The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recently floated the idea of allowing private student loans to be wiped out in bankruptcy. Despite the objections of some (such as the Wall Street Journal) this is a good idea. Private student loans should be dischargeable in bankruptcy, while federal student loans should not be. To see why, it helps to take a step back and think about lending in generalContinue Reading »

Representative Virginia Foxx (R – N.C.) has no patience for students who whine about their student loan debt. After all, she was able to work her way through college without taking on a single penny of debt. According to Foxx, “We live in an opportunity society… You don’t sit on your butt and have it dumped in your lap.” Thank goodness we have someone like Foxx who is willing to pContinue Reading »

$3

For every $1 that a school system invests in a community school, the community invests an additional $3, according to a recent report from the Coalition for Community Schools. (The Huffington Post)

48% / 38%

The percentages of “likely voters” who agree with Wisconsin governor Scott Walker versus the teachers unions and other public employees in the debate oContinue Reading »

Quick Hits is a short compilation of question-raising news stories, blog posts, and video clips that Education Sector team members are reading or viewing each day.

On Tuesday I walked up L Street to the Cato Institute for a debate about spiraling tuition and the role of the federal government in higher education. As you might imagine, I was on the “there should be one!” side of the argument whereas Neal McCluskey from Cato took the “everything will be fine if we just let the free market do its thing” position.  Take a look!Continue Reading »

Newspapers are hard hit during these financial times. They’re simultaneously cutting staff and raising workloads, so I can understand if a few stories go uncovered. But apparently they’re cutting back on fact checkers, too, at least at the Christian Science Monitor. Here’s a quote from an article yesterday on no-frills higher education:

A main factor driving up tuition Continue Reading »