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Prestigious College In Northeast Dropping Admissions Advantage For Children Of Alumni Prestigious College In Northeast Dropping Admissions Advantage For Children Of Alumni
Prestigious College In Northeast Dropping Admissions Advantage For Children Of Alumni Amherst College in Massachusetts announced it is ending a longstanding admission policy that gives preference to applicants who are children of alumni. The college, located in Hampshire County, said legacy students previously accounted for about 11 percent of each class. Moving forward, the college said legacy status will no longer factor into the admissions process, in an effort to give opportunities to more applicants. “Now is the time to end this historic program that inadvertently limits educational opportunity by granting a preference to those whose parents are graduates of the Colleg…

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by Nicole Valinote
Schools
School District In New England Held Racially Segregated Events, Lawsuit Claims School District In New England Held Racially Segregated Events, Lawsuit Claims
School District In New England Held Racially Segregated Events, Lawsuit Claims A national parent-led organization that aims to “reclaim our schools from activists promoting harmful agendas” is suing a New England school district for alleged discrimination against white students. The Parents Defending Education organization in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, is accusing Wellesley Public Schools of discrimination by creating certain affinity groups for communities of color. It is further alleged that Wellesley held segregated events for students where some were invited but white students were excluded. 
“It is appalling that an American public school has consciously im…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
COVID-19: Children Should Keep Wearing Masks In School Even If Vaccinated, CDC Says COVID-19: Children Should Keep Wearing Masks In School Even If Vaccinated, CDC Says
Covid-19: Children Should Keep Wearing Masks In School Even If Vaccinated, CDC Says The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said the agency will continue to recommend that children wear masks this winter while in school, regardless of their COVID-19 vaccination status.  CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky made the announcement on Wednesday, Oct. 20, at a news briefing.  She said once COVID-19 vaccinations are authorized for children ages 5 to 11, the CDC will work to scale up pediatric vaccinations, but she added that this will take some time. "And as I just noted, as we head into these winter months, we know we cannot be complacent,"…

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by Nicole Valinote
Schools
CT Schools Superintendent On Leave After Claims Of Harassment, Intimidation In District CT Schools Superintendent On Leave After Claims Of Harassment, Intimidation In District
CT Schools Superintendent On Leave After Claims Of Harassment, Intimidation In District  A schools superintendent in Connecticut has been placed on administrative leave amid allegations of harassment and intimidation among school administrators. In Middlesex County, the Middletown Board of Education agreed in a special meeting on Monday, Oct. 18 to grant Superintendent Michael T. Conner his request to go on leave as they plan to investigate the claims, granting him a leave of absence, effective immediately. The move comes following several school unions calling on city officials to take action following multiple anonymous complaints about harassment and intimidation. A…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
Two Fairfield County School Districts Rank In Top 30 Nationally Two Fairfield County School Districts Rank In Top 30 Nationally
Two Fairfield County School Districts Rank In Top 30 Nationally A pair of school districts in Connecticut are among the top in the nation, according to a newly released ranking. Each year, Niche issues its rankings of the top districts across the US, factoring in reviews from parents, students, and data from the US Department of Education. According to Niche, ranking factors include state test scores, college readiness, graduation rates, SAT/ACT scores, teacher quality, public school district ratings, and other data. This year, a pair of Fairfield County schools made the list of the top 30 districts. The New Canaan School District is the top-rated in …

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by Zak Failla
Schools
New Elementary, Middle School Rankings Launched By U.S. News & World Report New Elementary, Middle School Rankings Launched By U.S. News & World Report
New Elementary, Middle School Rankings Launched By U.S. News & World Report State-by-state high school rankings by U.S. News & World Report have become eagerly awaited by parents, students, educators, and even real estate agents. Now, the media company has launched rankings of elementary and middle schools. Unlike the high school rankings, there are no national rankings of elementary and middle schools.  There are overall state rankings and state rankings broken down by school district.  "We also published statewide rankings specific to charter schools and magnet schools," U.S. News & World Report said. "We hope these statistical assessmen…

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by Joe Lombardi
Schools
Police Investigate Racist, Anti-Semitic Graffiti At Yale University Police Investigate Racist, Anti-Semitic Graffiti At Yale University
Police Investigate Racist, Anti-Semitic Graffiti At Yale University An investigation has been launched at Yale University after two separate instances of anti-Semitic and racially charged graffiti that was discovered at a construction site on campus. The Yale Police Department launched an investigation into anti-Semitic and racist graffiti that were reportedly spray-painted inside the construction site for Kline Biology Tower in New Haven County, which has been closed since work began at the site, according to Yale Police Chief Ronnell Higgins. Higgins said that on Monday, Sept. 20, members of the construction crew working in the area found the graffiti spr…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
Security Upped At CT High School After Student Brings Loaded Gun To Class Security Upped At CT High School After Student Brings Loaded Gun To Class
Security Upped At CT High School After Student Brings Loaded Gun To Class There was an increased police presence at a Connecticut high school after a student was arrested for bringing a loaded handgun into the building earlier this week. In New Haven County, officers from the Hamden Police Department responded to the high school at approximately 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 5, where there was a report of a 17-year-old student who was in possession of a handgun. Police said that “for precautionary measures, the student was brought to the principal’s office by school administers and school security,” while a “stay in place” order was given by school officials while offi…

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by Zak Failla
Schools
COVID-19: Harvard Business School Moves Courses Online After Surge In Breakthrough Cases COVID-19: Harvard Business School Moves Courses Online After Surge In Breakthrough Cases
Covid-19: Harvard Business School Moves Courses Online After Surge In Breakthrough Cases Some students at the Harvard Business School will temporarily be transitioning to remote learning this week as it contends with a surge in breakthrough COVID-19 cases on campus. The school in Boston will go remote for first-year MBA and some second-year students through Sunday, Oct. 3 due to a rise in newly confirmed cases, despite the majority of students and staff being vaccinated. According to the school, approximately 95 percent of students and more than 96 percent of staff are vaccinated against COVID-19. Students have been advised by school officials to avoid unmasked indoor events, …

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by Zak Failla
Schools
'Devious Licks' Social Media Challenge Leads To Criminal Charges For Kids Across US 'Devious Licks' Social Media Challenge Leads To Criminal Charges For Kids Across US
'Devious Licks' Social Media Challenge Leads To Criminal Charges For Kids Across US Some students are facing legal troubles after taking part in a controversial social media trend. The "Devious Licks" challenge on the TikTok app encourages people to steal or vandalize school property. Many students have targeted their school's bathrooms, stealing soap dispensers, clogging toilets, and more.  Some students are reportedly facing criminal charges. A 15-year-old was arrested in Arizona for stealing a school toilet paper dispenser, authorities reported. Some students are now being required to keep their phones on their desks so they can’t make recordings in school bathro…

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by Nicole Valinote
Schools
Fairfield County Community Mourns Death Of Popular, Longtime School Board Member Fairfield County Community Mourns Death Of Popular, Longtime School Board Member
Fairfield County Community Mourns Death Of Popular, Longtime School Board Member The sudden death of a popular leader and member of the Board of Education has stunned one Fairfield County community. Norwalk Public Schools announced on Wednesday, Sept. 22, that longtime school board member Mike Barbis died unexpectedly. "The Norwalk Board of Education and Norwalk Public Schools are deeply saddened by the unexpected passing of Mike Barbis," the district said. A member of the Board of Education since 2011, the district said Barbis, was "a passionate and knowledgeable advocate for Norwalk students and schools." During his tenure on the Board, he served as chair of the Fin…

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by Kathy Reakes
Schools
COVID-19: Hundreds Of CT School Bus Drivers Planning To Walk Off Job Ahead Of Vaccine Mandate COVID-19: Hundreds Of CT School Bus Drivers Planning To Walk Off Job Ahead Of Vaccine Mandate
Covid-19: Hundreds Of CT School Bus Drivers Planning To Walk Off Job Ahead Of Vaccine Mandate Hundreds of school bus drivers in the region are ready to walk away from their jobs as they face a mandate to get vaccinated against COVID-19 or else potentially lose their positions. Amid a national school bus driver shortage, nearly 300 drivers are ready to walk away with the state’s COVID-19 vaccinate mandate set to go into effect on Monday, Sept. 27. Related story - Massachusetts Calls On National Guard To Assist In School Bus Driver Shortage As part of Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont’s vaccination mandate, drivers who are unvaccinated must undergo weekly testing. According to reports, …

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by Zak Failla