A Fla. District Leads in Violence Prevention

http://www.pulitzer.org/files/2012/public_service/assault09.pdf

Kristen A. Graham

The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philadelphia Media Network)

1 April 2011

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Palm Beach County, Florida has many of the same social problems that Philadelphia has, including “gangs, drugs, and poverty.” However, their school system has managed to keep students safe by employing “safe-school case managers” who build relationships with students, and they offer a youth court that is a system run by students who peer-review cases of unrest. The initiatives in this county has prevented school violence from happening without metal detectors and just two police officers.

A New Model of School Reform

http://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/a_new_model_of_school_reform

Jeremy Adam Smith

Greater Good Magazine

21 May 2014

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Social-emotional learning (SEL) is transforming educational systems in Oakland by forming mentor relationships between adults and students. Unlike other models, though, the adults are the ones held accountable.

An Untapped Force in the Fight for Literacy

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/09/11/an-untapped-force-in-the-fight-for-literacy

Tina Rosenberg

The New York Times

11 September 2014

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Teaching reading skills to children early is crucial, especially with respect to their educational success later in life. School systems are switching reading programs to help underachieving students have one on one time with a tutor.

A Peek into Silicon Valley's Newest Bet: AltSchool

https://medium.com/bright/a-peek-into-silicon-valley-s-latest-bet-altschool-abf6c6973ecd

Mary Jo Madda

Bright Magazine

1 July 2015

Multi-Media / Under 800 Words

AltSchools use a completely different education system - interconnecting technology and hands on experiments - to help students achieve a higher degree of learning. Students are grouped into small, personalized cohorts so they can be both mentors and mentees for their fellow peers, creating a collaborative learning space for all.

Back to School

http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/474/back-to-school

Ira Glass

This American Life

14 September 2012

Podcast / Over 15 Minutes

As kids and teachers head back to school, we wanted to turn away from questions about politics and unions and money and all the regular school stuff people argue about, and turn to something more optimistic — an emerging theory about what to teach kids.

Does class size matter? Research reveals surprises

http://seattletimes.com/html/education/2024894748_edlabsmallclassesxml.html

John Higgins

The Seattle Times

28 October 2014

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Research in the U.S. suggests that a small class size is not enough but in combination with teacher training it leads to a change in achievement.

Clean Water at No Cost? Just Add Carbon Credits

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/15/clean-water-at-no-cost-just-add-carbon-credits

Tina Rosenberg

The New York Times

15 November 2010

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The company that manufactures Lifestraw, a water purification device, has found a way to distribute their product to impoverished Kenyan families for free, while still making a profit. In the global carbon credit market, businesses receive carbon credits for projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These credits can then be sold to companies who need to offset their carbon emissions, allowing green companies to make a profit off of their small ecological footprint.

‘A National Admissions Office' for Low-Income Strivers

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/16/upshot/a-national-admissions-office-for-low-income-strivers.html

David Leonhardt

The New York Times

16 September 2014

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Attending college is not always a given option for gifted teenagers from less-than-wealthy backgrounds. National organization QuestBridge creates a way for low-income and minority high-achieving students to go to their dream colleges free of cost.

A Book in Every Home, and Then Some

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/05/16/a-book-in-every-home-and-then-some

David Bornstein

The New York Times

16 May 2011

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Lack of reading material is not only a third-world problem – many poor families in the United States lack access to and funds for books. A program that helps get books to into the homes of low-income families can boost literacy, and help publishers, too.

An Inclusive Emerging Economy, With Africa in the Lead

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/11/27/an-inclusive-emerging-economy-with-africa-in-the-lead

David Bornstein

The New York Times

27 November 2014

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In combatting poverty, a giant informal economic system has quietly emerged in Africa. Women participate in micro-finance organizations that loan money in order to allow them to create businesses and become self-managing.