Educational News Roundup, October 14, 2025

Here’s what’s showing up in the research!

America Is Sliding Toward Illiteracy

Over the past decade, U.S. students have lost significant educational progress, with low-achieving students experiencing the steepest declines due to issues like lowered academic expectations. However, states like Mississippi have demonstrated that reversing these trends is possible through high standards and effective resource allocation, exemplifying potential paths for national improvement.

The “Troubled-teen” Industry

Imagine escaping from an institution that was supposed to care for you, only to be forced to return without an investigation into your claims of abuse. That’s the harsh reality faced by many who attended Spring Ridge Academy, a school that’s come under scrutiny in a recent federal lawsuit. Even though the school is now shut down, the troubling practices it represented continue in the “troubled-teen industry” today.

Generation Z and Anxiety

Feeling lost in today’s world? A recent Harvard study shows that Generation Z is facing twice the rates of anxiety and depression compared to teens. This generation also struggles with economic pressures like job instability and debt, making it hard to see a clear path to the American Dream. A