policy makers to worry about how well schools are preparing students for the workplaces of the future. Maria Ferguson looks at three reports that paint an uncertain picture of workplace readiness. Schools aren’t necessarily educating students in ways that will help them succeed in the future. And workers are unable to access the kinds of learning opportunities they need and desire as their workplaces evolve.

Education issues often get attention during presidential elections, even though education is primarily a state and local issue. Maria Ferguson looks at how the 2020 presidential campaigns have dealt with such education issues as the plight of teachers and the value of charter schools. In many instances, these issues have been controversial, but they don’t generally stay in the spotlight for the entire campaign season.

The National Assessment of Educational Progress for 2019 brought with it sobering news about literacy and the stubborn persistence of achievement gaps, says Maria Ferguson. A look at long-term data shows that student progress has slowed since 2009, and the gaps between low-achieving and high-achieving students are growing. However, some bright spots appeared in Massachusetts and Mississippi. Massachusetts retained its status as a top performer, while Mississippi made large strides.

A new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine looks at how the science of adolescent development can inform efforts to improve adolescent well-being and overcome structural barriers to opportunity and equality. Maria Ferguson describes these findings and considers whether the United States does or does not care for its children as well as it should. Many young Americans face significant disadvantages that affect their brains in ways that amplify these challenges over time. These inequities are rooted in a winner-take-all economic system in which those who have a lot benefit as while those who have little continue to suffer.

The 2020 presidential campaign has already touched on a variety of education issues. Maria Ferguson describes how the campaigns have addressed issues related to higher education, such as student debt and the rising cost of college. She predicts that the ongoing plight of public school teachers, brought to the spotlight by teacher strikes across the nation, will also remain an issue throughout the campaign. Charter schools have been targeted by some candidates as one of the causes of public schools’ struggles. And racial inequity hit the spotlight in the June Democratic debate when Kamala Harris shared her personal experience with busing. Ferguson predicts that education will remain a visible issue throughout the campaign and the candidate who speaks clearly and directly about the education issues that matter most to voters will score a win.