ANNIE MA

National education reporter

Ma is an Associated Press national writer who covers K-12 education.

Appeals court allows part of Biden student loan repayment plan to go forward

A federal appeals court has allowed the U.S. Education Department to move ahead with a plan to lower monthly payments for millions of student loan borrowers, putting on hold a ruling last week by a lower court.

Michigan, CUNY didn’t suitably assess if Israel-Hamas war protests made environment hostile, US says

The University of Michigan and the City University of New York didn’t adequately investigate complaints about antisemitic or anti-Palestinian harassment linked to campus protests over the Israel-Hamas war and other incidents.

Most AAPI adults think the history of racism should be taught in schools, an AP-NORC poll finds

About 7 in 10 AAPI adults approve of K-12 public schools teaching about the history of slavery, racism and segregation.

Rutgers, Northwestern defend deals with student protesters: ‘We had to get the encampment down’

The presidents of Northwestern and Rutgers universities have come to Capitol Hill to defend their decisions to end pro-Palestinian encampments through negotiations rather than police force.

70 years ago, school integration was a dream many believed could actually happen. It hasn’t

Seventy years ago this week, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled separating children in schools by race was unconstitutional. On paper, that decision — the fabled Brown v.

K-12 school leaders reject allegations that they let antisemitism run rampant

Leaders of three large public school systems strongly denied allegations that they let antisemitism run rampant.

Columbia’s president, no stranger to complex challenges, walks tightrope on student protests

Columbia University President Minouche Shafik’s leadership is under fire. She has been criticized for her recent testimony to Congress over growing concerns about antisemitism on college campuses — and her handling of subsequent on-campus protests.

Columbia’s president rebuts claims she has allowed the university to become a hotbed of antisemitism

Four months after a contentious congressional hearing led to the resignations of two Ivy League presidents, Columbia University’s president unequivocally denounced antisemitism on her campus.

Racial diversity among college faculty lags behind other professional fields, US report finds

Despite gains in faculty diversity at American universities over the last two decades, Black and Hispanic professors remain underrepresented compared to their students and to professionals with advanced degrees in other fields.

For-profit school accused of preying on Black students reaches $28.5 million settlement

A for-profit college accused of targeting women and Black students with false advertising about how long it would take to complete a degree, then extracting millions of dollars in extra tuition payments, agreed to a $28.5 million settlement announced on Thursday.

Students agonize over addressing race in college essays since affirmative action was struck down

When the Supreme Court ended affirmative action, it left the college essay as one of few places where race can play a role in admissions decisions.

Education Department starts sending financial aid data to colleges after months of delays

After months of delays and technical hiccups, some colleges and universities have started to receive federal data they need to put together financial aid offers for incoming students.

Biden administration looks to expand student loan forgiveness to those facing ‘hardship’

Americans who are struggling to repay federal student loans because of financial hardship could get some of their debt canceled under President Joe Biden’s latest attempt at forgiveness.

New York City schools went online instead of calling a snow day. It didn’t go well

Four years after the coronavirus pandemic first sent students and teachers into online learning, some school systems in the U.S. are returning to the method during inclement winter weather.

$100 million gift from Lilly Endowment to United Negro College Fund will support HBCU endowments

The United Negro College Fund announced a donation of $100 million from the Lilly Endowment Inc., the single largest unrestricted gift to the organization since its founding 80 years ago.

How the presidents of Harvard, Penn and MIT testified to Congress on antisemitism

Over five hours at a congressional hearing, lawmakers pressed the presidents of Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania and MIT on the topic of antisemitism.

Ivy League presidents reckon with swift backlash to remarks on campus antisemitism

Ivy League presidents are facing backlash over their remarks to on-campus antisemitism. The presidents of Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology faced swift criticism for their responses earlier this week during a Congressional hearing on antisemitism o

Harvard, MIT, Penn presidents defend actions in combatting antisemitism on campus

The presidents of Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology say they are taking steps to combat antisemitism — and Islamophobia — on campus since the start of the Israel-Hamas war.

A school promised not to send kids to the ER for misbehavior – but hospital trips only increased

Schools nationwide are sending children to the emergency room for psychiatric evaluations in response to misbehavior. But advocates say kids’ needs are not being met.

Black and Latino students lack access to certified teachers and advanced classes, US data shows

America’s Black and Latino students were at a disadvantage in nearly every measure of education opportunity in the 2020-21 school year.

Many parents don’t know when kids are behind in school. Are report cards telling enough?

Nearly nine out of 10 parents believe their child is performing at grade level despite standardized tests showing far fewer students are on track.

Black student disciplined over hairstyle hopes to ‘start being a kid again’

For more than a month, Darryl George, a Black high school student in Texas, spent each school day sitting by himself in punishment over his hairstyle.

More students gain eligibility for free school meals under expanded US program

More students in schools serving low-income communities will be eligible to receive breakfast and lunch at no cost under a rule change announced Tuesday by the U.S.

Bans on diverse picture books? Young kids need to see their families represented, experts say

Across the country, books and lessons that represent different families and identities are increasingly the target of conservative pushback — even when they’re for the youngest of learners.

After clash over teaching on gender, psychology class may be available to Florida students

Florida state officials and the College Board say students in Florida may be able to take the Advanced Placement course in psychology after all.

Supreme Court ruling brings bitterness for borrowers counting on student loan forgiveness

For borrowers around the country, the Supreme Court ruling that struck down President Joe Biden’s student loan cancellation plan has brought bitterness and frustration.

In student loan and affirmative action rulings, advocates fear losses for racial equality

The Supreme Court has struck down both student loan forgiveness and affirmative action in college admissions.

As conservatives target schools, LGBTQ+ kids and students of color feel less safe

Students of color and LGBTQ+ kids say conservative bans targeting aspects of their identity have made them less welcome in American schools.

US companies, nudged by Black employees, have stepped up donations to HBCUs

Historically Black colleges and universities, which had seen giving from foundations decline in recent decades, have seen an increase in gifts particularly from corporations and corporate foundations over the last several years.

Medical racism in history causes health inequalities for Black Americans

The health inequities for Black Americans, documented in a series of stories by The Associated Press, have their roots in a long history of medical racism.