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Every year the federal government gives needy college students $34.5 billion that they don't have to pay back. More than 9 million students rely on Pell Grants. A new study says in addition to many of the students being older, much of that money is going to people who never graduate.

What was once a local issue is growing into a nationwide concern, as civil rights activists argue that school closings are disproportionately hurting minority communities. But cities are in a bind with budget shortfalls, and closing under-populated schools may offer a way to cut costs.

Most public schools are unlikely to feel the effects of the sequester before September. But educators and administrators nationwide are worried they may be forced to cut Head Start enrollment, after-school programs, reading coaches and even teachers when those budget reductions hit.

The American Federation of Teachers proposes a single, standard test to determine who's fit to teach. The exam would replace a patchwork of different certification requirements that vary by state. But it has raised more questions than answers, especially about how teachers are prepared in school.

Parents in Adelanto have used a "parent-trigger" law for the first time to shut down and take over an elementary school. It's a revolt led by parents who say Desert Trails has failed their children, but others say it's not the school's fault.

The state's school board wants to measure progress in math and reading differently for students based on race and ethnicity. Supporters say the new passing rates take into account students' different starting points. Critics charge the mandates are "backwards-looking."

The right to choose the school you want your child to attend has been the subject of court battles and bitter political debates. Still, both President Obama and Mitt Romney have made school choice a cornerstone of their efforts to reform public education.

Many Americans feel like paying for college seems out of reach. How big is the issue in the presidential campaign? The candidates have offered what boils down to this choice: Either the government spends more to help families pay for college or it spends less to save taxpayers money.

With a star-studded cast and a catchy title, Won't Back Down tells a powerful story that champions charter schools, vilifies teachers unions and lionizes parents who organize to take over a bad school. But how much of the movie is accurate and how much is fiction?

City Academy in St. Paul, Minn., became the nation's first charter school in 1992. Its founders were convinced troubled students would thrive in a small school with rigorous instruction and caring teachers. The school inspired similar projects nationwide, and now there are 5,600 schools in 41 states.