'You know, AI development ' I mean, how can we educate at the speed of light if we don't have the best technology around to do that'' she said. 'I heard ['] that there was a school system that's going to start making sure that first graders, or even pre-Ks, have A1 teaching in every year, starting that far 'down in the grades. That's a wonderful thing!'...

A lot of research has been done on the outcomes of young children who receive care in early education programs across the country. High-quality early childhood education programs positively shape young children's development. Far less research has focused on the early childhood workforce that powers these programs. Workers who provide care for children under 5, such as teachers, administrative leaders and support staff, play a pivotal role in shaping the next generation. But research suggests they are underpaid, overburdened and have limited resources. For example, in Colorado, about 46% of the early education workforce receives public assistance, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits and Medicaid. These workers earn a median hourly pay of $18.50. Additionally, teaching in early childhood settings takes a toll. According to the National Commission on Teaching and America's Future, nearly half of early childhood education teachers report high levels of daily stress during the school year, compared with approximately 25% of U.S. workers....

For over a decade, through a collaboration managed by MIT.nano, MIT and Tecnologico de Monterrey (Tec), one of the largest universities in Latin America, have worked together to develop innovative academic and research initiatives with a particular focus in nanoscience and nanotechnology and, more recently, an emphasis on design and smart manufacturing. Now, the collaboration has also expanded to include undergraduate education. Seven Tec undergrads are developing methods to manufacture low-cost, desktop fiber-extrusion devices, or FrEDs, alongside peers at MIT in an 'in-the-lab' teaching and learning factory, the FrED Factory. 'The FrED Factory serves as a factory-like education platform for manufacturing scale-up, enabling students and researchers to engage firsthand in the transition from prototype development to small-scale production,' says Brian Anthony, MIT.nano associate director and principal research scientist in the MIT Department of Mechanical Engineering (MechE). Through on-campus learning, participants observe, analyze, and actively contribute to this process, gaining critical insights into the complexities of scaling manufacturing operations. The product of the FrED Factory are FrED kits ' tabletop manufacturing kits that themselves produce fiber and that are used to teach smart manufacturing principles. 'We're thrilled to have students from Monterrey Tec here at MIT, bringing new ideas and perspectives, and helping to develop these new ways to teach manufacturing at both MIT and Tec,' says Anthony....

Backed by a blue-chip investor base'including endowments, foundations, institutional family offices, pension funds, and fund-of-funds'the latest vehicle saw strong support from existing LPs, achieving a 114% re-up rate. QPE's internal team and its Ambassador Network contributed '30m, accounting for around 10% of total commitments. QPE Fund II will continue the firm's core strategy of partnering directly with founders and entrepreneurs across education, healthcare & pharma, and tech-enabled business services. The firm will drive both organic and acquisitive growth through its established QPE Value Creation Pillars. 'We are thrilled to announce the successful closing of QPE Fund II at '305m,' said Managing Partner Jonny Kay. 'This reflects the confidence our investors have in our strategy, approach, and the strength of our team.' Jose Rodriguez, also Managing Partner, added: 'Our dual focus on strategic initiatives and accelerated growth'combined with the insights from our Ambassador Network'continues to deliver long-term, sector-leading returns.'...

As of 2023, the state ranks among the top 20 for fourth grade reading, a significant leap from its 49th-place ranking in 2013. This transformation was driven by evidence-based policy reforms focused on early literacy and teacher development. That's because Mississippi's success offers a proven solution to the reading literacy crisis facing many states ' a clear road map for closing early literacy gaps and improving reading outcomes nationwide. When students struggle, their academic performance declines. And that leads to lower test scores. Research shows that these declining scores are closely linked to reduced economic growth, as a less educated workforce hampers productivity and innovation. In 2013, Mississippi implemented a multifaceted strategy for enhancing kindergarten to third grade literacy. The Literacy-Based Promotion Act focuses on early literacy and teacher development. It includes teacher training in proven reading instruction methods and teacher coaching. Relying on federally supported research from the Institute of Education Science, the state invested in phonics, fluency, vocabulary and reading comprehension. The law provided K-3 teachers with training and support to help students master reading by the end of third grade....

Trump said that he hopes Democrats would support his executive order. 'I hope they're going to be voting for it,' said Trump, speaking from the White House in front of a group of children seated at desks. 'Because ultimately it may come before them.' Project 2025, the conservative think tank Heritage Foundation's blueprint for the Trump administration, provides detailed recommendations for closing the Education Department, which was created by an act of Congress in 1979. Trump's new executive order calls for Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to 'take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure (of) the Department of Education and return education authority to the States, while continuing to ensure the effective and uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits on which Americans rely,' according to a White House statement distributed to media. I am an anthropologist and have been studying U.S. political culture for years. During Trump's first presidency, I wrote a book about the extremist far right called 'It Can Happen Here'. Since then, I have continued to study the Make America Great Again, or MAGA, movement, seeking to understand it, as the anthropological expression goes, 'from the native's point of view.'...

The president needs congressional approval to shutter the department. The order, however, directs Education Secretary Linda McMahon to 'take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education and return authority over education to the States and local communities while ensuring the effective and uninterrupted delivery of services, programs, and benefits on which Americans rely.' The executive order reflects many recommendations from the Heritage Foundation's Project 2025, a conservative political initiative to revamp the federal government. But it's worth noting that the foundation's attempt to abolish the Education Department goes back more than 40 years. As a sociology professor focused on diversity and social inequality, I've followed the Heritage Foundation's efforts to eliminate the Department of Education since 1981. Although the idea didn't garner enough support 44 years ago, the current political climate makes conditions more favorable. Additionally, the think tank called on lawmakers to repeal the 1965 Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which provides federal funding for disadvantaged students in K-12, so that 'the department's influence on state and local education policy and practice through discretionary grant authority would disappear.'...

Nord Anglia operates more than 80 schools across 33 countries, educating over 90,000 students. The company has built a reputation for academic excellence, with its graduates frequently securing placements at the world's top universities. EQT has played a key role in the firm's transformation since first investing in 2008, supporting over 21 acquisitions since 2017 and fostering partnerships with leading institutions such as UNICEF, MIT, and King's College London. The acquisition marks another major step in EQT's long-term partnership with Nord Anglia. Initially backed by EQT's BPEA Private Equity Fund VI, the company is now part of BPEA Private Equity Fund VIII's portfolio. EQT has been instrumental in expanding Nord Anglia's global footprint, enhancing its digital learning capabilities, and driving operational efficiencies. Jean Eric Salata, chairperson of EQT Asia and head of Private Capital Asia, stated that the expanded shareholder base reinforces Nord Anglia's financial resilience and will help unlock new opportunities for innovation. Jack Hennessy, partner at EQT Private Equity, noted that the firm's collaboration with Nord Anglia's management has been key to its success and future potential....