Get them while they’re young: A baby forms 700 new neural connections per second.By Peter CoyBrain science and economics show that intervening to help children when they’re very young is more cost-effective than waiting until they’re in school. That’s the conclusion of a new report from the Bridgespan Group and the Pritzker Children’s Initiative. The report’s lead author, J.B. Pritzker, is an entrepreneur and philanthropist; his sister, Penny, is the U.S. secretary of commerce.

Education secretary takes aim at low graduation rates while student debt is rising fastEducation Secretary Arne Duncan is preparing to unveil a package of proposals aimed at forcing colleges that receive federal money to improve graduation rates and to provide students with job skills. The proposals will be aimed at accreditors, the not-for-profit agencies that must give their seal of approval so schools can take part in the federal student-loan system. The overhaul effort comes as student debt has climbed to $1.2 trillion, but graduation rates remain not much better than a “coin toss,” Mr. Duncan has said.

By Sean TrainorCommunity colleges have been at the forefront of nearly every major development in higher educationIn January of 2015, President Obama unveiled his “American College Promise” program – a plan to make two years of community college education available free of charge to “everyone who’s willing to work for it.” In offering the proposal, the president did not just venture a partial solution to the student debt crisis. He joined a growing community of thinkerswho see the community college as central to solving a wide variety of problems in higher education, from cost and inclusivity to career-preparedness and community engagement.

By Griselda NevarezThe U.S. Department of Education on Tuesday released a resource guide to help undocumented students and educators ensure that young people are on a path to academic success regardless of their immigration status. 

Turn parent-teacher conferences into productive, positive conversations that strengthen your child’s learning and school success.

Interview Emily Liebtag, Ed.D talked with us about VIF International Education’s support of Connected Educator Month, the impact international educators can have here in US classrooms and how we can all get involved. If you would like to contribute your voice to the global discussion please visit What Does it Mean to be a Global Learner? Emily Liebtag, Ed.D is the Manager of Curriculum and Instructional Services at VIF International Education. Liebtag creates educational resources and professional development focused on global education. Liebtag taught in Durham Public Schools in North Carolina and has studied Elementary Education for the past 10 years. In addition to her work at VIF, she received her B.A. in Elementary Education and her M.Ed. in Science Education from UNC-Chapel Hill and is a Ed.D candidate in Curriculum, Teaching and Learning at the University of Virginia.