When college debt follows you into old age

Dear reader,??

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Many of the recent college graduates in my life, already struggling with high rents and inflation, have been dreading the return of student loan payments. Imagine, then, what it must feel like to be carrying debt into retirement and beyond, as this remarkable tale from Jon Marcus about senior citizens grappling with college loans explains.?

It’s yet another example of fallout from soaring costs, along with the vast inequality permeating higher education — including who has access to private college admissions counseling.?

We have a few other end-of-summer wake-up calls for you this week. As our math reporting continues, Ariel Gilreath looks at ways that helping teachers in the early grades gain confidence in math could be one key to unlocking America’s post-pandemic math recovery, while Jill Barshay keeps us on top of how ChatGPT detectors aren’t catching all that they should, amid new questions about the use if AI in education.??

Finally, at a time of declining public school enrollment and teacher shortages, we welcome opinions on what is and isn’t working as students return to school. We want to hear from you, our readers. Send us story ideas, solutions, feedback and suggestions, and please remind others to sign up for our newsletters and become a member. ?

Liz Willen , Editor

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Main idea:?

‘Praying that my health holds out’: Many senior citizens expect to die with college loan debts ?

With student loan repayments about to restart, more people with ballooning college debt are aging into retirement?

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Story list:??

The newest benefit at top companies: Private college admissions counseling ?

Employers say it’s a way to keep workers. Critics call it another leg up for the rich?

Teachers conquering their math anxiety ?

Early childhood educators can build a strong math foundation for students when they build their own confidence?

PROOF POINTS: It’s easy to fool ChatGPT detectors ?

Stanford experiments document high rates of false positives and negatives in essays?

As more young people receive psychiatric care, some hospitals have opened their own schools ?

In-patient mental health hospitalizations are spiking. The educational support students receive in treatment can make a marked difference in their recovery?

College students are still struggling with basic math. Professors blame the pandemic? ?

Colleges say there’s no quick fix. Many are trying to identify gaps sooner, adopting placement tests that delve deeper into math skills, while some are adding summer camps??

OPINION: In an era of teacher shortages, we must embrace and develop new ways to unleash educator talent ?

Innovators are providing inspiration that could energize the teaching profession and transform our nation’s public schools?

STUDENT VOICE: Poor and first-generation transfer students often don’t feel welcome on college campuses ?

The schools we attend and students we study with must do a better job of making us feel supported and at home?